"This is a fun event," said Piedmont resident and gala committee member David Lei. "It's an opportunity to interact with friends and to enjoy appetizers and drinks. The best part is the art -- you can touch it and ask questions about it."

Nearly 1,000 guests attend the gala each year, which benefits the Asian Art Museum, located at 200 Larkin Street, overlooking Civic Center Plaza, in San Francisco. Attendees are invited to walk through the gallery of art and antiques and to shop from 100 international dealers representing countries and cultures throughout Asia.

"There are beautiful things, and so many antiques that one can purchase," said Piedmont resident and Asian Art Museum commissioner Martha Hertelendy. "One vendor from England, Linda Wrigglesworth, has gorgeous Asian court robes and fabrics. It's first come, first served."

More than 15,000 art objects, including everything from jewelry to paintings, and tapestries to ceramic sculptures and bronze statues, come from China, Japan, Tibet, Thailand, Myanmar, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, Indonesia, the Philippines and the Koreas. The objects -- which are for sale -- will be displayed at the gala event February 5 and at the show, February 6 ~ 8.

Piedmont resident Linda Lei attends the preview opening of Arts of the Pacific Asia show each year because of the vast nature of the exhibit and the number of vendors.

"The gala has great catering, and it's a place to visit with friends and to look at the different art projects in a large area, under one roof," said Lei, who directs a grant program to support Mandarin classes in the Piedmont schools."

The three-day show attracts over 8,000 international collectors, patrons and visitors each year.

"This is our largest fund-raiser of the year," said Asian Art Museum spokesperson Jackie Romney. "It benefits our school program."

"It's for programs such as children's history, calligraphy and other appreciation classes," said Hertelendy, who has been a museum commissioner for five years.

Lei hopes the show will raise awareness and appreciation of Asian art.

"This is something we should be able to do in the Bay Area," he said.

"There will be music from Indonesia and Japan, and greeters will be in Asian costumes."