The Manhasset School District fine arts department, in conjunction with the Chinese American Association of North Hempstead, recently hosted its first Lunar New Year Arts Festival at Manhasset Secondary School. The featured guest was world-renowned artist Cao Jun, who demonstrated his distinctive brush techniques for those in attendance.
In addition to celebrating the Year of the Rat – the rat is a symbol of vitality in the Chinese zodiac – the evening served as the kickoff to an exhibit of Cao Jun’s work being displayed in the Gallery of Fine Art at Manhasset Secondary School through February. Cao Jun painted a mural of a tiger before attendees in the middle school library, then generously donated the mural to the school’s future Wellness Learning Center.
Members of the Manhasset Secondary School Culture Club performed a traditional Chinese ribbon dance, and students from nearby Herricks High School performed a traditional lion dance. The Lunar New Year Arts Festival was coordinated by the Manhasset School District’s fine arts department at CAANH.
“We are so proud to have had Cao Jun share his work with Manhasset in this celebration of Lunar New Year,” said Manhasset Director of Fine and Performing Arts Dr. Christopher Hale. “We look forward to many more opportunities to serve our community through the arts in the months and years to come.”
Submitted by Syntax and the Manhasset School District
