Out with the old and in with the new. The Chinese New Year celebrates and welcomes the coming of spring with hope and optimism. As we leave the Year of the Rat behind us, we are stepping into this new year with a positive outlook and a clear mindset for a fresh start. Comcast is proud to join us in welcoming the Year of the Ox.
Comcast is this year’s sponsor of the New Hope Ox statue, which showcases themes of springtime, strength, and peace. With its eyes looking ahead, the statue conveys progress and forward movement into the new and unknown horizon. The Chinese plum blossom branches and flowers featured throughout the statue’s design represent perseverance, strength, and bravery. Red fire strips fuel the flames of success in business and life, while the Chinese clouds signify luck and peace. The piece was created by Deyi Zhao and will be displayed from February 3 to March 14.
The New Hope ox statue will be auctioned off in March and the proceeds will be going to Donaldina Cameron House, a non-profit that has offered bilingual social services and youth development programs in San Francisco’s Chinatown since 1874.
Artist Bio: Deyi (Robin) Zhao
Deyi (Robin) Zhao was born in Jilin, China, and came to the US when she was nine years old. Her grandmother, Yumei Hou, worked as the main carver for the San Francisco Chinese New Year statues and her father worked building floats. Robin grew up helping paint and decorate the floats and loved seeing all the objects for the floats come together piece-by-piece. This year, she enjoyed the opportunity to design and paint her own Ox and is excited to see it as a public art piece displayed in the city.
Being surrounded by both traditional art forms and new digital media, Robin has developed a keen eye for art and design. In addition to her years of working on Parade Floats, at the young age of 19, she has also taught various arts and crafts classes to children and adults, interned at YouTube, and is now in her first year of college at the California College of the Arts.
Learn more about the Ox on Parade and don’t forget to enter our photo contest. From February 3 – March 14, snap a picture of you and the Ox, tag us @chineseparade, and use the hashtag #oxonparade. It’s that simple! See official rules here.