BY JANET C. WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
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IF YOU GO
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The Taft Museum, 316 Pike St., is open daily and features monthly events. Information: 241-0343.
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With the stirring sounds of Chinese music wafting through the air, Ryan Davis sat at a table at the Taft Museum Saturday , his tiny face a mask of concentration as he decorated a Chinese paper fan.
Ryan, whose fourth birthday is Monday, was at the Taft with his parents, Amy and Kurt Davis of Landen, for the fourth annual Celebrate China culture fair.
"His father was a missionary in Taiwan a couple of years, and we thought it would be nice to expose our son to the Chinese culture," Mrs. Davis said.
The Davises were among about 1,000 people at the fair. The crowd included many local Chinese families and several families with adopted Chinese children. Debbi Borchers of Fort Mitchell brought her adopted Chinese daughters, Anna, 4, and Sara, 2, to allow them to "learn a little more about their roots."
Visitors toured the museum, sampled Chinese food, listened to Chinese music, and enjoyed Tai Chi demonstrations, Chinese folk tales, dance performances and children's dance lessons. Participants included the Academy of World Languages, Asia for Kids, Cincinnati - Liuzhou Sister City Association, Way Chee Connally, Taft docents, Greater Cincinnati Chinese Music Society (GCCMS), Mok Lau -- Tai Chi Master, Ming Ke -- playing the Chinese Pipa, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument -- Pacific Moon Cafe and organizers Stout & Gallant Associates Inc.
Victoria Woo and Pamela Lynch, both 14 and from West Chester, drew intricate pictures on fans as Victoria's brother, Benjamin, and father, Rick Woo, looked on.
"The picture Victoria is drawing with cranes and pine trees signifies longevity," Mr. Woo said. "Pamela's dragon signifies royalty, a king."
Phillip Long, Taft director, said the fair is "a great pollination of cultures." The Taft's special Chinese exhibit lasts through Oct. 11, but there is a permanent Chinese collection.
