Spark goes behind the scenes to explore the making of the San Francisco Opera‘s “The Bonesetter’s Daughter,” Amy Tan‘s libretto based on her best-selling novel. We follow Tan as she travels to China, searching for her own family history, one that resonates in the book and the opera.

Then watch renowned sculptor Maya Lin install her latest work at the new California Academy of Sciences, a topographical depiction of the San Francisco Bay. Lin was catapulted into the public eye with her Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., but this is her first work in San Francisco.

Finally, we trail street musicians Jacobo Palacios and Rafael Potillo, who go by the name of Los Cazadores del Sur, or “the hunters from the south.” The two troubadours strum their guitars and serenade Mission District patrons with popular tunes from all over Latin America.

Spark goes inside the studio with Victor Cartagena, who draws on memories of El Salvador’s bloody civil war to create a haunting body of work with powerful political messages.

Then, backstage with San Jose Taiko on the verge of their 35th anniversary. The group’s unique style of Japanese drumming infuses traditional rhythms with world beats from Africa to Bali to Brazil.

Finally, watch as Jim Denevan carves enormous, ephemeral sand drawings on the beaches along the Northern California coast.

Spark checks out unique perspectives on art.

See how bands like the Hot Club of San Francisco emulate the style and verve of the Gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.

Next, visit with choreographer Sean Dorsey, who is carving out a new space in modern dance for transgender and queer artists.

Finally, see how experimental filmmaker Kerry Laitala creates works of handmade cinematic art, one frame at a time.

Spark goes on a musical adventure, exploring Latin jazz, bluegrass, and music from the Jewish diaspora.

First, climb aboard The Ark, a project where musicians from around the world take six days in the basement of a divinity school to compose a new piece of Jewish music.

Then, meet pianist and bandleader Rebeca Mauleon, one of the leading ladies of Latin jazz.

Finally, visit with mandolin master, David Grisman, who blends new jazz and traditional bluegrass to create a thoroughly original sound.

Spark visits Yoshi’s newest venue in San Francisco’s historic Fillmore district to check out their Local Legends series, featuring artists like Sugar Pie de Santo.

Next, meet painter Jose Ortiz, whose Hijos del Sol program is using art to help youth from tough neighborhoods in Salinas.

Then join Dr. Zak Diouf and Naomi Washington Diouf and their Diamano Coura West African Dance Company in the weeks leading up to their annual repertoire concert.

Learn about the ancient art of belly dance from teacher and performer Suhaila Salimpour and one of her star pupils, comedienne Margaret Cho.

Next, meet artist Stephanie Syjuco, whose “Counterfeit Crochet Project” enlists crafters from around the globe to create knock-offs of designer goods.

Then, visit with Chinese acrobat Lu Yi at the Circus Center, as he prepares two of his top students for their debut as professional performers.

To celebrate their 75th anniversary, the San Francisco Ballet has mounted an ambitious festival of new works — 10 world premieres by 10 renowned choreographers — exploring the new directions that influential dance-makers are taking. In this special half-hour special, Spark follows the creation of three of these works, by Mark Morris, Margaret Jenkins, and Christopher Wheeldon.

Artwork from the 1960s has made a lasting mark on the California art scene. Spark takes a special look at the artistic legacy of this celebrated decade, catching up with three local luminaries that burst onto the scene then with their own unique visions: sculptor Fletcher Benton, painter Mel Ramos and composer Terry Riley.

Spark kicks off its 2008 season with a backstage look at American Conservatory Theater‘s production of “The Blood Knot,” a play by Athol Fugard set in apartheid South Africa during the 1960s.

Meet San Francisco political cartoonist Mark Fiore, who quit his job at a daily newspaper to experiment with a new format — animated political cartoons for the web.

And then go to the studio of Oakland painter Hung Liu, who draws inspiration from photographs of people during Mao’s cultural revolution.