Events at the Wang Center
Fall 2025
Symposium
Art, War, and Revolution: Lee Qoede and the Global Currents of Muralism in Asia
Center for Asian and African Studies at the Colegio de México
Thursday, August 21, 2025
at 11:00 AM–6:30 PM EST / 10:00 AM–5:30 PM CST
Hybrid: Online and in-person
Free Admission
Advance reservation is required.
This symposium is an interdisciplinary, cross-cultural symposium that reexamines the life and work of Korean modernist Lee Qoede within the broader context of global mural movements. Join leading scholars, curators, and researchers as they share new insights and discoveries about the transnational artistic exchanges that shaped Asian art in the twentieth century. Each presenter will explore how Mexican muralism inspired artists across Asia and consider how the language of large-scale public art became a powerful tool for social change and cultural identity.
Symposium Booklet
This symposium is organized by Jinyoung Anna Jin and Marisol Villela Balderrama, with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MCST) of South Korea and the Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS). It is co-organized by the Center for Asian and African Studies at the Colegio de México and Museo Kaluz.


Workshop
The Elegant Craft of Japanese Flower Arrangements (Ikebana)
By Toyomi Sobue
Friday, September 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM
East Hall
Admission:
$60 (General) per workshop
$50 (Students/Seniors 65+) per workshop
Sign up for both workshops and save!
$100 (General) for both workshops (save $20!)
$85 (Students/Seniors 65+) for both workshops (save $15!)
Fee includes all materials.
Limited to 15 people per session. Advance reservation is required.
In two hands-on workshops, Toyomi Sobue will guide participants through the fundamental principles and techniques of ikebana, or Japanese flower arrangement. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner, you will leave with a deeper appreciation for the elegance and simplicity of this ancient art.
Each workshop is designed for participants of all levels. All materials will be provided, and participants will create their own unique floral arrangements to take home. This event is perfect for those looking to explore new artistic expressions or to unwind in a peaceful environment. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a master and bring a touch of Japanese elegance into your life!
Floral Balance
Friday, September 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Unlock the secrets of using a device called a Japanese flower frog (kenzan) to create balanced and harmonious floral masterpieces.
Inner Peace and Beauty
Friday, September 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Explore the graceful differences between upright and slanting ikebana, and learn how to place stems for fluid, captivating arrangements in cylindrical vases.
About the presenter
Toyomi Sobue was born and raised in Nagoya, Japan, and started practicing ikebana while she was in college. She subsequently became a certified ikebana instructor. Sobue moved to New York in 1990 and has been spreading Japanese culture in the New York area ever since. In 2007, Soube founded the Long Island Japanese Culture Center (www.lijcc.org) in Port Washington to introduce Japanese culture to both Americans and Japanese. She offers ikebana and Japanese tea ceremony workshops in many colleges and special events.
Co-presented by the Long Island Japanese Culture Center.

Film
Mirai
Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM – 7:45 PM
Theatre
(2018 | 98 minutes | Fantasy/Adventure | Directed by Mamoru Hosoda)
Admission: $5 (General/Students/Seniors 65+)
FREE for children ages 5 and under
From the acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda (Wolf Children) comes a daringly original story of love passed down through generations. When four-year-old Kun meets his new baby sister, his world is turned upside down. Named Mirai (meaning "future"), the baby quickly wins the hearts of Kun's entire family. Kun becomes increasingly jealous of her until, one day, he storms off into the garden, where he encounters strange guests from the past and future—including his sister Mirai as a teenager. Together, Kun and Mirai journey through time and space, uncovering their family's incredible story in a magical, emotionally soaring adventure about the ties that bind families together and make us who we are.
© 2018 Studio Chizu

Workshop
The Art of Jogakbo: Korean Patchwork Traditions
Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
East Hall
Admission:
$20 (General)
$15 (Students/Seniors 65+)
Fee ncludes all materials.
Limited to 20 people per session. Advance reservation is required.
Discover the beauty and tradition of jogakbo—Korean wrapping patchwork—by creating your own textile wall hanging. This hands-on workshop welcomes participants of all skill levels and invites you to explore both hand-stitching techniques and machine sewing (bring your own sewing machine if you wish). Guided by a teaching artist, you’ll learn how to piece together fabrics into stunning, eye-catching designs inspired by this timeless art.

Film
Mary and the Witch's Flower
Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM – 7:45 PM
Theatre
(2017 | 103 minutes | Fantasy/ Adventure | Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi)
Admission: $5 (General/Students/Seniors 65+)
FREE for children ages 5 and under
From Academy Award–nominee Hiromasa Yonebayashi, the director of When Marnie Was There and a key animator on Studio Ghibli’s acclaimed Spirited Away, comes a dazzling new adventure about a young girl who discovers a flower that grants her magical powers—but only for one night.
Mary is an ordinary young girl stuck in the countryside with her great-aunt Charlotte when she discovers an old broomstick and the strange flower that blooms only once every seven years. Suddenly, Mary finds herself whisked away to Endor College, a school of magic run by Madam Mumblechook and the brilliant Doctor Dee. But the school is not all that it seems, and when Mary tells a lie, she must risk her life to set things right.
© 2017 M.F.P.


