This may shock some culturally deprived folks, but China has brought about more than just MSG-infused fried foods and kung fu films. Just ask the 27 contemporary furniture designers showing their creations at Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale (1 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale) as part of an exhibit entitled,
Inspired by China: Contemporary Furnituremakers Explore Chinese Traditions. After participating in a historic Chinese furniture workshop, this American and Canadian crew was whipped into a creative frenzy; what resulted were chairs, stools, altar tables, screens, cabinets, and more. Catch sight of the items alongside their Asian counterparts and compare: Are you a fan of the tried-and-true or the modern and new?
The museum also offers complementary events, like an Antiques Roadshow-type gathering for Asian art and objects, Tai Chi classes, and a Chinese New Year celebration. There will also be lectures about antique and contemporary furniture design, so you can eventually identify that hongmu and zitan (types of Chinese wood) that you may have noticed while sitting around the pagoda. Drop the chopsticks and get the real flavor of China Wednesdays through Mondays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Call 954-525-5500, or visit www.moafl.org.
Tuesdays-Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays. Starts: Dec. 4. Continues through Dec. 31, 2007