nwasianweekly.com
Mar. 21, 2008

Jay Jie Xu has been named the new director of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. He will begin his position June 15. Xu, 45, previously worked at the Seattle Art Museum as the head of the Department of Asian Art and Foster Foundation Curator of Chinese Art from 1996 to 2003. While at SAM, Xu significantly expanded its Asian art collection, reinstalled permanent collection galleries and curated a wide range of special exhibitions.

Sen. Chris Marr, D-Spokane, won the fourth annual Regence BlueShield “Move It” Legislative Walking Challenge, in which legislators wear a pedometer during session. Marr’s total number of steps was 361,541. “I’m not surprised that I came out on top,” joked Marr, an avid runner who made it a goal to average six miles per day either running or walking. “I’ve heard that Derek Kilmer is a fierce door-beller on the campaign trail, but I’ve always had my doubts — I mean, he looks a little soft. And Steve Hobbs? Sure, he may have been ‘The Hobbinator’ when he was in the Army, but I knew I could take him — guys like that use it all up in their youth and burn out early.” Regence will donate $3,500 to a Spokane-area school to be used for health-related purposes in honor of Marr’s first-place finish.

William Hsu recently joined the law firm of Oseran, Hahn, Spring,
Straight & Watts, in Bellevue. His concentration is general business and tax matters. Hsu earned his law degrees from Georgetown University Law Center and Seattle University School of Law. He lives in Bellevue with his wife and young son.

The Korean Community Counseling Center held its annual fundraising dinner Feb. 24 at the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle. Becky Lee, cast member on “Survivor: Cook Islands,” was the keynote speaker. Lee is an advocate and attorney for battered women’s rights and the founder of Becky’s Fund. Other special guests included the Korean Consul General Chan-ho Kwon and acclaimed artist Jahee Oh.

Elsie Taniguchi, president of the Japanese Americans Citizens League Puyallup Valley Chapter, and Hank and Kareen Queen, volunteers at Asian Counseling and Resource Center, recently returned from competing in the Arthur Murray Hula Rama at the Grand Hyatt in Kauai, Hawaii, with a number of dance awards.

Ratna Roy received the Ethnic Heritage Council’s 2008 Gordon Ekvall Tracie Award. The award is given annually to an ethnic performing artist who has made significant contributions in the development and presentation of the traditional arts in the community. The award was presented at the Ethnic Heritage Council’s 27th Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony Feb 29 at the Nordic Heritage Museum.

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