After the brief ceremony honoring the newly dedicated Friendship Wall, the Garden celebrated the Peony, the flower of "riches and honor" (富贵花), with workshops and presentations and Garden tours. Sumi Artwork was on display in the Chan Education Center, the visitors center was spruced up with new informative displays and gifts, and the peonies did what they do best in the rain...droop dramatically in their showy, colorful way.
The teachers guided and charmed their students into conversation, cajoling even the shyest to mutter in Mandarin. The high school student teachers provided energy and enthusiasm and youthful encouragement. Inspired by the weekly informal street gatherings called English Corner in China, the Seattle Chinese Garden co-sponsored Chinese Corner to teach Chinese language and culture to the community.
The four collaborators: Chunman Gissing, Donna Tang, Julia Freimund, and Pollyanna Wang
Garden program director Julia Freimund, Chinese Language Teachers Association of Washington (CLTA-WA) president Chunman Gissing, Confucius Institute of the State of Washington (CIWA) director Donna Tang and 11 students from Chief Sealth International High School worked together to form the series of classes. They planned a program that would link high school students with teachers in a classroom for the community. Newer teachers would be mentored by veteran teachers. The Chief Sealth students would help engage conversation and play games to help practice new words.
Each of the eight classes was taught by a different teacher – most of whom were from CLTA-WA. Feedback from the participants considered this a real plus - the variety of teaching styles kept the classes entertaining and gave participants opportunities to hear different accents and learn in fresh ways. The student teachers who are all studying Chinese in high school, earned community service hours for their help. The garden provided the venue and people of all ages and backgrounds came together Thursday afternoons for two hours to learn about Chinese language and culture.
Chunman Gissing, Julia Freimund, Donna Tang with student teachers Angela Zhang, Kate Pierce, Eileen Lee, Shu Qiang Tang, Minghao Li, DeLancey Lan. Teachers Pollyanna Wang and Zhang Ming Qiu on the right.
What evolved was a community of very engaged, culturally inquisitive people supportive of each other and of this newly-developed program. Some travelled two hours by bus to attend, some from North Ballard and Kirkland, West Seattle and the Central district. Senior citizens, college students, business men and women, home schooling mothers, and parents with teens all came together in this unique cultural exposé. After class, participants would often offer the student teachers a ride home.
Dana Warn and Jennifer Johnston with their two children
"The students from Chief Sealth are very ambitious, generous students involved in leadership. They were only required to come to two classes but many stayed for all eight of them," said CLTA-WA president Chunman Gissing. "The program was more popular than we expected, in fact we had to start a waiting list. It was all we had hoped for, a smooth first operation. It was especially rewarding to have a true gathering place, a place for us all to come together to learn." (Gissing was president of CLTA-WA 2011 until May 2012)
No one expected to become fluent at the Chinese Corner, but what was appreciated was the exposure to a culture and language in a fun and relaxed way. The participants and the high school students really enjoyed learning about Chinese culture through a tea ceremony demonstration and a tour of the Seattle Chinese Garden. They also learned traditional games and songs and the antecedents of the Chinese names for Chinese dishes, animals, and food.
On Saturday June 9, four mei hua trees were planted to line the entry path of the Seattle Chinese Garden in celebration of the life of Chih-hsing John Chien (June 23, 1930 – January 8, 2012). Eventually, 12 mei hua trees will lead the way into the Garden.
The poem above was written by John's wife of 58 years, Stella Chien.
Mei hua, or Prunus mume of the family Rosaceae, originated in China and made its way to Korea and Japan during the Han or Tang Dynasty. Reference to the trees can be found in Chinese records dating back 4000 years and even today one can find 1000-year-old trees scattered throughout China. Initially recognized for its fruit which was used for culinary and medicinal purposes, the tree later was appreciated for its beauty and planted to enhance gardens.
