Korean Family Month Celebration
Month of May
Concord Free & Public Library
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May 2 – May 30: Two Exhibitions
Opening Reception: Saturday, May 2, 2:00-3:30pm
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Art Gallery – Hanji Art Exhibition of Jong Kuk Lee
Hanji is traditional Korean handmade paper made from the inner bark of the mulberry tree (daak tree) by adding Hibiscus meniot. The meniot aids in holding the pulp fibers together, elevating strength and durability not found in other mulberry-based papers. Hanji is renowned for its extreme durability, eco-friendly nature, and soft texture, and has been used for over 1,000 years for calligraphy, books, and home.
Jong kuk Lee is a nature artist who creates crafts using Hanji from his home-grown paper mulberry trees. He also utilizes other natural materials such as bamboo and silvergrass (common reed). He considers the whole process of making Hanji from growing trees to peeling and soaking them to be a symbiosis of byproducts from all of our nature, including humans. In the late 90s, he settled in Bulat Village, in Cheongju, South Korea, and is the Director of Mabuel Gallery.
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Cabinets on the First Floor – Hanji Doll Exhibition by Jaehee Cheong
Jaehee Cheong brings over 15 years of experience in crafting traditional Korean Hanji dolls made from Daak paper. In this exhibition, she introduces the beauty of Korean heritage art with unique handmade pieces that blend culture, craftsmanship, and creativity.
2. Saturday, May 9 - Two Performances
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1:00 – 3:30 pm: Traditional Korean Music Concert - Strings
A traditional Korean Music concert from meditative court music to folk music is performed by two instrumentalists: Iksoo Heo on Geomungo (a 6-string zither with a stick) and Grace Kang on Haegum (a string instrument with a bow). Iksoo Heo from S. Korea is a distinguished geomungo performer, engaged in not only the traditional Korean Music but also collaborating with a wide range of contemporary music. Grace Kang has performed a concert “Haegeum for the Heart,” presented by The Korea Society in NY, and appeared at major international festivals such as the Richmond Folk Festival and the Mexico Chihuahua International Festival.
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4:00 - 5:00 pm: K-Pop by Oliva Studio
A K-Pop dance performance by Olivia’s Studio in Allston. Audience can engage in Q&A session after the performance.
3. Saturday, May 16 - Three Concurrent Workshops
10:00 am - Noon
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Workshop on Hanji (traditional Korean Paper) Craft
Jong Kuk Lee, traditional Korean paper artist, demonstrates the traditional paper making process and participants create a craft item with Hanji such as a brooch.
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Workshop on Paper Folding
Korean traditional paper art of "Jong-i-jeopgi" (paper folding) involves folding, layering, cutting, and gluing multiple sheets of paper to create two-dimensional or three-dimensional works of art. This method differs from origami, which uses a single sheet of paper folded without cutting or gluing. In this workshop, participants are expected to understand and learn folding techniques and have the opportunity to practice them firsthand.
Instructor, Hyunkyung Lee, has a license from the World Origami Association, Korean Paper Culture Foundation, and is the director of the Cambridge Branch.
