In collaboration with the City of Chicago and the Consulate General of China in Chicago, Chicago Sister Cities International is proud to present Chinese Cultural Week in Chicago: “From the Great Wall to the Great Lakes.”
The week-long celebration of Chinese Arts and Culture in Chicago will include various artists and performances that expand Chicagoans’ knowledge of Chinese culture, visual arts, music, theater, dance and photography, among others. Numerous venues throughout Chicago will present China-related performances, exhibitions, tours and discussions, presenting an opportunity for the citizens of Chicago to experience to best and brightest from China.
Please see below for a full list of the week’s events
Min Ziao-Fen’s Asian Trio: Return of the Dragon
Sunday, July 19; 6:30 pm
Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Chinese pipa virtuoso and composer Min Xiao-Fen weaves Chinese folk music, opera and Taoist music with American jazz and bluegrass in this FREE kickoff concert at Millennium Park.
A Conversation with Chicago: Contemporary Sculptures from China
Daily, 6 am – 11 pm, through October 2010
Millennium Park, Boeing Galleries
Curator Lucas Cowan leads FREE tours of large scale sculptures by four contemporary Chinese artists of international renown. Tours run every Thursday at 12:15 pm, from June 11 – August 27, and depart from the North Boeing Gallery.
McDonald’s Chinatown Summer Fair
Sunday, July 19; 10 am – 8 pm
Chinatown
Experience Chicago’s vibrant Chinese-American community up close with an entire day of live music and entertainment, lion dances and events, as well as dozens of food, crafts and merchandise vendors. From 1:45 – 4:30 pm, the main stage at 23rd Street and Wentworth features performances by the Tianjin Dance, Drama & Opera House, on tour for the first time in the United States. FREE
China Spectacle: Qi Xi – The Story of Niulang and Zhinu, The Cowherder and the Weaver Fairy
Sunday, July 19; 2:30 pm
Throughout Millennium Park; meet at Cloud Gate sculpture
The Chinese Fine Arts Society and other Chicago Chinese cultural organizations present the legendary love story of Zhinu and Niulang, the celestial weaver fairy and a lonely cowherder, in performances of Chinese music and dance throughout the park. FREE
Navy Pier Celebrates Chinese Cultural Week
Sunday, July 19; 1 – 5 pm
Navy Pier, Dock Street Stage
Navy Pier and the Chinese Fine Arts Society present a spectacular afternoon of Chinese music, dance and costumes, martial arts and tai chi demonstrations, lion dances, and much more, in what is sure to be fun for the entire family! FREE
Cirque Shanghai: Bright Spirit
Various showtimes, through September 7
Navy Pier, Skyline Stage
Chicago’s summer circus, Cirque Shanghai: Bright Spirit, features the mastery and skill of the finest acrobats in the world.
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure
Sunday, July 19, 12 Noon & 3 pm; Monday – Saturday, July 20-25, 10 am, 1 pm, 2:30 pm
Adler Planetarium
Explore the night sky with your favorite Sesame Street characters. Follow Big Bird, Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu, their friend from China, on this journey of discovery.
Chinese Cultural Week in the Family Fun Festival
July 20 – 27; 10 am – 3 pm
Millennium Park, Family Fun Tent, Chase Promenade North
The Chinese-American Museum of Chicago, Target and Millennium Park present a week-long celebration of Chinese culture with arts and crafts, board games and other fun activities. Daily performances (1 pm and 1:45 pm) feature Chinese traditional instrumentalists, dancers and singers. FREE
Ran Jia Performance, Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series
Wednesday, July 22; 12:15 pm
Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall
This 20-year old Chinese pianist performs the music of Franz Schubert and Grammy-award winning Chinese composer, Tan Dun, who proclaims Ran Jia “China’s new champion” and a “piano poet with dramatic skill in music making.” FREE
Film Screening: A Letter from an Unknown Woman
Wednesday, July 22, 6:30 pm
Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater
Part of the Chicago Film Festival, A Letter from an Unknown Woman is a film about a mysterious letter from an unknown woman and her unrequited love for a man returning home to post-war 1948 Beijing. FREE
Art Institute of Chicago: Tour of Permanent Chinese Art Collection
Thursday, July 23, 12 Noon; Friday, July 24, 6:30 pm
Art Institute of Chicago, meet in Gallery 101
Curator Elinor Pearlstein leads gallery talks of the museum’s renowned collection of Chinese bronzes, jades, ceramics, sculpture and paintings that span over 4,000 years of Chinese creative expression.
Tai Chi
Saturday, July 25, 7 – 8 am
Millennium Park, Great Lawn
Start your weekend with a Tai Chi workout on the Great Lawn at Millennium Park. For centuries, this ancient Chinese martial art has brought peace and discipline to its practiioners. FREE
2009 Chicago Dragon Boat Races for Literacy
Saturday, July 25, 9 am – 4 pm
Ping Tom Memorial Park, Chinatown
Beautifully decorated dragon boats ply the Chicago River’s south branch as teams compete in this fast-paced race. Music, food, crafts, family activities and cultural performances add to the festive atmosphere of the races. FREE
Temple Street Market Festival
Saturday, July 25, all day
Chinatown Square
Every Saturday and Sunday through August 16, vendors offer Chinese gifts and crafts for sale at the Marketplace. Performances take place on the stage at Chinatown Square’s main plaza.
ADDED BONUS FOLLOWING CHINESE CULTURAL WEEK IN CHICAGO
In Tribute: A Chinese Voyage
Monday, July 27, 6:30 pm
Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion
This FREE concert, a special encore event of Chinese Cultural Week in Chicago, celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Chinese Fine Arts Society and its late founder, Barbara Tiao. Featured performers include renowned violinist Rachel Barton Pine, Chicago Symphony musicians Yuan Qing Yu and John Bruce Yeh, erhu player Betti Xiang, and other musical luminaries.
