PIAO ZHU: FLYING BAMBOO
(VOICE, FLUTE, KUBING MOUTH HARP, HARMONICA, WATER, PERCUSSION)

by Byron Au Yong

in collaboration with performers
Kelsey Furuta, Karen Lindenberg, Karen Akada Sakata

Costumes by Michelle Kumata
Hair/Make-up by Olivia Taguinod

Chinese Translation by Mike Au Yong

Created for the Seattle Asian Art Museum
Fuller Garden Court for their Contemporary
Bamboo Art Opening in May 2006

Supported in part by PONCHO
Wallace Reader's Digest Fund
The Boeing Company

Special thanks to Dominique Barni, Sarah Lin Bhatia, Karine Gama, Kale Kim, Peter Joon Park, Laura O'Quin, Kim Ruehl, Mindy Shi, Frank Jones & Laura Shapiro, Nelly & Fred Schaffner, Jean-Stephane, James Whetzel, Ying Zhou

Seven rites
Uneven times
Public trauma
Private desires.

Unity from chaos
Spring into summer
Versatile yet strong
Flying bamboo.

Piao Zhu is inspired by the legend of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove -- a band of Chinese scholars and poets who met to escape political and societal duress during the 3rd century BCE. Kelsey Furuta, Karen Lindenberg, Karen Akada Sakata, and I have been working on this 21st century meditation for the Seattle Art Museum's Contemporary Art of Bamboo and A Northwest Summer Public Opening.

Piao Zhu is ultimately about overcoming obstacles. I think about the Capitol Hill shooter and suicide bombers. With this ceremony, my performers and I meditate on the horror and beauty of bending amidst turmoil, like bamboo in a storm.

Byron Au Yong
April 2006