Two events in Santa Monica this Memorial Day weekend will remember the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
On Saturday, May 24, the Visual Artists Guild is hosting an art exhibition opening – “Art & Democracy V” – to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre and the Fall of the Berlin Wall.
The exhibition is being held at Building Bridges Art Foundation, Bergamot Station Arts Center Unit F2, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The series is “an exhibit of varied media, representing the struggle for democracy, justice and human rights, has created a space for the world to celebrate freedom of expression,” organizers stated.
There are 37 artists selected for the art exhibition. Participating artists represent countries from the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Art works of different media include: paintings, sculptures, photographs, installations and videos. The artists’ concerns include: democracy, social equality, human rights and civil liberties, the violence of war; history in retrospect, female empowerment and environmental conservation.
On Sunday, May 25, the Visual Artists Guild hosts its annual Award luncheon and honors
Chen Ziming, a pro-democracy activist in the 1970s and considered as the “black hand” by China’s government for the 1989 pro-democracy movement, released for medical parole early this year.
Also to be honored is Xu Wenli, a pro-democracy activist since 1978, sentenced to a total of 28 years in jail of which he served 16. Nominated for the Nobel Peace prize in 1999. Nancy Pelosi called him the “Conscience of China.”
Finally, to be honored are all nameless pro-democracy students of 1989 pro-democracy movement – representing those student is one who was interviewed by television as the students retreated from the square.
Registration and reception for the luncheon begins at 11 a.m.; the luncheon itself is at 1 p.m.
The awards luncheon will be held at Almansor Court Banquet Center, 700 South Almansor Street in Alhambra.
For more information on both events, please contact Ann Lau at 310-433-0697 or email alau@visual-artists-guild.org.