Workshop
The Art of Bonsai
By Robert Mahler and the Long Island Bonsai Society
Friday, October 17, 2025
East Hall
Admission:
$40 (General) per workshop
$35 (Students/Seniors 65+) per workshop
Sign up for both workshops and save!
$70 (General) for both workshops (save $10!)
$60 (Students/Seniors 65+) for both workshops (save $10!)
Fee includes all materials.
Limited to 20 people per session. Advance reservation is required.
The Charles B. Wang Center is delighted to offer two bonsai workshops by the esteemed bonsai master Robert Mahler and the Long Island Bonsai Society. Following his highly successful workshops from our previous season, Mahler returns again to share his expertise and insights this fall to beginners and experienced enthusiasts alike. His expert instruction and hands-on demonstrations will equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to embark on their own bonsai journeys.
Artistry in Miniature: Bonsai for Beginners
Friday, October 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Embark on a serene journey into bonsai with Robert Mahler and the Long Island Bonsai Society, learning foundational techniques to shape and nurture your own miniature tree masterpiece.
Living Sculptures: An Intermediate Guide to Bonsai Techniques
Friday, October 17, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Deepen your bonsai expertise with Robert Mahler and the Long Island Bonsai Society, mastering advanced pruning and styling methods to craft living sculptures with elegance and precision.
Co-presented by the Long Island Bonsai Society
About the presenter
Robert Mahler is the president of the Pennsylvania Bonsai Society. He also oversees the bonsai exhibit at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s annual Philadelphia Flower Show. Mahler discovered his passion for bonsai early in life and apprenticed under the exclusive direction of the world-renowned bonsai artist Susumo Sudo. He previously served as the curator of bonsai at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden (1994–2005) and currently runs Kifu Bonsai. He consults for various horticultural institutions.

Performance
Shadow Puppet Show: Wrapped Presence
Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM
Theatre
Admission:
$20 (General)
$15 (Students/Seniors 65+/Children ages 6–12)
FREE for children ages 5 and under
Caroline Borderies (puppeteer), Christian Barthod (puppeteer), Andre Bregegere (Music & Sounds), and Tessa Souter (narrator) present an original shadow puppet show with spare, intricate illustrations and lighting palettes that move from black and white to riotous color.
Inspired by Wonju Seo’s contemporary textile exhibition Through the Light: Contemporary Jogakbo at the Wang Center, this original shadow puppet performance follows four generations of Korean women. Through their stories, the cultural richness of jogakbo—from its intricate patchwork to its symbolic meanings of prosperity, happiness, and longevity—comes to life. With humor and heart, the show celebrates the artistry and eco-conscious elegance of this enduring tradition.
The 30-minute show will be followed by a behind-the-scenes tour with the artists.

Film
Okko’s Inn
Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Theatre
(2018 | 94 minutes | Family | Directed by Kitarō Kōsaka)
Admission: $5 (General/Students/Seniors 65+)
FREE for children ages 5 and under
After losing her parents in a car accident, Okko goes to live in the countryside with her grandmother, who runs a traditional Japanese inn built on top of an ancient spring said to have healing waters. As she goes about her chores and prepares to become the inn’s next caretaker, Okko discovers there are spirits who live there that only she can see. These aren’t scary phantasms; they’re welcoming ghosts who keep her company, play games, and help her navigate her new home. The inn’s motto is that it welcomes all and rejects none, but this is soon put to the test as a string of new guests challenge Okko’s ability to be a gracious host. Ultimately, Okko must learn that dedicating herself to others can become the key to taking care of herself.
© Hiroko Reijō, Asami, KODANSHA / WAKAOKAMI Project

Performance
Magic Q’s Veil of Secrets
Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM & 3:00 PM
Theatre
Admission:
$20 (General)
$15 (Students/Seniors 65+/Children ages 6–12)
FREE for children ages 5 and under
Pierce a magical veil of secrets at the Charles B. Wang Center Theatre! Step into a shadowy world of wonder with Magic Q, an award-winning master magician whose mesmerizing stage performances unravel reality itself. Watch as cards vanish, everyday objects become extraordinary, and your own phone becomes part of the enigma—all laced with sly humor and audience intrigue. Perfect for students, families, and seekers of the mysterious, this all-ages spectacle celebrates the Wang Center’s tradition of captivating performances.

Film
Modest Heroes
Thursday, December 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Theatre
(2018 | 53 minutes | Fantasy/Adventure | Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Yoshiyuki
Momose, and Akihiko Yamashita)
Admission: $5 (General/Students/Seniors 65+)
FREE for children ages 5 and under
From Studio Ponoc (Mary and the Witch's Flower), the acclaimed new studio founded by twice Academy Award–nominated Yoshiaki Nishimura (The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and When Marnie Was There), comes a thrilling collection of stories exploring heroism in everyday life.
Two crab siblings must survive underwater perils to reunite with their father. A young boy and his mother learn to live with a life-changing allergy. A man struggles with his fading existence. These and more can be found in this action-packed and beautifully animated anthology, brought to life by some of the greatest talents working in Japanese animation today.
© 2018 Studio Ponoc