Its blossoms appear in late winter, before the leaves sprout, and have a sweet lingering scent. It is hardy and able to withstand severe weather. Over time, it has come to symbolize the culture, spirit, and character of the Chinese people.
After earning two masters degrees at the University of Washington, Chih-hsing John Chien was hired by the Boeing Company where he worked for 38 years until he retired. He was involved in the early stages of developing Boeing's China sales program.
John and his wife Stella have been active in community affairs to support Chinese immigrants and preserve Chinese culture. They helped found the Seattle Chinese Engineer Society and the Hwa-Sheng Chinese Opera Society in the 60's, and in the 70's they opened the Yangtze restaurant in Bellevue, the first Szechwan restaurant in the northwest to introduce the community to northern style Chinese cuisine (read more in Seattle Times).
In the 80's, John and Stella became active members of the Seattle Chinese Garden Society and worked tirelessly to start the traditional Szechwan style Chinese garden in Seattle to connect the people in this community with the Chinese culture of which John was so proud.
Stella and her two children Grace and Ginger continue this effort today. They would like to invite you to visit the Garden to remember and celebrate John and a life well led.
Below, standing with the first mei hua tree planted are Grace, Ginger, and Stella Chien.
The guy at the helm of the backhoe is Rick Vadnais (cowboy hat), a Boeing employee in Manufacturing Engineering by day, SCG volunteer on weekends. Rick is the same guy who helped get the large fish sculpture out of storage and to the site earlier this year. Horticultural chair Phil Wood (floppy hat) and volunteer Riz Reyes (beanie hat) struggle to move the tree with SCG president Jonathan Geiger (hard hat). Photos by Jim Dawson. Plum blossom photo from Wikipedia Commons.
Garden manager Amy Converse sends these photos and the latest report on the transformation of the new Welcome Garden, the strip of land leading towards the entryway of Knowing the Spring Courtyard where the four mei hua trees were planted the week before.
Volunteers for the monthly work party planted camellia sasanqua, rosa mutabilis, persimmon, nandina domestica, osmanthus, and cotoneaster dammeri all provided for by the West Seattle Garden Tour.
"All the plants are from the plant list that the garden designers –the Chongqing Park Bureau – sent us of plants that they have chosen for all of the garden," said horticultural chair Phil Wood. The funds for the Prunus mume were provided by Stella Chien in honor of John Chien (see previous blog entry).
The entrance to Knowing the Spring Courtyard after the Peony festival looked clean and sharp. Now the path leading to the Garden will enhance the stately entryway, thanks to the wonderful volunteers who gave up their Sunday to work the earth...
Ray Pfortner is a professional photographer whose work focuses on nature, landscapes, gardens, and environmental issues. He teaches photography workshops in partnership with colleges, art centers, and organizations. Ray has a special interest in coaching new talent. To learn more about Ray and his work visit raypfortner.com. For questions about the workshop: raypfortner@gmail.com. Click on the date ribbon above to read more.Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
"In this water color, we see the walls and north gate of Knowing the Spring Courtyard on the far right. To the left, the empty land that will hold the garden stretches out to the surrounding cotton wood forest. In the distance, the towers of downtown Seattle peak over the trees."
Logan Bingle, a recent graduate of the University of Oregon with a Bachelors of Landscape Architecture degree, currently works as a temporary gardener at the Willows Lodge in Woodinville. He is also a supporter and volunteer for the Seattle Chinese Garden.
The expansive rolling hills beyond the Courtyard of the Garden have captured the eye of several artists. Stretches of field with bands of cottonwood trees in the distance, glimpses of rooflines, and rough outcroppings appeal to the creative sensitivities.
"I have always enjoyed sketching and painting as a way to explore landscapes. If you have seen my blog, I work to maintain this skill set by using it to document the various places I visit in Seattle and beyond. Involving artists in the garden is a great idea. Chinese gardens have been important settings for artists and poets in Chinese culture," explains Logan.
