CHINESE WORKS PREVIEW AT LAGUNA ART MUSEUM

“Chinese Treasures,� an exhibit prepared for a tour of public and private schools this year, will be on display through Feb. 20 at the Laguna Art Museum in Laguna Beach.

Presented by the Chinese American Council of the Historical & Cultural Foundation of Orange County, the exhibit consists of 17 works, including 10 on loan from Taiwan.

The works from the National Palace Museum and National Museum of History in Taipei include scrolls and an ancient jar. The remaining pieces, including an ancient block print and cloisonne trays, are from private collectors in Orange and Los Angeles counties.

After its preview showing at the Laguna Art Museum’s Children’s Corner, “Chinese Treasures� will be taken to several private schools, including Chinese language institutes in Orange County. The tour of public schools will begin this fall.

The touring “Chinese Treasures� will also feature traditional Chinese games, as well as films and maps about Chinese history. A teacher’s manual written by council members will be provided.

The “traveling treasure chest� program was started last year by the Historical & Cultural Foundation in association with the Orange County Department of Education. The initial project, “Kotos and Kimonos,� was prepared by the foundation’s Japanese American Council.

All of the foundation’s ethnic groups will take part in the Imagination Celebration Internationale concert to be held May 10 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s Segerstrom Hall. The other groups include blacks, Latinos, Vietnamese and Asian Indians.