South Coast Plaza To Present A Special Exhibition Celebrating Chinese-Related Arts & Culture Following Nixon’s Historic Visit to China

For immediate release
Contact: Debra Gunn Downing
downingd@southcoastplaza.com
714.435.2021

SOUTH COAST PLAZA TO PRESENT A SPECIAL EXHIBITION CELEBRATING CHINESE-RELATED ARTS & CULTURE FOLLOWING NIXON’S HISTORIC VISIT TO CHINA

COSTA MESA, Calif., May 2016 — South Coast Plaza and the New Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, along with renowned arts institutions, will present a one-of-a-kind exhibition this summer celebrating significant arts and cultural developments resulting from President Richard Nixon’s historic 1972 trip to China — the first time a U.S. president visited that nation.

“The Week That Changed the World: Nixon, China and the Arts,” will be on display from June 24 to August 18 at South Coast Plaza’s Jewel Court. The exhibition is an unprecedented collaboration by South Coast Plaza and the New Nixon Library with The Getty, Carnegie Hall, Bowers Museum, Orange County Museum of Art, Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, South Coast Repertory and USC Pacific Asia Museum.

“South Coast Plaza is proud to provide a unique forum that not only explores the interchange of music, dance, art, and more between the U.S. and China through the lens of esteemed institutions, but also revisits the important diplomatic event that started it all. We appreciate the Richard Nixon Foundation’s collaborative efforts to make this exhibition an exceptional endeavor,” said Debra Gunn Downing, Executive Director of Marketing and spokeswoman for South Coast Plaza.

“We are thrilled to partner with South Coast Plaza in highlighting the remarkable Chinese art and cultural heritage Americans can now enjoy as a result of President Nixon’s historic trip to China,” said Bill Baribault, President of the Richard Nixon Foundation. “The impact of President Nixon’s trip to China and how it shaped our world for the positive are immeasurable.”

The world-class, 2,300 sq.-ft. multi-media exhibition will feature a dynamic cylindrical design with culturally relevant themes: A yin yang motif symbolizes the complementary relationship between the two nations while a moon gate, a traditional architectural element in Chinese gardens, represents a portal connecting the two world powers. Engaging display panels provide an expansive backdrop for memorable highlights from the 1972 Nixon trip and for displays by significant institutions encapsulating a wealth of Chinese-related arts, culture, music and theater.
While the permanent museum galleries of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum are currently being renovated, visitors to South Coast Plaza will have a unique opportunity to get a glimpse of what is to come at the New Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, which opens to the public on October 14, 2016.

The exhibition is the latest addition to South Coast Plaza’s rich history of supporting Southern California and national arts and cultural institutions. More than one million people are expected to visit the exhibition over a period of eight weeks during the busy summer travel season.

ABOUT SOUTH COAST PLAZA
Renowned as a major global shopping destination, South Coast Plaza is home to more than 250 prominent boutiques, critically-acclaimed restaurants and the adjacent celebrated Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Its unparalleled collection of diverse retailers, from Bottega Veneta, Cartier and Harry Winston to Hermès, Gucci, Roger Vivier, Dolce & Gabbana, COACH, UNIQLO and more – along with its customized concierge services, makes it Southern California’s premier shopping experience. South Coast Plaza is located in Orange County, California, in the city of Costa Mesa. Information: southcoastplaza.com or 800.782.8888.

ABOUT THE RICHARD NIXON FOUNDATION
The Richard Nixon Foundation is a privately supported, nonprofit, nonpartisan institution dedicated to discovery, debate, and discussion about Richard Nixon and his influence on today’s world. The Foundation owns the 9-acre campus and buildings comprising the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, and jointly operates the Library & Museum with the National Archives. For more information, call 714 993-5075 or go to nixonfoundation.org.