Calendar

Come join the festive mood in the Atrium — watch dance performances, create red and gold carp, explore red objects in the museum and wear red — the ultimate Chinese symbol of Joy!

DEMONSTRATION
New Year Prints

10 am–noon | Art Studios

Watch a group of artists from Wuqiang Nianhua Museum in Northern China as they demonstrate how these colorful New Year prints (nian hua) are created. During the Chinese New Year, people would decorate their houses for the holidays with these prints, which are among the most popular decorations. The artists and educators from the Nianhua Museum will also bring a selection of both traditional and modern prints to view.

PERFORMANCES
Gund Kwok Asian Women Lion Dance Troupe

11:30 am–noon and 2:30–3 pm | Atrium

Gund Kwok returns to celebrate the New Year

DROP-IN ART ACTIVITY
Create a Carp

11 am–3 pm | Atrium | For all ages

Modern Chinese New Year hangings often feature carp, which symbolize the desire for prosperity in the year to come. Create your own beautiful fish to take home.

PERFORMANCES
Ribbon Dance and Diabolo

Noon | Atrium

The Chinese Folk Art Workshop presents the Ribbon Dance and performs amazing tricks with the diabolo, an ancient Chinese yo-yo. Meet the performers and try some moves yourself.

DROP-IN ART ACTIVITY
Dragon Collaborative

1–4 pm | Art Studios | For all ages

With help from artist Liz Chernov, help create a large dragon!

DROP-IN ART ACTIVITY
Chun Lian

1–4 pm | Atrium | For all ages

Chun lian, or spring couplets, is a special type of two-line poem used to decorate doorways for Chinese New Year. Make a happy, uplifting message for the coming year.

STORY TIME
Happy, Happy Chinese New Year!

1:30 pm | Meet at the information desk

Hear all about the special activities that take place during the Chinese New Year, including cooking, eating, setting off firecrackers and even sweeping and dusting! Explore the symbols in this story through vibrant illustrations.

Recommended for children ages 3 and up with adult.

Reservations for child participants only, by February 10.

FAMILY GALLERY TOUR
Don't Pet the Dragons: Art from China

2–2:30 pm | Meet at the information desk

Join us for this hands-on gallery adventure!

For children ages 5 and up with adult.

Tickets available at admissions desk on day of tour.

FILM
Last Train Home

3:30–5 pm | Morse Auditorium

Every spring, China's cities are plunged into chaos as 130 million migrant workers journey to their villages for the New Year holiday, a mass exodus that reveals a country caught between its rural past and industrial future. Last Train Home focuses on one family's struggles with seeing each other only once a year. 87 minutes. In Mandarin and Sichuan dialect with English subtitles.

Recommended for teens and adults.

 Reservations by February 10

AUTHOR PRESENTATION
Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love and Language

1 pm | Morse Auditorium

Author, linguist and China expert Deborah Fallows shares the surprises of learning Mandarin, China's most common language. A book signing follows the presentation.

For adults. Reservations by February 11