I extend the invitation to the Plein Air Washington Artists group and to any artist that would like to use our gardens for this creative opportunity.
Bakery Nouveau in West Seattle, the not so secret destination for inhaling a bit of France into your pores, is hosting the Seattle Chinese Garden's juried photography show this month for the West Seattle Art Walk. The opening for the show of 10 local photographers, led by Ray Pfortner, will be Thursday, October 11 from 6 to 8 pm. I confess to stopping at Bakery Nouveau before and after my visits to the Garden. Really, it's just around the corner, the bakery feels so neighborly, so warm and welcoming.
Owners Heather and William Leaman (he led the team that won the gold medal at Europain's Bakery World Cup in 2005 and that pretty much nailed it for them) are constantly introducing new mouth watering delicacies (homemade sausages coming soon to the savories!). But here's a warning to readers, do not get on their twitter feed, you will be heading over to West Seattle at the Alaskan junction way more than you should (oh, that heirloom tomato pastry, made of croissant dough with Walla Walla onion confit and fromage blanc, I didn't even know about that!).
Taste testers at Seattle City Search, Urbanspoon, Sunset (Top 50 Local Food Shops in the Northwest) and many others must fight to rate this one. So head on over to the bakery and admire the amazing photographs while munching on something yummy. You'll have a chance go go through the line twice.
(Bakery Nouveau is open until 9 pm on Friday and Saturdays. Imagine that.)
Don't miss the West Seattle Art Walk this Thursday, October 11 from 6 to 9 pm. Over 40 local merchants are showcasing artists from the area. Bakery Nouveau is hosting the Seattle Chinese Garden's juried photographs by 10 local photographers who attended Ray Pfortner's SCG summer workshop in August.
Magnificent, striking photographs of the garden taken from dawn to dusk will be displayed on the bakery walls – meet Ray and the photographers and come bite into a buttery croissant or a chewy baguette while admiring the view. This is one of Seattle's finest neighborhood traditions – the art walk –and a great way to enjoy the halcyon days of fall. Check out the interactive Art Walk map below:
All Hail to the volunteers who bring their gloves, enthusiasm, and sometimes their own tools to the Garden on the third Sunday of the month. They weed, trim, transplant, mulch, water, prune and weed. The weeds must be overdosing on growth hormones in the dark of night.
Landscape architect and long-time volunteer Doug Rice prunes a black pine (Pinus thunbergii) to better reveal the tree's structure. The branches of this pine were layered in formations that resemble clouds.
Gary Tribble has been helping thin bamboo and strip the canes. He began volunteering at work parties early this year and also joined the board of directors.
Others, like Garden board member and “Mr. Fix It” Allan Chinn come often to take on projects like repairing the broken pond pump at Pine and Plum Pavilion (the water qi flows again), and adding attractive tile edging around garden beds. Brady Morrison spent many hours digging to uncover the broken pipe, then helped to repair it. Brady is the facilities manager for Pike Street Market during the week and Garden volunteer during the weekend.
The stream at Pine and Plum Pavilion burbles over the rocks, thanks to pump repair work by
Allan Chinn and Brady Morrison.
Such contributions of time and enthusiasm by both regular and occasional volunteers keep the Garden in good shape for visitors. A new volunteer, Haruka Saitoh, is an environmental studies major at UW and is earning two internship credits by helping out six hours a week. Frequent Sunday work party volunteers include Bill Beineke, Judy Cashman, Wen Liu, Wayne Prochaska, Riz Reyes, Doug Rice, Gary Seilheimer, Carson and Wendy Tavenner, Gary Tribble, and Phil Wood.
“We love our volunteers!” says garden manager Amy Converse. “We couldn’t keep up with maintenance without them and we can always use more help. Come on out.”
Wendy Tavenner weeds the beds fronting the Visitor Center. When their schedule permits,
she and husband Carson drive all the way from Arlington to help out at work parties.
If you would like to receive email alerts about Garden work parties, contact Amy Converse.
