Middfest International
C  H  I  N  A
2 0 0 6
     Educational Projects

YOUTH

RESOURCE BOOKS   Approximately 60 area schools have received Resource Books so that teachers can develop projects to introduce students to China.  There will be a school exhibit during Middfest Weekend.  Inland Container, A Temple Inland Company, and Alpine Press sponsor the Resource Books. 

SCHOOL TOURS   Teachers may schedule a tour of the exhibits for their class during Middfest Week, Sept. 25-29, to see the work in progress.  There will be a volunteer at each exhibit site to explain the exhibit to the class. 

PERFORMERS & ARTISTS IN SCHOOLS  To share Chinese visitors widely, performers, artists and experts will be scheduled to visit surrounding elementary schools and universities.  The short performances, demonstrations or talks will be followed by a question & answer period. 

SUPER SATURDAY FOR KIDS   School, scout, church and other youth organizations can enjoy performances and the opportunity to interact with the international performing groups assembled for the weekend.  The event, sponsored by Target Stores, is held Saturday morning of Middfest weekend.  Registration starts at 9:00 A.M.

YOUTH PARK   Open throughout Middfest weekend, Youth Park has visitors of all ages, but the projects are designed for pre-school through 12 years of age.  Volunteers host special craft projects, and a Youth Park Food Booth is operated by The Celebration Church as their donation to Middfest. 


PERFORMING ARTS

Performing Arts sponsors include:  Ohio Arts Council (OAC), Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour (PennPAT), Middletown Public Library System, and Cincinnati Fine Arts Fund (FAF). 
Other pending grants include the Bubel Aiken Foundation.

SOME SUNNY NIGHT   Musical by composer Thomas Stanghelle, son of Truid Stanghelle from Norway, mezzo-soprano who performed at Middfest in 1997, is based on a true story of a marathon runner, Ketil Moe, a young Norwegian man with Cystic Fibrosis, and a young Chinese man, Mark Wang, with a spinal cord injury, who met in the Norwegian Sunnaas Rehab Hospital.  Out of their friendship grew marathons in Norway and China designed to accommodate runners with physical challenges and the able-bodied.  The full-length performance at the Sorg Opera House on Thursday, September 28, at 7:00 P. M., will be followed by an Encore Party.  Attending Middfest, will be the Stanghelles from Norway, Mark Wang from China, and Marks mother, Shen Liping, who will be one of Middfest's visual artists.  Also attending will be New York Marathon winner Grete Waitz, who was a mentor to Ketil Moe. 
For tickets call Ann Baines at 513-425-8220, or order online at www.middfestinternational.org

THE PHILADELPHIA CHINESE OPERA SOCIETY Spectacular costumes and elaborate make-up will enhance the artistry of their highly stylized singing, dancing and martial arts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 29-30, and October 1. 

CHINESE MUSIC & OPERA CENTER Gong -Qian Yang, composer and musician, will discuss Chinese Music and instruments Saturday, Sept. 30, & Sunday, Oct. 1.  Min Xiao Fen, soloist and composer, will feature music by Gong Qian Yang, in a single performance on Sunday, October 1, at 2:00 P.M.

FIDDLEKICKS will bring clogging to life with a "hoop and holler"!  This distinct form of folk music and percussive dance will be performed to the driving beat of live banjo and fiddle. 

WACONGO DANCE COMPANY Master drummers, musicians and dancers from the Republic of Congo inspire and educate public audiences about African heritage and culture. 

LATIN FIESTA has been enjoyed nationwide in schools, at festivals and with symphony orchestras.  Their dazzling style of performance highlights Spanish and Latin American culture. 

SHKIDY CLOWN MIME THEATRE is on tour from St. Petersburg, Russia and will bring their stunning, poetic and poignant award winning performances to Middfest. 

THE OSTAP TRIO will bring lively music of many Eastern European countries.  Ostap Stahiv, who was a special guest at Middfest 1993 and 2002, will return with his trio and again play his bandura in solo performances. 

EXHIBITS

LITERATURE & LANGUAGE  The interactive exhibit will have several components to enjoy.  Learn about the Chinese Language, both written and spoken.  Look for the pithy sayings or aphorisms (tersely phrased statements of a truth or an opinion) Calligraphy demonstrations will be ongoing and visitors might be able to get their name written in Chinese characters.  Authors participating will be Andrea Cheng, children's author, who will read her Chinese stories; and Vicki Croke, author of The Lady and the Panda, who will also talk about her books on zoos and animal ER.  Their books may be purchased and signed at Middfest. 

