Lunar New Year Papercut Decorations: Hands-on Workshops [Level 1]

Prepare your home for the prosperous Year of the Wood Dragon with Think!Chinatown.

Join artist Ling Tang for a chuanghua/window flower papercut art 窗花剪紙 and dragon decorations workshop in preparation for Lunar New Year! In this workshop, you will explore the cultural history of Lunar New Year decorations, learn about the traditional art forms of paper-cutting, and make your very own dragon decorations to bring home. During Lunar New Year, traditional household decorations like chuanghua 窗花 are used to decorate your home’s walls, windows, and doors. These red paper decorations invite good luck into the household and express happiness for the spring season.

This session is family-friendly, for those who are interested in exploring the world of arts and crafts and traditional Chinese folk art. If this is your first time trying out paper cutting, this is the workshop for you! We’ll learn about the basics of papercut art and create decorations of auspicious Chinese characters and symbols, as well as a little dragon using Ling’s beautifully designed templates.

Reservations are necessary to attend. Sliding scale: $15-$30

If you’re looking for a slightly more advanced class, sign up for their level 2 workshop: eventbrite.com/e/lunar-new-year-papercut-decorations-hands-on-workshops-level-2-tickets-801804076577

For a full listing of Think!Chinatown’s Lunar New Year activities, go to: www.thinkchinatown.org/lny

Ling Tang is a New York City based dance specialist with professional training in traditional Chinese and contemporary dance. She has been awarded a 2021 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship in Folk/Traditional Arts. Ling holds an M.A. in arts administration from Columbia University, and a B.A. in dance and intercultural performing arts from the University of Maryland-College Park. (www.ling-tang.com)

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All ticket proceeds will directly go back to making these community events possible.

If you are unable to contribute financially, please don’t hesitate to reach out – Think!Chinatown would still love to have you there! Ask us about options to volunteer with us.

Think!Chinatown is committed to hosting accessible events for our Chinatown neighbors. As they continue to present free, public events throughout the neighborhood, they invite you to support us with your contribution to grow their new home and community art space at 1 Pike St.

Think!Chinatown is a place-based intergenerational non-profit in Manhattan’s Chinatown, working at the intersection of storytelling, arts and neighborhood engagement. They believe the process of listening, reflecting and celebrating develops the community cohesion and trust necessary to work on larger neighborhood issues. By building strength from within the neighborhood, they can shape better policies and programs that define public spaces, celebrate your cultural heritage and innovate how collective memories are represented. Learn more at www.thinkchinatown.org