And thank you to recent horticulture funders and in-kind donors … West Seattle Garden Tour has made several generous donations in recent years to fund plantings in the forecourt, on the hillside around the Friendship Wall, below the Waterside Pavilion, and along the corridor leading to Song Mei. Its 2012 award of $5,000 will add ornamental plants native to China to the Welcome Garden along the entrance walkway. Hendrikus Organics, in Issaquah, has donated its Organobloom and HuMagic products to condition and enrich the soil in several areas of the Garden. Sawdust Supply, in Seattle, donated 30 cubic yards of compost, which have been used in the Welcome Garden, the beds in front of the Visitor Center, and other locations.
“We greatly appreciate support from friends in the horticulture community. They are helping us become the garden of our dreams,” says Phil Wood, chair of the Horticulture Committee.
Posting and photos by board member Sandy Marvinney.
Amy Converse has gardening in her genes. As a child growing up in Olympia she loved helping out in her parents’ and grandparents’ gardens and even learned a few Latin plant names. The genes, however, took a while to express professionally. Her circuitous path to the Chinese Garden passed through several disparate fields.
At Western Washington University, Amy planned to major in interior design, but budget cuts axed that program, so she took the practical route to a business degree. She worked in accounting positions for several years, then studied interior design at Bellevue College in the hope of reorienting her career, but fate intervened. The Washington State Ferry System beckoned for what evolved into a three-year stint in the terminal engineering department with a dip into transportation planning. The next time you drive onto a ferry at Edmonds, think of Amy. Repavement of the timber trestle was one of her projects.
“I finally realized I no longer wanted an indoor desk job,” Amy says. “Then I came across the landscape horticulture program at South Seattle Community College and started taking classes. I loved it. Horticulture is my passion.”
An internship at the Highline Botanical Garden sparked Amy’s interest in public gardens, so this past February she eagerly signed on for a six-month internship with our garden. As part of her internship she took the docent training class to learn about Chinese cultural and horticultural traditions. With her AA degree completed, Amy joined the staff on October 1 to fill the half-time garden manager position.
Amy holds a big job in her capable hands. She is responsible for maintaining the Garden’s planted areas, assisting the Horticulture Committee in planning improvements, keeping an eye on the structures for maintenance needs, and supervising interns and monthly work party volunteers.
Amy is not just a plant person but a people person too. She loves working with volunteers and meeting visitors, evident in her big smile and bubbly enthusiasm. “We are so fortunate to have Amy who is applying her skills and training to help us create an outstanding Chinese garden,” says Phil Wood, chair of the Horticulture Committee.
Amy is thrilled to be part of such a new garden. “I’m a nurturer and I get to help the garden grow up,” she says. Among her favorite times are the unexpected beauty of rain dripping in curtains off the roof tiles, the “awesome sound of wind rustling the bamboo,” and feeding the fish in the courtyard pool — just two weeks ago she counted 70 babies!
Rocks in a Chinese garden symbolize the body of the earth, representing wisdom and immortality. They are highly valued in Chinese culture for their concentration ofqi energy. Photographer Tommy Williams captures the poetry and energy of the rocks inKnowing the Spring Courtyardwith his stunning photos, taken during Ray Pfortner's photography workshop in the Garden this summer.
A quiet Saturday afternoon turned high energy with drums reverberating in Knowing the Spring Courtyard. Kung Fu practitioners punched and kicked, the lion danced, and visitors of all ages learned what it takes to develop the internal discipline, focus, and strength to become a kung fu master.
Partway through the hour-long session, Sifu David Leonginvited game youngsters to learn basic moves. He patiently explained how to make a strong fist, encouraged them to sink deeper into a martial arts stance, and showed them how to strike a punch. To the delight of their proud parents and everyone else, they were quick learners. It shows in their serious concentration and impressive form. And big smiles convey the fun too.
