Enduring Spirit of Vietnam - Portland

Join Vietnam Society, World Oregon, OVEEVA, PLACE, and Broadway Books for a conversation with Dr. Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai and Peter Steinhauer.

Vietnam Society is pleased to present a special event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War: a conversation between award-winning Vietnamese author, Dr. Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai and celebrated artist photographer Peter Steinhauer. Over the past decades, Peter and Quế Mai have used their arts to foster peace, empathy and healing.

The two artists will engage in discussions regarding inheriting the past and fostering hope for the future. Their talks will highlight how the arts have played a powerful role in promoting peace and building bridges for new generations. To honor more than 3 million people from Vietnam, the U.S. and several other countries who lost their lives in the war, Quế Mai will perform her poetry in Vietnamese and English. Peter will share his perspectives and photographs of Vietnam from the past 30 years, which captures his admiration for Vietnam’s beauty and deep respect of the Vietnamese people’s resilience, survival and creativity.

The two artists will answer questions from the audience, help us commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War in the most meaningful ways, and suggest the work which we can all do together to contribute to global peace. The talk will conclude with book signings. Que Mai will sign her new poetry book “The Color of Peace” and Peter will sign his book “Enduring Spirit of Vietnam” which received the award "Best Photography Book of the Year” in 2007 by Photo District News (PDN).

The “Enduring Spirit of Vietnam” Talk will travel to major U.S. cities, including Seattle, Portland, Washington DC, Chicago, and New York, and to Vietnam, including Hanoi and Saigon.

Special Exhibition (April 5th - 26th) and Meet the Artist (April 18th) | PLACE Galeria

Enduring Spirit of Vietnam exhibition showcases award-winning Peter Steinhauer’s photographs of Vietnam, spanning more than three decades, beginning in 1993 until today. His works in Vietnam cover multitudes of subjects, including stunning black and white portraits and landscapes throughout the country, ethnic minorities, Ha Long Bay, Streets, Roofs and Houses of Hanoi and most recently, Cathedrals of the Red River Delta. Steinhauer’s photographs of Vietnam are intensely beautiful, displaying a level of impeccable skill, artistry, and sensitivity. His prints are in the collections of the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and a growing number of private and corporate collections worldwide. He is a recipient of numerous international photography awards including a finalist for the 2014 and 2017 Lucie Awards, Ford Foundation grant for his multiyear work in Vietnam, three Communication Arts Photography Annual Award of Excellence awards, among others. Steinhauer’s Enduring Spirit of Vietnam was awarded Best Photography Book of the Year 2007 by Photo District News (PDN).

Find out ongoing information on our website (www.vietnamsociety.org) and on our social media @vietnamsociety.

Info: View this special exhibition between April 5th - 26th, and come meet the artist photographer on April 18th. The exhibition and meet will take place at PLACE Galeria, 1325 W First Ave, Unit 204, Spokane, WA.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

710 SW Jackson St, 710 Southwest Jackson Street, Portland, United States