Iris Dinh demonstrates Vietology on March 14,
2008 at the opening of the traveling exhibition at
San Jose City College. The flowers represent the
colors of the Heritage Flag; the drum a replica of
ancient Vietnamese culture.

The replicas of the drum (sometimes a gong)
which are on the table date back 2500 years in
Vietnamese culture. Vietologist Ms. Dinh called
attention to an article in National Geographic in
March, 1971, by Wilhelm G. Solheim ("A New
Light on a Forgotten Past").  The author, at the
University of Hawaii at the time, suggests that  
evidence shows the advance of  civilization
marked by agricultural development and symbolic
art began in Southeast Asia and spread to China
and to Indonesia and the Philippines.  The Dong
Son drum portrays spirit boats (like the later Lac
Viet boat) taking the dead to a holy place for
everlasting life -- heaven.  The bronze drum was
found somewhat south of Hanoi.

The photograph was taken by Jean Libby, editor
of VietAm Review and graphically rendered by
Peter of Cali Fine Art.  Peter is a graduate of San
Jose City College in Professional Photography in
1997 and San Jose State University.  His studio
and print production facility is at 970 Story Road
-- in the new "Little Saigon."  

Jean Libby is an adjunct instructor in History and
Ethnic Studies at SJCC and the first woman
graduate in Professional Photography at De Anza
College in 1978.  

(at left)  SJCC student and family attending the
"Exit Saigon -- Enter Little Saigon" traveling
exhibit from Smithsonian Institution on March 14.
Asian American Studies Professors
Celebrate Opening

Dr. Vu H. Pham, curator of the original
Smithsonian Institution exhibit on Vietnamese
Americans in 2007, attended the grand opening
of the exhibit at San Jose City on March 14, 2008.

Professor Kieu Linh Valverde of the University of
California, Davis, Asian American Studies
Department also attended.  She is an authority
on Vietnamese textiles, historic and
contemporary, and curated an exhibit on the ao
dai cultural dress at the San Jose Textile
Museum in 2007.  Her extensive published work
study of Amerasians who settled in Australia,
accomplished with a Fulbright Fellowship.  
Books by Vietnamese American
authors from the original
Smithsonian Institution exhibit
are at the San Jose City College
bookstore and History San Jose
bookstore in Kelley Park.

Quang X. Pham,
Andrew Lam,
Nguyen Chi Thien
Sổ tay cộng đồng:Niềm
vui ngày cuối tuần

see the article in
       Calitoday:  
Meet author
Quang X Pham
at San Jose
State University
on April 30 2008

Vietnam Wars
Panel 6:30 p.m.