What were Jim Dawson, Paige Miller, Jan Drago, Gary Tribble, Changping Tang and Deng Bo all doing on November 10? They were all enthusiastically participating in the dragon dance at the Seattle Chinese Garden’s Soaring Dragon Celebration and Benefit at the Brockey Center in South Seattle's Community College, weaving through pots of bamboo and tables, leading 125 guests to their seats.
Jim Dawson, Paige Miller, Jan Drago, Gary Tribble, Changping Tang and Deng Bo
Thirty years of Washington - Sichuan friendship was celebrated at the Brockey Center and over $50,000 was raised to help support enhancements to the Garden and expanded cultural and educational programming in 2013.
Board treasurer Mark Wen did a fine job moving the program along as emcee for the evening. Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith and Antonio Sanchez of the Lieutenant Governor’s office made remarks. Longtime Garden benefactor Stella Chien and Ilze Jones of Jones & Jones Architecture, the designer of the Seattle Garden in Chongqing, were honored and presented awards by board vice president Jim Dawson and Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith.
Jonathan Geiger, Stella Chien, Ilze Jones, Darryl Smith, Jim Dawson, and Mark Wen
Stella had recruited three talented singers who entertained the gathering with Chinese songs during dinner of grilled salmon and Portobello mushrooms. Honorary Chair Benjamin Leeencouraged guests to raise their paddles for the Garden. President Jonathan Geiger reported on Garden progress and future plans. Kip Toner, auctioneer, did an amazing job, even enlarging items as they were bid (for example, increasing $1,000 in restaurant gift cards to $1,600!). The generosity of all the guests raised over $50,000for cultural and educational programs, as well as support for the gardener and office staff. Stella Chien generously matched donations up to $5,000.
Tina Chung bid and won Mark Wen's auction item - a traditional Chinese dinner for 8 at his house for $1000. We give a big thank you to The Boeing Company, our top sponsor, as well as the Hong Kong Association of Washington, the Furuta Lee Foundation, and the Brockey Center. We give a special thank you to Northwest Kung Fu and Fitness and Sifu David Leong's students, and to the Walla Walla wineries Forgeron, Seven Hills, Chateau Rollat, and Pepper Bridge, who donated the wine for the reception and dinner.
Thanks to Heidi Geiger for the stunning center pieces and to the many volunteers who made the dinner such a success. We are already working with the Brockey Center to set the date for our gala next fall in the Year of the Snake! Stay tuned for date confirmation.
In a confluence of chance meetings, business networking, and a passion for peonies, three men came together over the course of the last four months to build on an idea of establishing an annual Seattle Luoyang Peony Festival at the Seattle Chinese Garden. Luoyang, a city in Henan province, is known as the "peony capital of China."
After incredible finesse and fortitude, Jiang Yiqiao, Kirk Chia, and Scott Heinlein (from left to right in photo above), managed to secure 232 Luoyang tree and shrub peonies - with all the USDA permits and processes intact. The peonies (rootstocks of over 19 varieties) arrived in Seattle in November under the collaborative missives of both mayor McGinn of Seattle and mayor Li of Luoyang.
And under stormy skies this first Sunday in December, volunteers planted those rootstock peonies at the Seattle Chinese Garden (read about that in the next blog posting).
How did this all come about? Last February, after reading about Seattle Week in Chongqing, Edmonds resident Kirk Chia contacted Washington China Center LLC owner Scott Heinlein (former VP at the Washington State China Relations Council) and put him in touch with Edmond resident Jiang Yiqiao, originally from Luoyang. Mr. Jiang owns a glass tempering factory in Luoyang, but he is really most passionate about his native city's peonies, a passion nurtured by his father Jiang He, a well-known and highly regarded Chinese painter of peonies.
