The Memory Project: Storytelling through visual arts, theater & puppetry

It is very reassuring to know our treasured elders are receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations. Many of them have had their first shot and some will soon have their second. Only a couple have not yet been able to schedule a date for vaccination. We look forward to the day when they are all safely vaccinated.  We posed the question, “how does Chinese New Year make you feel or what emotions does the celebration evoke?” For our warmup we thought of a word which described the emotion and shared a matching gesture. I began by demonstrating the noise of firecrackers exploding, with a gesture of fingers and arms flicking outward. Margaret also spoke of the noise, but she gestured hands over ears. Lao Yu toasted the New Year with an imaginary bottle and Sook Fong put her hands together in greeting, “gong xi fa cai”. She also told us how she goes to the temple on the first day of the New Year for a vegetarian meal.    Pun made the ubiquitous gesture of a phone to represent all the c...

  新年快 乐   Xīnnián kuàilè. And as it’s the 7th day of the Lunar New Year, The Year of the Ox, Happy Birthday to everyone!!   It was great to see our students again after the break last week for New Year celebrations. Sook Fong briefly joined us then had to go to get her second COVID vaccination. What great news!! Susanna was also able to join us as it was a “snow day” so she could stay home and not have grandmother babysitting duties.    As lion dances are traditional at this time of year, we thought it would be fun to warm up by learning the 10 steps. Everyone held their hands above their heads holding an imaginary lion mask while they followed me as I led them in the movements. We ended by making lion faces!   Sharing their artwork and encouraging each person to speak about their process and the story associated with the art, while encouraging the other students to comment is a vital part of each class. For homework they completed their Vegetables page an...

    As we are focusing in today’s class on stories about vegetables we use in our cooking, the warm up incorporated how we prepare them. Each student took a turn at leading the class with a mimed action, such as peeling, tossing, stir frying, grating, snapping and tearing or pulling apart the leaves. Our students’ work is fantastic, and we take great pleasure and joy in showcasing their achievements each week. I screen share the photos of their artwork which they have submitted to us as homework each week. The other students are encouraged to offer observations and give feedback. Hui Fen drew her bottles of sauces pouring into the mixing bowl, so they played with a Chinese traditional saying. Jing Wei offered to cook for us all, her page depicting her knowledge of Sichuan spices. JuLisa’s drawing included images of her son’s cooking also. Lao Yu’s artwork proclaimed, “No Spice, No Happiness”. Pun depicted dried mandarin skins, good for cooking as well as dispelling mosquitoes...