Uncovering Asian art
On the Dec. 4 edition of KQED's Forum, Professor of Art Mark Dean Johnson and Art Department Visual Curator Irene Poon discussed the exhibit "Asian/American/Modern Art: Shifting Currents, 1900-1970." The exhibit at the deYoung Museum is co-curated by Johnson and features work and research by Poon. Johnson said the exhibit brings attention to works by Asian American artists that had previously been ignored. On the program, Poon told the story of her photograph "Memories of the Universal Café" and discussed the research that went into the exhibition and the accompanying book, "Asian American Art: A History, 1850-1970." "It truly was a learning experience for myself," Poon said of the research that went into the project. "It's a little like an archaeological find."

Running long
In a Dec. 6 San Francisco Chronicle story, Professor of Political Science Robert Smith commented on San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's state of the city address. Smith said the lengthy speech may have neutralized Newsom's intended message. "If he has a message in his speech, and I assume he has, I think it will get lost in that period of time," Smith said. "I don't think on any issue that he needs that much time to say the things that need to be said. If it's crime or housing or the homeless, he could still say it in a more abbreviated time."