Jim Dawson and Jiang Yiqiao holding one of Jiang He's peony paintings
In August, Scott puts Mr. Jiang in touch with board members Phil Wood, Jon Geiger, and Jim Dawson who are eager to work with this project and grow the Garden's annual spring peony festival into an international festival - basing their model on the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival - linking Seattle with Luoyang. The mayors from both cities confirmed their mutual interest through letters of cooperation. And soon, a non-profit organization, American Peony Art and Culture Association, is born with the mission to establish between the Seattle Chinese Garden and the City of Luoyang an annual Seattle-Luoyang Peony festival for years to come.
Riz Reyes with Washington Park executive director Paige Miller and long-time garden advocate Jan Drago
Despite a dreary forecast of wind and rain, 12 volunteers showed up on Sunday December 2 for the first peony planting party at the Garden. The job for the day was to plant 232 rootstock peonies sent to Seattle Chinese Garden as a gift from Luoyang, a city in Henan province known as the peony capital of China. Volunteer and horticulturist Riz Reyes of RHR Horticulture secured 250 grow bags and Sawdust Supply in West Seattle generously donated 10 cubic yards of soil. Riz organized an assembly line with volunteers digging and mixing the soil, filling the grow bags, and planting the peony roots - no watering necessary since the rain clouds took care of that all day.
Scott Heinlein and Kirk Chia, who joined the Seattle to Chongqing delegation last spring, started the collaboration between the Seattle Chinese Garden (SCG) and the American Peony Art and Culture Association (APACA) "after Jon Geiger planted the seed in my mind during a bus trip in Chongqing," explained Kirk Chia.
"During the bus trip to tour the Chongqing Garden Expo, Jon Geiger, as a dedicated president of the Garden, brought up the topic of fundraising for SCG with me, mainly because he had heard about my success in the EB-5 program (the Immigrant Investor Program, also known as “EB-5,” was created by Congress in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by immigrant investors by creating a new commercial enterprise or investing in a troubled business).
Jon's conversation inspired Kirk to contact his friend Jiang Yiqiao (read more in previous blog entry) who has both business and peony connections in Luoyang. Four months later the peonies arrive in Seattle. How about that for quick turnaround?
Board member Sandy Marvinney, Heidi Geiger, and Elizabeth Fenton potting the peonies. Elizabeth is a landscape horticulture student at South Seattle Community College.
Thanks to the dedication of these fine volunteers, the peonies from China are now ready for their first winter in America. In just a few years, they will soon become the most spectacular blooms for our May spring peony festival. The Garden greatly appreciates all the hard work and fortitude of those who came to volunteer on such a blustery, wintery day. Perhaps someday we can have a peony paternity party to commemorate the birth of this fine garden...
Haruka Saitoh talks with Riz Reyes. Haruka, originally from rural Miyazaki, Japan, is a University of Washington environmental studies student who is fulfilling her degree requirement by volunteering with the Garden.
The Seattle Chinese Garden once again co-sponsored Chinese Corner – informal community language classes – with the Chinese Language Teachers Association of Washington (CLTA-WA) and the Confucius Institute of the State of Washington (CIWA). Students from Chief Sealth International High School worked under the guidance of teacher Pollyanna Wang, exposing participants to Chinese culture and language in a fun and relaxed way with games, conversation, and plenty of humor. "Even though the weather gets colder and colder, those students continue to come, and not just from the West Seattle area. The new student teacher Shan shan Li did a great job helping the students to learn," said Pollyanna.(The program piloted its first series of classes in April 2012, see Chinese Corner).
The youngest member of Chinese Corner this fall was Sumeya Block who came to class with her mother Lana. Sumeya has lived in China with her parents (most recently last summer) and hopes these classes will help keep up her Chinese language skills ("I'm also working on Arabic," she announced).
The fall program had fewer students than in the spring, which carried quite a waiting list. In fact, this timer there were more student teachers. Nevertheless, the class was considered a rewarding and positive experience by all. The Chief Sealth students gained great leadership experience engaging with adults and children and working on a program that is open to the community.
