On Thursday, January 19th, Meridian International Center and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China co-hosted the 2nd annual Chinese Lunar New Year reception, celebrating the beginning of the Year of the Dragon at Meridian House. Chinese lanterns and other traditional New Year decorations transformed the historic French-style home.

Over 400 guests attended, including high-ranking diplomats from the Chinese Embassy, officials from the U.S. Department of State, D.C. cultural leaders, local and international media, scholars, and corporate representatives.

In honor of this occasion, Meridian’s Art for Cultural Diplomacy program organized a special art exhibition: A Zhuxianzhen Tradition: New Year Woodblock Prints from Kaifeng.The exhibit included 20 traditional nianhua prints from Henan Province, illustrating auspicious symbols from Chinese folklore – the seventh in a series of exhibits created over the last decade by Meridian with Chinese partners.

While enjoying the festivities, guests watched Embassy chefs prepare dumplings and sampled other authentic dishes at stations set up throughout the rooms, each featuring a different region in China.

His Excellency Zhang Yesui, Ambassador from the People’s Republic of China to the United States; Meridian President and CEO, Ambassador Stuart Holliday ; Meridian’s Chairman of the Board,Governor James Blanchard ; and Meridian’s Senior Vice President for the Arts, Dr. Curtis Sandbergoffered remarks at the reception.

Ambassador Holliday, speaking to the assembled crowd, lauded the event as “one of the new highlights of our calendar, and an exemplification of Meridian’s strong partnerships.”

Following the remarks, 6ixwire Project, a western four-string violin and two-string Chinese violin (erhu) duo, performed pieces from the East and West. In addition, Meridian staff gave guided tours of its acclaimed exhibition CHINA Town: Contemporary Ceramic Painting from Jingdezhen, currently displayed in the White-Meyer House.

The exhibit features an unprecedented collection of porcelain art, which was curated by Meridian International Center and the Ren Jian Ci Hua Company (Jingdezhen, China), with support from the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China.

It is also the first exhibition developed through the much-celebrated Memorandum of Understanding between Meridian International Center and the China International Culture Association. This Memorandum has created a new framework for the expansion of bilateral U.S.-China cultural exchanges, further strengthening and improving relations between the two nations.

Image Courtesy of    http://www.flickr.com/photos/cc_chapman/

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The Year of the Dragon is a significant year in Asian tradition: the dragon is sacred and symbolizes strength, luck and new beginnings. Throughout Asia and also in the U.S., cities are preparing for this important time of year with much fanfare and celebration—this is especially true in Los Angeles’ most unique historic district, LA Chinatown. LA Chinatown hosts one of the largest New Year celebrations in the country with more than 125,000 attendees convening in the district for the weekend-long celebration.

LA Chinatown kicks off the Year of the Dragon the weekend of January 28 – 29, 2012, beginning with the 113th Annual Golden Dragon Parade. Attendees can enjoy hundreds of spectacular floats, decked-out cars, dancers and bands as they parade down the heart of Chinatown. This year’s Grand Marshals include Disney’s Mulan and Mushu and international bestselling author Lisa See whose book ‘Snow Flower and the Secret Fan’ was adapted into a movie in 2011.

The Chinese New-Year Festival gets underway following the parade with cultural performances by some of the nation’s best Chinese acts, children’s activities and hands-on cultural workshops. LA Craft Experience (LACE), LA’s premier artist’s market will feature over 40 local vendors, offering shoppers a truly unique shopping experience.

Attendees can expect to nosh on traditional Chinese cuisine offered at many Chinatown restaurants as well as non-traditional dishes offered by food vendors and some of LA’s hottest gourmet food trucks. Additionally, the wildly popular show ‘Cupcake Wars’ will be on hand with 1,000 Chinese New Year-themed cupcakes for people to enjoy.

There are two festival sites with entertainment stages at each: 727 N. Hill Street on Sat., Jan. 28 ^, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Central Plaza at 943-951 N. Broadway on Sat., Jan. 28 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sun., Jan. 29 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The 113th Annual Golden Dragon Parade is on Sat., Jan. 28 beginning at 1 p.m.

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