Koreatown
KOREATOWN
Public Art Projects
2006
Bangladeshi Dreams Banner Arts Project
Project in process – opens December 2006
Digitally collaged banners that share the rich culture and stories of Bangladeshi immigrants and increase the visibility of the Bangladeshi community in Koreatown will be installed on Third Street between Vermont and Normandy. Teams of Bangladeshi youth artists are gathering stories and images from community members at festivals, celebrations, town halls, story sharing workshops and interviews with community members along third street.
Artist: Andaleeb Firdosy
Core Youth Artists: Tumpa, Laju Feroza (and sister), Sanjida (and sisters), Aditi Mahmud, Noor E. Shams, Abdullah Mamun, Bakhtair Billah (partial list)
Youth Mentors: Sumaiya Islam, Rubaiyet Karim, Aditi Mahmud, Beth Peterson
Local Partners: South Asian Network (SAN), Bangladeshi Culture and Language Academy
2003
Taking Flight: Migration Dreams
The Past, Present and Future of Immigration in Koreatown
To acknowledge and celebrate the experience of immigrants in our community, Koreatown Galleria and L.A. Commons have partnered to mount a large scale temporary public art exhibition in honor of the 100th anniversary of Korean immigration to America. The first Koreans landed in the U.S. between 1903 and 1905 to work on Hawaii sugar plantations. Over 1 million Koreans now live in America with the largest number residing in Southern California.
In the Koreatown Galleria, the installation Taking Flight: Migration Dreams featured large Korean-style kites (8'x12') hung from the atrium ceiling that incorporate images exploring the past, present and future of Koreans in Los Angeles. A diverse team of professional artists, and student artists worked together to design kites that use the Korean experience of coming to America as a way of artistically exploring their own stories relating to immigration.
Lead Artists: Hyunsook Cho, Yanira Cartagena, Silvia Kwak-Simmons
Youth Artists: Dong Jun Kwon, Eun Jung Kim, Seel Lee, Hee-Jung Jung, Carlos Ganuza, Gabriela Pacheco, Joseph Montiel, Joan Park, Maribel Garcia, Sarah Lee, Sie-le Jin, Esmerelda Garcia Gomez, Jeremie I. Guerrero, Min-Joo Kim. Youth Mentor: Katy Brand
Local Partners: Koreatown Galleria, Los Angeles High School, Korean Youth and Community Center, Korean American Coalition, SUNHWA Dance Academy, Annenberg School for Communication, Samsung Studio, Cultural Affairs Department , City of Los Angeles, Digicolor design and print, Top’s Art Supplies.