Two students, David (Seattle) and Chris (Burien) claim the class was harder than they expected but well worth the effort. They both appreciated the youthful energy of the student teachers.
Minghao Li who is now a student at Iowa State University returned to join Chief Sealth classmate Shu Qiang Tang during his college break. They were both part of the pilot program in the spring.
Shan shan Li helping students learn the Zodiac signs in Chinese. From left, Lin, Sumeya Block, Kiera Payne, Shu Qiang Tang, Lana Block, Yen Ling Lin and David.
Student teacher Kiera Payne is in her second year of studying Chinese. Kiera finds the class helpful for reinforcing her own language learning. One of the student teachers, Delancey Lane (not pictured) is in her 6th year of Chinese and plans to study next year in Chongqing.
On Saturday January 12, one of the top girls high school basketball teams in China, Chongqing-Nankai Secondary School (重庆南开中学), will take on the Chief Sealth International High School girls basketball team in what will be the first athletic exchange in their 10-year sister school relationship.
Mayor Mike McGinn, who started the ball bouncing on this exchange by shooting hoops with the Chinese girls during a Seattle delegation to Chongqing last March, will be part of the pregame program.
If you go, you might consider getting into the spirit of cultural exchange and learn the Nankai anthem. The lyrics may be unfamiliar, but I bet you'll recognize the tune!
Near the Bo Hai Sea, along the Bai...The spirit of Nankai soars high. And change with all the passing days. Flows like the streaming water. Upright and true and brave and kind, Our wisdom grows in heart and mind. Near the Bo Hai Sea, along the Jialing... The spirit of Nankai soars high.
Tickets are cash-only at the door, with proceeds supporting Chief Sealth girls basketball and the Seattle-Chongqing student exchange program. Doors and concessions open at 6 pm. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students. Children 6 and younger are free.
Forty years ago, "ping pong diplomacy" paved the way for diplomatic relations between the United States and China. Since then, sports have continued to play an important role in bringing our two countries together. Sports diplomacy is a crucial part of strengthening relations between countries - the universal passion for sports transcends differences and creates a platform through which two cultures can come together.
A perfect example of this happened Saturday night on the basketball court of Chief Sealth International High School. The Chief Sealth girls basketball team played the Chongqing-Nankai Secondary School team in the first ever sports exchange in their 10-year sister-school relationship.
Chief Sealth host students give Nankai player Zhao Yi a cupcake while the band played "Happy Birthday" at half time (Jim Dawson photo)
The cultural exchange can be captured in so many different ways, not the least of which was the birthday cupcake given at halftime to one of the Nankai girls while the band played "Happy Birthday." Two former professional NBA players James Donaldson and Eldridge Recasner conducted basketball training clinics for both teams before the game. And Sifu David Leong entertained the crowd with his lion dancers.
Former NBA Sonics player James Donaldson with SCG board treasurer Mark Wen (Hattemer photo).
Seattle Mayor McGinn, who shot hoops with the Nankai girls last year during a delegation visit to Chongqing, invited the team to come to Seattle. Mayor McGinn came to watch the game at Chief Sealth. He was presented with a ball signed by the Chinese team and their coaches. He stayed for pictures – spinning the ball on the tip of his finger, greeting the girls with great warmth.
Mayor McGinn reunites with the Nankai team (Hattemer photo)
Kudos to the Chief Sealth band director Marcus Pimpleton who taught the band how to play the Chinese national anthem and to the cheerleaders who cheered for the Chinese girls who had come so far to play.
A truly American experience for the Nankai basketball player (Jim Dawson photo)
"How much more complicated our world would be if we couldn't communicate beyond our borders," said president of the Seattle-Chongqing Sister City Association, Scott Heinlein, in his opening speech.
Chief Sealth Seahawks moving in for a group hug with the Nankai girls after the game was over. (Hattemer photo)
Yes, the sports exchange was pretty straightforward with the Nankai girls winning 57 to 40, but the cultural exchange for our community was immeasurable.
