TITLE: Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures and Education Center in Corpus Christi.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures and Education Center in Corpus Christi.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures and Education Center in Corpus Christi celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2014, and the attainment of this milestone represents a fitting opportunity to celebrate this unique institution; and WHEREAS, For 17 years in the 1950s and 1960s, Billie Trimble Chandler of Corpus Christi lived and taught English in Japan, where she collected thousands of Japanese paintings, sculptures, and dolls; after her return to Corpus Christi, she founded the Billie Trimble Chandler Arts Foundation in 1974 and opened the Japanese Art Museum as a nonprofit corporation in a building that she purchased and remodeled to exhibit items from her collection; and WHEREAS, The museum moved to several different locations over the years, and in 1982, it was renamed the Museum of Oriental Cultures and began to exhibit artifacts from other Asian countries, such as China, Korea, and India; a board of trustees was formed in 1983, and in 1995, the museum moved to its current location on North Chaparral Street in Corpus Christi; and WHEREAS, Today, the Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures and Education Center possesses more than 8,000 works of art and documents, among them two life-size bronze samurai statues, a five-foot bronze Amida Buddha, one of the largest collections of Japanese Hakata dolls in the United States, Chinese wedding ceremony costumes, embroidered kimonos, Chinese hand-carved ivory and jade, Korean ceramics, brass artifacts from India, and items from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia; the museum's education program focuses on the geography and culture of the major Asian countries and includes classes in origami, calligraphy, cooking, Tai Chi, and several Asian languages; and WHEREAS, For four decades, the Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures has introduced visitors from across the state and nation to the wonders of Asian art and history, helping to promote understanding between cultures by fostering a deeper appreciation of different ways of seeing the world and preparing our young leaders for global participation; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures and Education Center and extend to all those associated with the museum sincere best wishes for continued success in their important work; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the museum as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Herrero Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1259 was adopted by the House on March 26, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House