Ray Hsu is the edi­tor to Ricepaper as well an award-winning poet. His books include Anthropy and Cold Sleep Permanent Afternoon. Ray lives in Vancouver, where he teaches Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. You can find him shopping for vintage sweaters on Main Street and on the Internet at  www.thewayofray.com.

HOW TO WRITE A LOVE LETTER

When: Sunday May 27, 2012
Where: Project Space, 222 East Georgia Street
Time: 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Price: $30, includes a one-year subscription to Ricepaper

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Project Space features a curated selection of art, design and literary publications, with a focus on those that are rare, independent, small-run, limited-edition, and locally-produced. Project Space also host exhibitions, artist talks, literary readings, pop-up shops and workshops, you can find out more here.

photo credit: Clare Yow

Saturday, May 26
Time: 10:30 am – 4:30pm

Where:
Richmond Cultural Centre – 100-700 Minoru Gate, Richmond, British Columbia

Visit the site for more information!

 Inspire, Achieve, Celebrate!

Join us for the 2^nd annual World Poetry Canada and International Peace Festival.

With hosts Ariane Sawyer and Roberta Price, this two-day event filled will feature International Poets, BC poetry groups from many cultures and includes music, dance, readings, workshops and a panel discussion.

Ricepaper Magazine is one of the proud sponsors of this exciting festival. Be sure to mark it on your calendar today!

Be a part of Asian Heritage Month at the 16^th annual explorASIAN 2012 Festival during the month of May. explorASIAN 2012 Festival celebrates Asian arts, cultures and contributions as part of the harmonious diversity of Canada.

The month-long festival will present an exciting variety of events, including dance, music, visual arts and poetry with the first event that kicks off May 04, 2012.

The Magical Encounter explores the intersection between music, word, dance, multimedia and cultural traditions. The Magical Encounter is co-presented by SFU Woodward’s, and will open explorASIAN 2012 on Friday, May 4 at the Fei & Milton Wong Experimental Theatre.

“We’re very excited about this year’s festival,” said Winnie Cheung, Co-President of Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society (VAHMS). “For the first time in the festival’s sixteen-year history, explorASIAN is producing an original, inter-cultural dance and music event that explores the connections between different Asian-Canadian cultures.”

Check out the number of Asian-Canadian themed events during Asian Heritage Month:

• May 5: “The Magical Encounter” – matinee show for youth & seniors
• May 4 –25: “Generation One” art exhibition at various venues with an official opening at the International Arts Gallery
• May 1–31: World Poetry International Festival at Richmond Cultural Centre, the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at UBC and various locations in Metro Vancouver
• May 6: Zyryab – the kick off event for the 8^th Annual International Jondo Flamenco Festival
• May 6: National AHM Video Conference on the theme “What Are We Mutating To?”
• May 12: B.C. Chinese Orchestra Recycle for Life Concert featuring minority music from S.W. China
• May 17: Photographic Expressions of Asia
• May 19: Multicultural Film Festival
• May 27: Chinese Canadian Youth Concert
• May 31: repercussion & the opening of VIBC’s City of Bhangra Festival

Visit the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society (VAHMS) for more information on events and tickets.

From the website:
Join us for a staged reading of Larry Wong’s new play, Empress of Asia, based on his original one act play: Siu Yeh – A Midnight Snack.

Can a young woman, born at the dawn of the 20th Century, find happiness with a husband true to the ways of the Qing Dynasty and 20 years her senior? Only after she endures two weeks in the Pig Pen, pays her $500 Head Tax on her arrival in Canada and satisfies his foot fetish.

The development of Empress of Asia has been supported through the Community Historical Recognition Program, Department of Citizenship and Immigration.

Read by: Mitch Janzen, BC Lee, Minh Ly, Lissa Neptuno, Nelson Wong, Jimmy Yi, Andrea Yu

Written by Larry Wong
Director & Dramaturg: Donna Spencer
Set and Video Consultant: Craig Alfredson
Lighting Consultant: Jamie Burns
Costume Consultant: Sabrina Evertt

Engaging profiles, fiction, articles covering a variety of literary topics and genres and poetry from some of the most active contempoarary poets in Canada. Includes works by Terry Watada, Siyuan Liu, Jenny Uechi, Justin Tse, Loretta Seto, and poetry by Renee Sarojini Saklikar, Nancy Kang, Kim yong-Hi, Tasuko Thanh.

Read more about it here.

