San Francisco, CA – This May, prepare to be dazzled by Weaving Stories, SFPL’s celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. In music, dance, film and the written word, many narratives unfold for you to enjoy through both virtual and in-person programs!

Youth Highlights

Tracy Williams, a Tongan muralist, leads an art activity as she talks Pacific Islander representation.

A Japanese taiko drum performance promises to move its listeners at a live performance.

Rahiti shares the love of Polynesian dance and the beloved Halau Ha’a Kea o Kinohi Dance School performs hula in open air performances.

If you want to get on the floor yourself, a K-Pop virtual workshop is guaranteed to give you a great time (and a workout too!).

All programs are virtual unless indicated below with a location.

Activity: Batik Filipinx – May 1, 2 p.m., The Mix at the Main Library

Activity: Art with Tracy Williams – May 2, 4 p.m.

Sweet Stories for Families – May 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31, 11 a.m.

Activity: Origami Books – May 3, 3 p.m., Noe Valley Branch

Activity: Origami – May 7, 2 p.m., Bernal Heights Branch

Performance: The Flying Angels Chinese Dance Company – May 7, 2 p.m., Presidio Branch

Panel: Mindfulness and Self Care – May 11, 10 a.m.

Workshop: K-Pop with Rae Studios – May 21, 1 p.m.

Performance: Halau Ha’a Kea o Kinohi Dance School, Hula – May 21, 11:30 a.m., Ortega Branch; May 21, 2 p.m., Parkside Branch; May 23, 4 p.m., Visitacion Valley Branch

Performance: Rahiti Polynesian Dance – May 21, 12 p.m., Western Addition Branch

Exhibit: APIA World War II Veterans Wall of Fame – May 1–31, Main Library, Children’s Center, 2nd Floor

Find out more about our programs.

 

Adult Highlights
For adults, Filipino favorite Diosa Blooms is back with a floral workshop ready to inspire your creativity.
If visual arts is your jam, SFPL presents a series of virtual tours with the Asian Art Museum.

Film screenings are popping up at Library branches and the Main—check your local calendar.

Come to the Koret Auditorium in the Main Library to hear Bay Area Asian American grassroots organizers and scholar-activists discuss their book Contemporary Asian American Activism: Building Movements for Liberation.
The Library is thrilled to host notable authors both on its virtual and in-person stages. See social media phenoms Andria Lo and Valerie Luu dish about Chinatown Pretty, a stunning sociological portrait chronicling the street-style of senior citizens across six North American Chinatowns.

And, lastly, our celebration stretches past May! Mark your calendar for Malinda Lo, author of bestselling, National Book Award-winning YA crossover novel Last Night at the Telegraph Club. Her author program and our On the Same Page book club will be held virtually in June.

All programs are virtual unless indicated below with a location.

Workshop: Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong – Thursdays, 2 p.m. starting May 5, Presidio Branch

Performance: Taiko Drumming – May 5, 3 p.m., Mission Bay Branch; May 25, 3 p.m., Visitacion Valley Branch; May 26, 3 p.m., West Portal Branch

When the Tiger Smoked a Pipe with Asian Art Museum – May 3, 6:30 p.m.

Film: Parasite – May 5, 12 p.m., Main Library, Koret Auditorium

Speaker: Russell Jeung, Anti-Asian Hate in the Time of COVID – May 7, 1 p.m.

Nature Boost: Uprooting Chinatown – May 9, 7 p.m.

Diosa Blooms – May 11, 12 p.m.

Chinatown Photo Walk with Sony Artisans – May 14, 9:30 a.m., Chinatown Branch

Reflections on Contemporary Asian American Activism – May 14, 2 p.m., Main Library, Koret Auditorium

Presentation: Martial Arts and Lion Dance – May 14, 2 p.m., Merced Branch

Chinatown Rising Screening with Director Joshua Chuck – May 16, 7 p.m.

Adornment: Displays of Wealth and Status with Asian Art Museum – May 18, 6:30 p.m.

Author: Andria Lo and Valerie Luu, Chinatown Pretty – May 21, 1 p.m., Main Library, Koret Auditorium

Japanese Aesthetics: Exploring Japan’s Artistic Sensibilities with Asian Art Museum – May 31, 6:30 p.m.

Exhibit: Fighting for the American Dream: APIA WWII Military Gold Medalists – May 1–31, Main Library, Chinese Center, 3rd Floor

Book Club: Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo – June 27, 7 p.m.
Author: Malinda Lo in Conversation – June 29, 12 p.m.

Find out more about our programs.

 

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Kate Patterson

Communications Director

San Francisco Public Library

415-557-4252 | Kate.Patterson@sfpl.org