AMAM Family Day celebrates a familiar Chinese art symbol

The dragon takes on many different meanings in China as a powerful symbol of the former Emperors and a mythic character responsible for successful harvests. It also bears tidings of good luck during New Years celebrations.

During the Allen Memorial Art Museum's Family Day this Saturday, the "Art of the Dragon" will be the inspiration for a variety of activities intended for all ages.

"We've intended this kind of program to be a welcoming event," said Megan Burness, Coordinator of Education at the Allen Art Museum. "It's free and it's for the entire community, including, but not limited to the College."

Burness and Education Intern Nathalie Ryan organized and ran the first Family Day one year ago. This Saturday's event is the third one of its kind and they have been preparing since last October.

Burness said Family Day is something that both she and Ryan wanted to do as a "good way to reach a broader community of all ages with different kinds of events." Burness and Ryan are making efforts to focus on an interdisciplinary approach to art programming as making connections between the arts can serve to "bring the art works in the museum alive," Ryan said.

"Because we are a visual art museum, we try to highlight cultural themes," said Burness. The Chinese arts theme was chosen in order to highlight the museum's current exhibits of Chinese hanging scrolls and Buddhist art.

Last year, 18 Chinese hanging scrolls were acquired, adding depth to the already existing collection of Chinese painting. The scrolls range in age from the 14th to the 20th centuries and include works by prominent artists of some of the most important schools of Chinese painting.

Besides the special art exhibitions, Family Day will feature a traditional Chinese music performance by the Kent State University Chinese Ensemble, Chinese calligraphy demonstrations by Kai Li, lecturer in Chinese and some of his students, art activities such as making dragon puppets and animal buttons, and a rare ringing of the large, bronze bell from the Buddhist Temple of Guanyin, Hangzhou.

The bell was last rung at Commencement '95. Burness said, "It is an object, especially with school tours, that always attracts attention." Given the theme of China, Burness and Ryan thought it would be an appropriate time to ring the bell. However, widespread interest in the bell ringing caught them by surprise. "This rumor just seemed to circulate. There has been an unanticipated interest in this happening."

Family Day attracts about 350 people to the museum. The museum's Education Office and volunteer college students organize events and staff activity tables. "We want students involved in our programming," Burness said. "We also like students to participate in the actual programs."

Priceless: Wang Jian's "Landscape in the Manner of Zhao Mengfu" is currently on exhibit.

Let it ring: The commemorative bell in front of the AMAM will be rung as part of Family Day. (photos courtesy of the Allen Memorial Art Museum)