Miyoshi Sketches is a new work by composer Francis Wong created with the support of Individual Artist Commissions of Cultural Equity Grants.

This work features Tatsu Aoki and Chizuru Kineya on shamisen (Japanese three-string lute), Zhao Yangqin on yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer), Jim Norton and Francis Wong on woodwinds, Wayne Wallace on trombone, Melody Takata on taiko and Deszon Claiborne on multiple percussion. It memorializes the friendship that developed between Wong's parents, immigrants from China, and John Miyoshi, a Japanese American veteran in the post-World War II era in San Francisco. In addition to Miyoshi Sketches, the ensemble will also perform two older compositions by Wong entitled La Chine Africaine and Dream.

The Escape by Lenora Lee Dance with Kei Lun Martial Arts and Enshin Karate, South San Francisco Dojo, is inspired by stories of women who were vulnerable on arrival in the US during the early 20th century. The pieces seek to shed light on the experiences of these women in the context of the social history of the period for Chinese in America, as well as for women in society as a whole, focusing on the struggles and achievements of the 20th century women's movement, which took on such issues as child labor and human trafficking.

It features media design by Olivia Ting, music by Francis Wong, text by Genny Lim, cinematography by Ben Estabrook and Eric Koziol, and is directed by Tatsu Aoki.

Date: May 17

Venue: de Young Museum, San Francisco

Website: www.chsa.org

(China Daily 05/03/2013 page23)