Skip to main content

Visit to Eugene

I had the wonderful opportunity to visit with Peter Leung, a businessman and civic leader based in Eugene, Oregon. Mr. Leung had the distinction of becoming the first Chinese-American to serve as the president of a local chapter (Corvallis) of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He currently serves as vice president of the Eugene chapter of the NAACP, and remains committed to lending a voice for peoples of color. Previously, he was appointed as the chair of the Oregon Commission on Asian Affairs. In his role, he developed close working relationships with both the local Latino and African-American communities. I'm happy to learn about his work and vision for moving the NAACP chapter forward.

While in Eugene, I also took the opportunity to view the University of Oregon Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Fine Art exhibit A Way With Words: The Calligraphic Art of Jung Do-jun. In Korea and other parts of Asia, calligraphy was traditionally regarded among the highest of the visual arts. This is the first exhibition of Jung Do-jun's work in the United States. The artist has exhibited widely in Korea, and has had the honor of being selected to execute large memorial tablets and inscriptions at several imperial palaces in Seoul.

I'm impressed to learn that the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Fine Art is steadily increasing its collection of Asian art, featuring Korean, Chinese and Japanese art and artifacts. According to John Vollmer, textile scholar and former curator at the Royal Ontario Museum, the museum houses "one of the most significant public collections of Chinese costumes in North America." Its Japanese holdings include woodblock prints, early Imari and Kutani ware ceramics, and lacquer ware. The museum's growing collection of Korean art features traditional costumes and accessories, ceramics, paintings, and bronzes.





Popular posts from this blog

Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto

In "Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto," renowned Marxian scholar and philosopher Kohei Saito offers a compelling argument against the relentless pursuit of economic growth that permeates contemporary capitalism. Saito’s thesis focuses on the concept of degrowth—a radical reduction in production and consumption that aligns with sustainable ecological limits rather than constant expansion. Pictured above is Kohei Saito Saito makes a significant and timely contribution to the ongoing conversation about sustainable living. Slow Down adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing insights from environmental science, economics, and social theory to present a clear and urgent depiction of the current ecological crisis. Saito critiques the widely accepted belief that economic growth equates to progress and questions the sustainability of existing global consumption patterns. He advocates for a fundamental reshaping of our economic systems to prioritize human well-being and ecologica...
Read more

Enlighten Me

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Los Angeles Book Review . Author Minh Lê Standing up for oneself seems like doing the right thing. Binh did just that in the face of a racist school bully who was poking fun at his Asian heritage. But physically assaulting another student goes against school policy, and it was Binh who got in trouble. Binh shares a silent retreat with his family and younger siblings. Along with other children, he learns about stories from the previous lives of the Buddha. The stories are interesting, but for Binh, it is difficult to sit still and clear his mind when he misses his Gameboy. While he struggles with silence, he learns important lessons about friendship, community, and being present. In the graphic novel "Enlighten Me," award-winning author Minh Lê and bestselling illustrator Chan Chau tell the story of a boy who gains a better understanding of himself as he works on quieting the mind and reflecting on dharma. Lê and Ch...
Read more

Minding the Wealth Gap

As a Black investor and startup founder, Cliff Goins IV brings firsthand experience and sharp insight to one of America’s most urgent issues: the racial wealth gap. Having navigated the worlds of finance and entrepreneurship, Goins has seen up close the systemic disparities in wealth creation, access to capital, and asset management. From unequal opportunities in homeownership and education to persistent challenges in business funding and employment, the historical gaps are perpetuated in present-day practices. In "Minding the Wealth Gap," Goins skillfully blends data, lived experience, and the insights of experts to illuminate the deep-rooted economic disparities facing Black Americans. More importantly, he highlights the power of collective uplift. Through the voices of nine dynamic “gap closers,” Goins shows how real change happens when Black investors and leaders open doors for others. Each success “play” or strategy underscores the ripple effect of support. Selena Cu...
Read more