Chinatown
CHINATOWN
Public Art Projects 2004
Three Public Art works and Film
Students, local merchants and community residents worked with artists to create a Chinatown map , lanterns in Central Plaza and an installation at the Chinatown Public Library.
The 2004 Chinatown project was inspired by a current issue facing the community - redevelopment. The project explored the question, “What is most valuable about Chinatown and the culture it represents, and how do we preserve the important elements as we embrace economic opportunity?”
The projects together present an examination of Chinatown through the eyes of four very different constituencies: merchants, seniors, young people and library patrons, many of whom are new immigrants from China and Southeast Asia. East-West Trading Post presents Chinatown from the perspective of the commercial sector recognizing that the shops that line the boulevards are an integral part of the experience of the area, particularly for outsiders. Children of Heaven reflects the point of view of seniors and youth with images on the silk panels of eight lanterns that represent both timeless and modern aspects of the neighborhood. Bridging the Present links the values brought by new immigrants from their country of origin with the values that make life more humane as they struggle to make their way in Los Angeles. Combined these three works communicate key characteristics of the people and the place that are integral to the identity of Chinatown and worth considering carefully as the redevelopment process moves forward. Photographic, video and written documentation were also generated by Pete Galindo and the documentation team.
The youth artists in many cases, served as a bridge between the different constituencies involved in the project through their role as team artists, interviewers or documenters youth participant, Diana Luo noted, “I guess I always just wanted to live here for a while and when I was older I just wanted to move out, ‘bye-bye Chinatown, I don’t have to see you again.’ But learning about it, I know it means a lot to my grandma and I guess I appreciate it more and I want to make it better for new immigrants like my mom and my grandma.”
Lead Artists: Cindy Suriyani, Shan Chao, Annie Shaw
Youth Artists: Tony Luu, Aaron Situ, Bi Q Soo Hoo, Mandy Wong, Remy Wong as well as youth, seniors, merchants and community participants.
Local Partners: Chinatown Business Improvement District, Chinatown Service Center, The Chinatown Library, New Chinatown Barbershop and Bamboo Lane Gallery, UCLA in LA