HISTORY  China's history will be presented in three periods:  Traditional China, China in Conflict & Chaos and China Reasserts Itself.  A model of the Great Hall, perhaps the most famous building in the Forbidden City, has been built for Middfest by Lego artist Arthur Gugick, who has constructed models of a number of historic buildings located in different parts of the world, which will be featured in a companion exhibit.  There will be a layout of the Forbidden City complex with information describing life within. 

SCIENCE  China has been responsible for many inventions.  The Science & Technology Committee will concentrate on four of its greatest:  gunpowder, the compass, papermaking and printing.  There will also be emphasis on Chinese gardens, which will be incorporated throughout the site of Middfest on Donham Plaza and on the Fine Arts Center patio.  Bamboo, one of the essential elements in any Chinese Garden, will be discussed in the garden by expert Jerry Burton during the weekend. 

THE GREAT WALL  This remarkable structure will rise skyward during Middfest.  Many interesting facts and stories related to the Wall will be displayed.  It will be located on the Mound at the north end of the Middletown City Building.

TAI CHI  Demonstrations and participant sessions are planned in the "shadow" of our Wall.  In the Animal Center Tai Chi poses that mimic animals will be spotlighted. 

CULTURE  Look for amazing kites in the City Building Atrium by master designer Chen Zhao Ji from China.  Art by Shen Liping, renowned Chinese artist, will display 30 pieces of traditional paintings and 30 pieces of ink prints.  (Mrs. Shen is Mark Wang's mother.  See "Some Sunny Night" musical.)  Sculptor Huang Jian will also be here from China, along with models of 18 large-scale public sculptures; including the one she designed for the 2008 Olympics.  The exhibit will host a number of other demonstrators. 


2006 MIDDFEST EDUCATIONAL CENTERS

THE ANIMAL CENTER   Animals of the Chinese Zodiac, living and legendary, will make their appearance and our human guests can learn which animal sign they were born under.  Chinese bred dogs will take center stage on Saturday for the now traditional Parade of Dogs, and on Sunday afternoon the Columbus Zoo will show some of their favorites. 

CONVERSATIONS Important, interesting subjects are covered, including education, government, religion and a yearly favorite, Growing up in China. 

FILMS VIDEOS DVD CENTER  Documentaries, travel and commercial films will be shown throughout the weekend.  Some may have narrative and discussion, others will not. 

MUSIC CENTER  Unusual instrumentals and musical styles, a yearly favorite, will be discussed and demonstrated by guest performers in the Council Chamber in the City Building. 

BUSINESS PROJECTS  Through the Business Exchange, Sept. 27-29, 2006, Chinese visitors will learn about the business climate in southwest Ohio and will be paired for a day with U. S. companies.  At the Business Exposition, both Chinese and U. S. companies will display their products and services on Friday, Sept. 29, combined with the Luncheon & Conference.  The keynote address will increase awareness of the broader issues of the changing world market.  The Conference will focus on issues of concern to southwest Ohio companies.  

FOOD      Chinese food will be highlighted in the International Food Court.  Chinese Food Demonstrations will take place on the Plaza, and a Harvest Moon Tea and International Wine Garden will invite guests to relax and enjoy a beverage and a traditional Harvest Moon cookie. 

OTHER ACTIVITIES  Join the Bike Tour.  Shop in the World Bazaar & Boutique Submit your photo and/or video of Middfest to be displayed in the post-Middfest Photo Show. 


Dates to Remember
    EXHIBITS OPENING Sunday, September 24, 2006 2:30 P.M.
A Sneak Preview, starting on the Mound next to the City Building, followed by an Artists Reception in the Lobby

    SOME SUNNY NIGHT Thursday, September 28, 2006 7:00 P.M.
Premier U. S. Performance at the Sorg Opera House, followed by an Encore Party (See page 2) 
Phone Ann Baines for tickets, 513-424-8220, or order on line at
www.middfestinternational.org
         

    Friday, September 29, 2006

    BUSINESS Exposition, Lunch & Conference 11:00 A.M.
The Manchester Inn - Phone Middfest, 513-425-7707 for information or reservations for the
CHINESE BUSINESS EXCHANGE, EXPOSITION, LUNCHEON & CONFERENCE (See Above.)

    OPENING CEREMONY 6:00 P.M.
Middfest International China Celebration on Donham Plaza, September 29, 30 & Ocobert 1.
    Saturday, September 30: 10:00 A.M. - 10:00 P.M.
Bike Tour Registration: 7:00 A.M.
   Super Saturday for Kids Registration: 9:00 A.M.
Sunday, October 1: 12:00 Noon - 6:00 P.M.
    CLOSING CEREMONY (Exhibits will close at 6:00 P. M. Sunday) 6:00 P.M.

                                    Shy Hill Marketing

A Promotional Agency
PO Box 421183
Middletown, OH  45042
513-420-1574
www.shyhill.com