By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
April 4, 1997
What does an indie rock star do when he’s not busy touring with his critically acclaimed band? If he’s Sooyoung Park, frontman for the Chicago-based Seam, he gets a couple of pals together and spearheads an arts festival in his hometown.
The second annual Asian-American Showcase kicked off Thursday, thanks to the diligent work of Park, his bandmate William Shin, and their friend Ben Kim, a local journalist (no relation).
Expanding on last year’s festival, which featured films and a rock concert by Asian-American artists, this year’s fest includes an art exhibit as well as a book reading. The event closes with a rock show featuring Seam, Versus and Hell Kitty on April 12 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark.
“We do this kind of thing because we have to do it,” Park said, noting the absence of forums in which to present Asian-Ame
rican art in Chicago, especially as compared with other large cities like San Francisco, “where there are all sorts of venues to present this work.”
Added Kim, “The opportunity was there and no one stepped out and did it. So we decided to try. We were fortunate because Sooyoung was involved, and he’s a veteran on the indie rock scene. That sold a lot of people on the idea that this showcase could be a cool thing.”
This year, Park’s part is even bigger than in 1996. He has a cameo role in Rea Tajiri’s film “Strawberry Fields” (“I walk by in freaked-out hippie clothes in the middle of the movie”) and he also co-composed its soundtrack.
“I had always wanted to do a soundtrack,” Park said. “It was fun, but frustrating at times. It’s not like writing rock songs at all. You watch and react to the film and write from that experience. But I got used to doing it and would like to try doing it again.”
EAR CANDY: Ending much speculation, Courtney Love has confirmed that she is selling the Seattle mansion she bought with husband Kurt Cobain. The lead singer for Hole had refused previous offers to sell the 1901 home where Cobain committed suicide three years ago. She said she will move with the couple’s daughter, Frances Bean, to Los Angeles. Love’s new zip code will keep her closer to Hollywood producers who were impressed with her starring turn in “The People vs. Larry Flynt.” Love, who also plans on purchasing a farm in Olympia, Wash., was quoted as saying that her ex-boyfriend Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins has agreed to produce Hole’s new album . . . E-mail to: jaehakim@suntimes.com