Raindrops started to fall just as KING 5 TV’s Meeghan Black arrived at the Garden on Wednesday afternoon. She and videographer/film editor Howard Shack had come to shoot backdrop for this Friday’s Evening Magazine show focused on Chinese Lunar New Year. The weather spirits must have taken note, because several minutes later, rays of sun penetrated gaps in the cloud cover, a rainbow appeared, and the rain kindly stopped until filming wrapped up an hour later — and then came down hard.
The fast-working team filmed in four different areas of Knowing the Spring Courtyard — by the pine and rockery corner, in front of the main gate, on the north side of the main gate, and in the covered corridor. At each location, Black rehearsed segment introductions, stopped to rewrite lines on the fly, and then executed a perfect taping. She also worked in compliments about the Garden. Shack has been with Evening Magazine for about a year and says it is “the best job ever” for the opportunity to travel all over the Northwest and cover interesting topics. That’s high praise since his previous work took him all over the world, including filming a documentary on climate change in the Himalaya.
The shoot for the Chinese New Year program is Evening Magazine’s third visit to the Garden. Black and garden guru Ciscoe Morris filmed a 2011 segment highlighting the Garden not long after it opened to the public (see previous blog entry). They returned last year to use the courtyard as backdrop for segment introductions for a multi-topic program. We welcome them back anytime.
Watch the Show
KING5 TV: Friday, February 8 at 7 pm. In honor of the Year of the Snake you also will learn about a man who raises the slithering critters.
Posting and photos by SCG board communications chair Sandy Marvinney.
This past weekend, revelers around the globe celebrated Lunar New Year. Guest blogger Angie Picardo writes for us about Chinese New Year, the most important of all Chinese traditional holidays:
As ancient as the eldest of empires, the Chinese New Year – known in Chinese as Spring Festival – is colorful, musical, and incorporates a plethora of esoteric symbolism that is both mystical and fascinating. The celebration is rooted in Chinese mythology, celebrating the induction of another year, and offering good luck and fortune to those who, insofar as historical evolution goes, live to see another spring. This year, the Chinese New Year fell on February 10th, marking the Year of the Snake.
Chinese mythology maintains that the New Year started as a result of a battle between a mythical creature and common peasantry. The creature, known as the Nian, would arrive around the turn of the year and consume livestock, crops, farmers, and children, forcing peasants and farmers to place food and other goodies on their doorstep to prevent human life from being gobbled up by the beast. The legend holds that a young child wearing red once scared the beast away, and so villagers would hang red lanterns and scrolls throughout the village just before the New Year would arrive to prevent a visit from the Nian. The Nian would never return, and as legend holds, was eventually captured by a Taoist monk named Laozu, who made the beast his mount.
While celebrations of the Chinese New Year vary around the world, the Nian is a common character seen in parades and celebrations. The lion, dragon, or beast-like creature represents the Nian, and children – being its common victim – are instructed to wear or flash red at the beast while throwing firecrackers around to scare it away. As the celebration has evolved over time, colorful robes, costumes, clothing, lanterns, streams, and fireworks have been incorporated into the celebration. The Chinese New Year marks themed days in which participants partake in daily practices to welcome in the Spring Festival. Before the countdown begins, however, true participants celebrate Chinese New Year’s Eve with what is known as a Reunion Dinner. While the dinner consists of fish, it is comparable to the Western concept of Christmas dinner, and many families throughout Asia hold parties surrounding the feast. The Chinese Year New is fascinatingly wondrous and can be celebrated almost anywhere. Be it the welcoming of wonderful and delicious cuisine, fun gifts, entertaining parades or spectacular fireworks, the Chinese New Year celebration has been one of the most enduring – a celebration truly for all of humankind. Angie Picardo graduated from UC Berkeley in 2012. She is now a staff writer for NerdWallet.
