The San Francisco Arts of Pacific Asia Show (SFAPA) will debut a contemporary Asian Art Initiative featuring select galleries from China.  Contemporary Asian Art has grown in prominence in the last decade. As Asia's importance in the world market rises, so too does its artistic traditions. Taking place February 3 – 5 at the historic For Mason Center, the exhibit, led by Contemporary Program Partner Weimei Chen and 186 Projects, will feature galleries from Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces in China, that have never exhibited in the San Francisco area before

Participating galleries will present some of their most dynamic works, showcasing both emerging and established artists. The Contemporary Asian Art Initiative spotlights the growing contributions of Asian artists to the Contemporary Art scene, providing an accessible and sophisticated environment for collectors to discover new artists and galleries. Galleries from the Americas and China will highlight a diverse array of paintings, sculpture and mixed media art.

Exhibiting galleries include Phoenix Art Palace and Lanyong Yu with showcase several rising stars in the Contemporary Chinese art scene.  Notable artists include Dai Ping Jun, Zhang Xinquan, and Ren Chuanwen.  Painter Ren Chuanwen has exhibited across China and Japan and was nationally recognized as one of China’s leading oil painters.  Zhang Xinquan has exhibited works at a number of museums and solo shows.  Dai Ping Jun has had solo shows in Beijing and Shanghai.  Jun’s work is part of the permanent collection at the Hunan Art Museum and the Buddhism Society of Indonesia, and in numerous private collections throughout the world.

The SFAPA will also feature more than 75 vetted private and international galleries that will showcase an array of museum-quality textiles, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, and antiques from Mainland and Pacific Asia.  Like Contemporary Asian art work, Asian antiquities continue to soar in popularity and fetch record bids at auction houses.   Participating galleries that are predominantly by-appointment-only offer visitors a rare opportunity to view and purchase from collections that feature rare and culturally significant Chinese porcelain, Korean ceramics; Tibetan and Southeast Asian textiles, ceremonial clothing such as Dragon robes, masks and jewelry.

The SFAPA will present a special exhibition of Tibetan rugs.  ‘Sacred & Secular, The Piccus Collection of Tibetan Rugs’ will showcase the genuine aesthetic sense and cultural achievements of often overlooked Tibetan weavers.  A rare viewing opportunity, the Piccus Collection of Tibetan rugs has not been available for public viewing before.  Owner of the collection and curator of the exhibit Robert Piccus has published a book outlining the culture and history of Tibetan rugs and will be on-site throughout the show for book signings.

The San Francisco Arts of Pacific Asia Show will open with a benefit gala for the Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Arts & Culture.  Taking place Thursday, February 2, the gala is considered a must-attend event on San Francisco’s social calendar.   A colorful and festive celebration of Asian arts and culture, the gala features lion dancers, traditional costumes Chinese stilt-walkers and exquisite food and drink.

General admission for The San Francisco Arts of Pacific Asia Show is $15 per person which includes show catalogue.  The show is open to the public Friday February 3, from 11:00am-7:00pm; Saturday, February 4, from 11:00am – 7:00pm; and Sunday, February 5 from 11:00am-5:00pm. There will be no admittance after 4:30pm on Sunday. There is a special Opening Night Preview to benefit the Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center on Thursday, February 2 from 7:00pm – 10:00pm.  Preview Night Tickets are $185.  Please call  (415) 581-3788 to purchase tickets for the opening night benefit preview.

The Arts of Pacific Asia Show is held at the Festival Pavilion at the Fort Mason Center, which is located at the intersection of Buchanan Street and Marina Boulevard in the Marina District of San Francisco.  For additional information, the public should call (310) 455-2886, or visit www.caskeylees.com/SF_Asia/SF_Asia.html.