SEAVIEW – On Saturday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m., the Sou’Wester Lodge in Seaview joins the World Kite Museum in honoring a rich and ancient civilization for which 111 years is a mere moment in time.

The open-beamed living room in U.S. Sen. Henry Winslow Corbett’s Victorian oceanside estate hosts an evening on China.

“The China I Saw” will be the topic of a slide show by artist and teacher Deon Matzen. She spent the academic year 2001-02 teaching English at the Beijing Foreign Studies University. With her husband she traveled extensively throughout China visiting the provinces of Hunan, Sichuan, Sha’anxi, Guangxi, Shandong and Liaoning. They visited the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian, the world’s largest Buddha in Lesham and climbed the sacred mountain of Eurei Shan.

Through the lens of her camera she has captured thousands of images of the country and the diversity of its peoples – including the Weifang Kite Museum, the Weifang Kite Festival, and the Weifang Arts and Crafts Factory. To her “hats” of artist and teacher she has added the “hat” of kiting diplomat by concluding a sister-museum agreement between the Weifang Kite Museum and the World Kite Museum. Matzen looks at the world with the eyes of a painter. Light, color, values and composition are analyzed in the photographs just as she would if she were seeing it as a painting. An exhibition of her photographs is on view at Long Beach’s World Kite Museum.

In addition, Chinese folk tales will told by story teller Yu Ran. Born and raised in Xuzhou City, she earned her M.A. in linguistics at the Beijing Foreign Studies University, where she later taught English. This is her first visit to America. She is currently teaching Chinese at Skagit Valley College.

As do most children throughout the world, Yu Ran first heard the folk tales of her people from her parents (now retired doctors) and from her grandmother who at the age of 84, and still in excellent health, lives with them. Her formal education enhanced her knowledge and love for these tales. She will share with the audience folk tales populated with Buddhist monks, Tao sages, monkey kings, ghosts and demons.

Everyone is welcome. Admission is free. A donation to charity is appreciated, all of which will help needy local children enjoy the skills and pleasures of kiting. The presenters and the Sou’Wester provide their services free. Complimentary light refreshments are provided at intermission. Because of limited seating, advance reservations are recommended. For information and reservations, please call the Sou’Wester Lodge at 642-2542.