Asia Society Texas Center celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month last week with a jam-packed AsiaFest, co-chaired by Teri and Jeffrey Lee. Over 2,400 guests attended the annual festival to watch community performances, shop local vendors, feast on fusion food, and take part in creative activities.

Performances on two stages included cultural dances, Bollywood acrobatics, Tai Chi and martial arts demonstrations, Japanese storytelling, and a Taiwanese puppetry performance. Food trucks and local shops lined Southmore Boulevard offering delicious bites, delectable sweets, and bubble tea, while local vendors sold everything from handmade kites and jewelry to vibrant saris and graphic tees.

Inside, guests were treated to free admission to the Modern Twist exhibition featuring exquisite bamboo sculptures from Japan, as well as abstract paintings by contemporary artist Sangram Majumdar. Family activities and games included crafts inspired by the Year of the Rooster, origami folding, a giant sudoku, a chopstick challenge, and ikebana display. Major sponsor AARP was on-site to collect personal and family stories for its ongoing Storybridge project.

Special thanks goes to AARP, HEB, Teri and Jeffrey Lee, Golden Bank, J.D. Joyce, Dr. Cybele Woon, Mike Calvert Toyota, Taiwanese Heritage Society of Houston, and Total Home Care, Inc. for their support of Asia Society’s 2017 AsiaFest. Community support came from the Anjali Center for Performing Arts, Avantica Academy of Odissi Dance, Bahala Na Martial Arts Association, Filipino Young Professionals, Harris County Public Health, Ikebana International, India Cultural Center, Infused Performing Arts, Iranian Culture Foundation, Islamic Arts Society, Japanese Consulate in Houston, J&H Dance School, Korean Art Company, Living Well Therapies, Max Nguyen with Asia Pacific American Heritage Association, North American Chinese Youth Orchestra, Oriental Arts Education Center, Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, and Viet Wave Music.

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AsiaFest. World Journal. May 16, 2017