You can purchase single copies here but even better, why not subscribe to Ricepaper, just click here!

In dialogue with the diverse cultural issues of new play Confessions of the Other Woman, urban ink productions is hosting a series of community-centered panels entitled “Redefining Normal: an Intercultural Dialogue Series”.

The play Confessions of the Other Woman is written by third generation Chinese Canadian artist Valerie Sing Turner, and is described by the playwright as “a post-identity work; a celebration of the complexity inherent in every human being; a place in which otherness or one’s culture can be empowering if fully embraced, making us more than the sum of our parts.”
The play boasts an outstanding intercultural cast never before seen on Vancouver’s main stage: Kevin Loring, Nlakapmux First Nation; Valerie Sing Turner, third generation Chinese-Canadian; Matt Ward, second generation Afri-Guyanese Canadian. And is co-directed by urban ink Artistic Director Diane Roberts, and visiting Director, Gerry Trentham.

February 29 – March 11 at Performance Works
1218 Cartwright St  Vancouver, BC V6H 3R8
(604) 687-3020

This discussion of the co-directing process of working within an interdisciplinary + intercultural space, is facilitated by Max Reimer, the Artistic Managing Director, of the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company.
Panelists: Diane Roberts + Gerry Trentham, co-directors of Confessions of the other Woman

March 3 | 1 PM – Water: Legacy & Transformation
The guest speakers will share stories about their history, using water as a theme to address questions of ancestry, immigration and Indigenous ways of knowing.
Panelists:
• Dr. Rita Wong, Associate Professor in Critical + Cultural Studies at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design
• Diane Roberts, AD of urban ink productions
• Christine Hunt, environmental activist, First Nations woman and former candidate for BC legislature
Facilitated by Rosemary Georgeson, actor, community facilitator and Aboriginal Community Director, urban ink productions.
The Salmon Dreams Drum Circle will also perform to set the mood for this very cultural and crucial panel. 

March 4 | 12:30 PM – Love, Relationships and Other Complications
Through their poetry read before the play, and a talk back afterwards, the guest speakers will explore how taboos and stereotypes have impacted intercultural relationships past and present.
Guests:
• Evelyn Lau, third poet Laureate of Vancouver
• Fiona Tinwei Lam, award winning poet and cultural critic
• Chris (C.E) Gatchalian, Queer Asian poet, writer, playwright and Artistic Director of Screaming Weenie productions 

March 7 | 8 PM – Love & Marriage in the New World
Our panelists will engage in a discussion around the intricacies of love in the modern age in a way that is sure to stir up more questions than answers. From the single, married life, divorced and remarried life, we will examine the challenges, and where to find support. Does the ancient past offer suggestions? If so how do we make it applicable to today?
Guest Panelists:
• Married couple, Farah Nazarelli yoga radio producer & host, Dustin Anderson children’s performer
• Sue Horning, owner Unity Yoga
• Stéphane Boisjoly, E.r.y.t. broadcaster, yoga teacher and sailor
• Sobey Wing, cultural healer and creator of Love, Sex and Intelligence dialogues, facilitates the panel. 

March 10 | 2 PM – Race, Gender and Representation in the Media
In conjunction with International Women’s Day, our panel will explore and debate issues of identity and gender as they are portrayed in various forms of media and society. A dialogue circle sponsored by the City of Vancouver’s Dialogues Project
Guest Panelists:
• Marie Clements, founding Artistic Director of urban ink productions and award winning playwright
• Loretta Todd of Metis Cree origin, award-winning director, writer and producer
• Mina Shum, internationally celebrated and award winning filmmaker
• Dr. Valerie Mason John, author, playwright, performer, and winner of the MIND book of the year award, Kekinusuqs
• Rupinder Sidhu, videographer, artist and community facilitator.

You can purchase tickets here.

Thanks to everyone who entered, the contest is now closed.

 Special offer to Ricepaper valid only until February 23, 2012. . Only the first person will be contacted with notes on how to obtain VIP passes. Thanks!

The Dance Centre presents Discover Dance!  Strathcona Chinese Dance Company
Date and time: Thursday February 23 at 12 noon
Location: Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie St (at Granville), Vancouver

Tickets $10/$8 students, seniors and children from Tickets Tonight 604 684 2787 www.ticketstonight.ca

Info: 604 606 6400 www.thedancecentre.ca

The Strathcona Chinese Dance Company showcases the diversity and beauty of Chinese dance in the next edition of The Dance Centre’s popular Discover Dance! noon hour series, with a program ranging from the elegant classical style to exuberant ethnic folk dances, as well as innovative Chinese contemporary styles. Founded in 1973, the company has developed into a world-renowned folkloric dance troupe and has toured internationally. The performance will be followed by a question-and-answer session for artists and audience.

