News Release

March brings an eclectic mix of programs and events to the San Francisco Main Library. Highlights include: Irish musicians, dancers, poets and writers celebrating Irish heritage, playwright Philip Kan Gotanda and author Gail Tsukiyama discussing their work and their experiences as Japanese-Americans, and young African-American artists expressing the meaning of success through their artwork.

As part of the week-long Crossroads Irish-American Festival, the Library will present three programs on March 10. Dancers from the Healy Irish Dance School will perform traditional Irish dance beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the Fisher Children’s Center. Following their performance, fiddler Colm Ó Riain will play traditional Irish music. From 1:15-2 p.m., Ó Riain and his eclectic band Hy Brassyl will bring their blend of Irish music and jazz, blues, Cuban and Brazilian sounds to the Koret Auditorium. A panel discussion on “Irish in the Americas” will follow at 2 p.m in the Koret. Panelists include poet Carlota Caulfield (Ticket to Ride), who will reflect on her Cuban-Irish-Catalan-Sephardic heritage; author Juan José Delaney (Moira Sullivan, Treboles del Sur), who will focus on the Irish-Porteños of his experience in the Irish-Argentine community; John-Carlos Perea, a musician of Mescalero Apache and Irish-German heritage; and author Edgardo Vega Yunqué, who will reveal intersections between Puerto Rican and Irish communities in New York. Margaret McPeake from the New College of California Irish Studies Program will moderate the discussion.

On March 14, playwright Philip Kan Gotanda will explore what happened to the more than 120,000 Japanese Americans who were imprisoned during World War II when they returned to mainstream society. Set in 1948, Gotanda’s play After the War looks at the rebuilding of a community shattered by the effects of war. He will share his inspirations for the play—which makes its world premier at the American Conservatory Theater the following week—the challenges of producing new work, and the process of going from page to stage during a 6:30 p.m. presentation in the Koret Auditorium.

Gail Tsukiyama, author of The Samurai’s Garden, will read and discuss her book from 6:30–7:30 p.m. on March 22 in the Koret Auditorium. Her interest in what she refers to as “early Chinese feminists” can be seen in many of her works. Her work includes Women of the Silk, Night of Many Dreams, The Language of Threads and Dreaming Water. The Samurai’s Garden is this month’s On the Same Page selection. On the Same Page is the Library’s monthly book club.

Some 16 teen artists from high schools in San Francisco, Richmond and Oakland will present their artwork and stories on success in the ASPIRE! Black Teen Artists’ Interpretations of Success exhibition on display March 10–June 7 in the African American Center. Artists’ statements on success are displayed alongside their artwork. Their art and words reveal their dreams, fears, motivations and obstacles. The exhibition is curated by local artist Kheven LaGrone. An opening reception with the artists will be held 2–4 p.m. on March 11 in the Main Library’s Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room. Hip hop theatrical group Colored Ink will perform during the reception.

All events and exhibitions are free and open to the public.
For more information, please call (415) 557-4277.