Don’t miss the opening reception of the UMW Galleries exhibition “Computer Pictures: The Contemporary Language of Digital Media” from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, October 28 in both the Ridderhof Martin and duPont galleries.

Artist Semi Ryu will give a live performance of “Parting on Z, Fredericksburg,” from 6 to 6:30 p.m. in Ridderhof Martin Gallery.  The performance focuses on the real-time emotional and physical interactions between a virtual puppet and its puppeteer.

At noon on Friday,  a panel discussion featuring some of the exhibition artists will be held in duPont Gallery.  Read the news release.

UMW’s Community Outreach and Resources (COAR) invites children in the community to the annual Pumpkin Palooza from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday Oct. 31 in the Great Hall at Woodard Campus Center.  Costumed COAR volunteers will escort children door-to-door in decorated residence halls for “trick-or-treating.” Then, the children will return to the Great Hall for Halloween-themed games and activities.

The event is free of charge and open to all children in the area. Children are encouraged to dress in costumes. All must be accompanied by an adult.

Please feel free to contact COAR at 540/654-1802 if you have questions or concerns.

University of Mary Washington’s Play Lab opened on October 18th. Play Lab is a collaborative effort between UMW, Helping Hands Pediatric Occupational Therapy, and Exceptional Support Services of Fredericksburg. In the two weeks that UMW students have been working with children with developmental disabilities (such as intellectual disability and autism), progress has already been noted by UMW students. The ten UMW students have enjoyed the experience of using research-based interventions, receiving feedback on their work, and adjusting their teaching strategy based on the supportive feedback. Heather DeCou, owner of Exceptional Support Services, and one of the supervisors of Play Lab stated, “There are few opportunities like this for UMW students to gain experience, receive supervision, and make a difference in the community all in one course!” There are still slots available for the spring section of EDSE 547, the special topics course that trains students to work in Play Lab. Undergraduates and graduates may apply and there is no prerequisite needed. For more information contact: Nicole Myers, Ph.D, nmyers@umw.edu, or 540-286-8026.

Did you know Gari Melchers Home and Studio is one of just 30 of America’s most significant artists’ spaces included in the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios consortium? These extraordinary sites are the intimate living and work spaces of painters, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, and furniture designers. They include superb collections and intact studios, landscapes, and homes dating as far back as the 17th century.

Asia is the world’s largest continent, occupied by roughly four billion people dispersed among 47 different countries. Within each country is a wealth of diverse cultures, traditions, and lifestyles influenced by uniquely different people. Yet, despite the 17 million square miles encompassing the land mass, from the vast icy expanses of Siberian Russia to the dense tropics of Indonesia, from the far western reaches of the Middle East to the rich traditions of the Far East, the unique heart of Asia unifies the distinctive worlds into one reflection.
This is the reflection of Asia, a continent beaming with historical tradition. The voices of long forgotten emperors still resound inside the ruins of the great Chinese dynasties, their precedents and ideals have long since been adopted and evolved into the fabric of thriving nations such as Korea and Japan. The rice fields of Southeast Asia lend heavy influence to eclectic cuisines from Thailand to the Philippines, and the majestic palaces in India still stand strong amidst threats of colonization and division.
Through all the triumph and tribulation, the people of Asia hold on to the values of humanity. Family and love stand as the strongest of them all. Like a spectrum of light, which encompasses every single color but is visible only as a luminous white, so is this great continent, where every single culture shines in all its glory and reflects a single, beautiful Asia.
The James Farmer Multicultural Center and Asian Student Association strive to teach and encourage tolerance and acceptance. Through this celebration, we seek to educate the UMW and Fredericksburg-area communities on the richness and many facets of Asian heritage and culture.
– James Farmer Multicultural Center and the Asian Student Association

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Nov. 1
Asian Anonymous

7 p.m., Lee Hall, Room 411

Join UMW campus and community members as they discuss and explore the many triumphs and tribulations associated with being Asian on the campus of a predominantly white institution. Learn more about the various experiences our students, faculty, and staff face at UMW as well as within the greater community and how those experiences have influenced their views about acceptance and pride.

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Nov. 3
Asian Cultural Week Keynote Performance
Boba Stories

7 p.m., Great Hall, Woodard Campus Center

Hereandnow theatre company is proud to bring home Boba Stories, a collaborative work featuring refreshing personal tales with lots of Asian flavor. Originally conceived in 2001, Boba Stories is a collection of vignettes incorporating storytelling, poetry, dance, video, and music. It has been touring universities and festival venues throughout the United States since its inception.
Boba is a popular Asian drink made of tapioca balls mixed with anything iced, from coffee to tea to fruit juices. But beyond being a drink with a funky texture and a fun sound, it represents a special meaning to the creative team of hereandnow. “Boba actually takes a long time to make and each piece is unique,” says Artistic Director John Miyasaki, “and to have a boba drink that tastes good, you need to pay attention to it the entire time it’s being made.” The same goes for this show – each piece and person is unique and shaped by the paths of life. Please join us as we celebrate the uniqueness and life of Asian culture.

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Nov. 5
Taste of Asia

7 p.m., Great Hall, Woodard Campus Center
Cost: $3 general admission, $1 UMW student admission or one canned good item for donation

A celebration of Asian culture, Taste of Asia is one of the more well-known events at the University of Mary Washington. Taste of Asia educates the community about the different aspects of Asian societies and the different cultures and lifestyles that they embody. Complete with a fashion show, dance performances, and a variety of ethnic foods, the event provides an inviting and festive atmosphere. The Asian Student Association works closely with other student organizations and local businesses to plan the much anticipated program. For advance ticket information, contact
dkim@mail.umw.edu