Strathcona Chinese Dance Company (SCDC), now in its 38^th season, was founded in 1973 by the late Maria Mimie Ho to promote Chinese dance art in Canada.  Under the artistic direction of Anabel Ho, the troupe has garnered international acclaim and has performed in over 140 cities worldwide.  SCDC has had the honour of performing for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, The Emperor of Japan, the Governor General, Prime Minister and Premiers of Canada, as well as distinguished Heads of States both regionally and abroad. The Company is in popular demand to perform in the local community and at international dance festivals around the world. Highlights include: 2010 Vancouver Olympics, International Olympic Committee AGM, United Nations World Urban Forum, Launch of the BC Canada Pavilion 2008 Beijing Olympics, Annual Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade, Winterlude Festival (Ottawa), Folkmoot USA Festival (North Carolina, USA), and Macau International Youth Dance Festival (China).  www.strathconadance.com

Bonus: A Ricepaper Magazine subscription is included with every dinner ticket purchase!

Upon entering its 15 year anniversary, Gung Haggis  is shaping into another memorable event! The event will be hosted by Tetsuro Shigematsu and Toddish McWong, and will feature many performers in celebration of Gung Haggis (coupled with some tasty treats!).

From the website:

In 1998, “Toddish McWong” held a small private dinner for 16 friends with food, haggis, poetry and songs – from both Scottish and Chinese cultures and thus was born – Gung Haggis Fat Choy  Now it is a dinner for 400 people!

More than  a traditional dinner with music and poetry.  Gung Haggis Fat Choy re-imagines a traditional Robert Burns Dinner format, within a BC or Canadian historical context that puts Scottish-Canadian and Chinese-Canadian pioneers on an inclusive and equal platform, while acknowledging historical racism and how we move beyond it. This event has grown to also  celebrate contemporary Scottish-Canadian and Chinese-Canadian artists and poets and their innovations to create something uniquely Canadian.

This event is gaining quite the attention as featured in the  Globe and Mail:

At this very moment, I bet you’re not thinking about deep-fried haggis wonton for dinner. But then, you’re not Toddish McWong. That’s the famous persona of Todd Wong, a 51-year-old Chinese-Canadian who works as a library assistant in Vancouver. His annual Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner marks its 15th year next Sunday. An amalgam of traditions for Chinese New Year and Robbie Burns Night, the dinner is a celebration of Canadian multiculturalism that has grown in popularity every year. (There’s a spin-off Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner in Seattle and ambitions to roll them out across Canada.)

The event will host some amazing performances:

• Fred Wah – Parliamentary Poet Laureate
• Jan Walls – Chinese clapper tales and Chinese scholar
• Harry McGrath – Robbie Burns Immortal Memory
• Black Bear Rebels Celtic Ceilidh ensemble
• Gung Haggis Fat Choy Pipes & Drums
• Lots of dragons + surprises!

As mentioned, a Ricepaper Magazine subscription is included with every purchased dinner ticket! Come and enjoy some haggis wontons!

When: Wednesday, November 30. Doors 7:30pm, readings 8pm.
Where: VIVO Media Arts, 1965 Main Street, Vancouver, BC
Who: Janey Lew, Rita Wong, Ray Hsu, Valerie Sing Turner plus other guests TBA!
Includes food and refreshments, with a cash bar.
$10-$15 entrance; $15 comes with a 1-year subscription!
RSVP on our Facebook event page

Diversity and hybridity take the stage in our new issue with excerpts of C.E. Gatchalian’s play Falling in Time (currently playing at the Performance Works on Granville Island until November 12), winning haiku from the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival 2011 Haiku Invitational, and a photo gallery “Mixed Races, Mixed Faces” with photos of our readers and their thoughts on hybrid identity. As well, original fiction and cultural commentary revolving around how “cultural heritage intersects with other social and political realities” (in the words of Ricepaper‘s editor Eury Chang). Read the Editor’s Letter to learn more about this issue.

Also, read our call for submissions for our upcoming issue, the 16.4 Faith and Philosophy issue.