About this project

A wonderful opportunity has been given to us. Chicago's Chinese Fine Arts Society has been invited to present our colorful spectacle, Qi Xi: A Chinese Love Story for a second year in Millennium Park. This site-specific, multi-disciplinary, traveling public art performance will take place on Sunday, August 22nd from 2:30-4:00 pm at locations throughout Millennium Park.

Qi Xi (pronounced "chee shee") is the story of Niulang and Zhinu – the cowherd and celestial weaver princess, whose forbidden love caused the creation of the Milky Way.

Help us make this happen!

We need your support. Any donation is appreciated. This will go to all production costs: costuming, transportation, promotion, stage management, rehearsal costs, etc.

Thank you for your support and please peruse our list of enticing Backer Awards. We send you our love. Please send us yours.

-The staff and board of the Chinese Fine Arts Society*

*The Chinese Fine Arts Society is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization based in Chicago. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law

P.S. If you don't see anything that entices you to become a backer in the awards list, please let us know if you have any suggestions. Please also visit www.chinesefinearts.org/qixi-support to find out other ways that you can support this effort!

BACKGROUND

On Sunday, July 19th, 2009, the Chinese Fine Arts Society (CFAS) was invited by Millennium Park to present a site-specific spectacle in four acts in honor of the 7th Eve Festival, Qi Xi, (pronounced “Chee Shee”), also referred to as ”Chinese Valentine’s Day,” which is held annually on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. On this day, two stars, Altair and Vega, which are normally viewed on opposite sides of the Milky Way, appear to be together on one side and the QiXi story offers an explanation of why this is so.

Involving close to 200 performers from seven collaborating performing arts groups which included Lion dancers, martial artists, traditional Chinese dancers, Chinese opera singers and instrumentalists the event was very well received by the crowd of about 6000. The Chinese Fine Arts Society has been asked to reprise the spectacle on August 22, 2010 due to the enormous success of the first performance.

THE STORY

The story concerns the youngest of the seven daughters of the Heavenly Jade Emperor. She’s the prettiest and has the most talent at weaving and needlepoint, and is responsible for weaving the clouds and rainbows of the skies. One day the sisters go down to Earth to visit a sacred bathing pool. As they are leaving, the youngest discovers that a cowherd has taken her clothes. He tells her he won’t give them back to her unless she agrees to marry him. She’s actually attracted to him, and agrees, and they end up living happily together on Earth.

Everything is fine until one day the Jade Empress notices that the skies aren’t as nice anymore due to the absence of the youngest daughter. She sends soldiers down to bring her back. The Cowherd chases after his beloved, but the Jade Empress prevents him from catching up by creating the Milky Way.

Back in the Heavens, the Weaver Princess is despondent and weeps, causing torrents of rain on earth. The Jade Emperor finally takes pity on her and allows the Cowherd and the Weaver Princess to meet once a year (the date of the festival). On this day, all of the magpies of the world fly together to make a bridge on which the lovers can re-unite.

THE PERFORMANCE

Millennium Park is simply a perfect backdrop for this story. Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate, representing the Heavenly Court is a beautiful place to begin the performance. At the northern end of the Park, the Wrigley Square fountain basin with columns is an apt setting for the bathing scene where the weaver princess meets the cowherd. At the southern end of the park, the two Towers of the Crown Fountain are a dramatic place to express the separation of the two lovers. And the final scene takes place back at the Cloud Gate, again representing the Heavenly Court.

Chinese opera singers play the roles of the Jade Emperor and Empress. The Cowherd, Weaver Princess and Seven Sisters are played by Chinese dancers. Martial artists play the Soldiers assigned to take the Daughter back, and they also depict the creation of the Milky Way. The event begins with Lion Dancers, and a colorful procession of the Lion, musicians, ribbon dancers, and all other performers moves from place to place between acts. In the final act, all performers return to Cloud Gate where the smallest child dancers play Magpies and origami birds are handed out to onlookers.

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

The performance incorporates close to 200 artists from the following performing arts groups: All Star Kung Fu, Championship Martial Arts, Chicago Chinese Cultural Center, Desiree Ruhstrat Violin Studio, Little Star Dance Troupe, and Skyland Chinese Opera Troupe. Nina Chen, the Chinese Fine Arts Society Artistic Director, adapted the story and coordinated the original collaboration. Choreography is by Jin Qiu Yue.

Images and audio from the 2009 debut performance, as well as information about companion events which will be presented this summer at Adler Planetarium in partnership with the Chinese Fine Arts Society are available at www.chinesefinearts.org/QiXi.

Thanks again for your interest! Please back this project and help us to make it happen!!

Project location: Chicago, IL

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Project By

Peter McDowell Arts Consulting

New York, NY

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New York based Arts Consultant Peter McDowell offers a variety of services to performing artists as well as arts organizations. For artists we take a holistic look at career goals and offers assistance with marketing and PR materials, developing an online presence, evaluating audio and video samples, creating a network, touring, recording, referrals, researching and writing grants. For arts organizations we provide grant and final report writing, researching new sources of foundation and governmental support, artistic and strategic planning, and program management.

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