Sowing Agency from the Grassroots Up: Recognizing Asian American Environmental Justice Leaders
To celebrate Asian American leaders in environmental justice, the Asian American Women Artists Association (AAWAA) is partnering with the Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) and Berkeley South Asian Radical History Walking Tour to work on two art projects for the upcoming exhibition, Sowing Agency. We are seeking artists to represent and recognize activists within these communities, who are fighting for the right to breathe clean air.
(Still image from Lipo and Saeng’s Story, video produced by APEN)
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A Place of Her Own's "transformative power to heal"
What had been simply an art project for an ‘artists in residence’ program in 2009 at San Francisco’s de Young Museum has now blossomed into something profoundly transformative as “A Place of Her Own ™” workshop brings art and healing together.
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Gratitude to former Executive Director, Susie Kagami
“My heart will always be with AAWAA. The steadfast intention to support and nurture its members and the Asian American artist community is why AAWAA has been pivotal in creating a 30 year legacy dedicated to telling the stories and history of our families struggles and victories of migration. As descendants of survivors, it is so important that AAWAA thrive…”
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A Hxstory of Renting, Erina Alejo on KQED
“There's a lot of resilience and power in sitting and listening and watching – which my work is about. I'm not a photographer that puts out my work all the time. I'm really slow. There's a certain timing to when I realize the relevance of a particular photo or a series.” Listen to AAWAA Artist Member, Erina Alejo, talk about their project, A Hxstory of Renting on KQED’s Rightnowish with Pendarvis Harshaw.
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Nectarine Wishes Tree
These are the wishes of the donors to the Nectarine Wishes Fundraiser.
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A Statement of Solidarity
As we have the opportunity to celebrate our art and culture, we stand in solidarity with the lives of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, George Floyd, along with their families and communities. It is important for our community to recognize the historical violence and injustice inflicted upon black, brown and indigenous communities in the United States and call ourselves in to dismantle racist and oppressive systems…
Please read more for links to resources.
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Commemorating Ruth Asawa by Artist Member, Lenore Chinn
Eddie Wong, editor of East Wind Ezine asked AAWAA Artist Member, Lenore Chinn to pen an article as we anticipate the release of the US Postage Service stamps honoring Ruth Asawa. Read more on East Wind Ezine!
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It Begins with Lola Marina (A Hxstory of Renting) by Artist Member, Erina Alejo
“Lola Marina (lola - grandmother, in Tagalog) turned 98 last month. She has lived through and is part of nearly a century’s worth of hxstory.” Artist Member, Erina Alejo reflects on their Lola’s immigrant story through their anti-displacement narrative project, A Hxstory of Renting.
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Agrarianaa: A Conversation with Philip Kan Gotanda and Nellie Wong
A year ago today (May 23), AAWAA presented the literary reading for Agrarianaa at SOMArts Cultural Center. With curator, Bonnie M. Kwong, we got the opportunity to chat with playwright, Philip Kan Gotanda and poet, Nellie Wong!
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Slide Slam 2020
Co-presented by the Asian American Women Artists Association (AAWAA) and Kearny Street Workshop, this year’s SLIDE SLAM gathered AAWAA Artists Members and invited Asian American women artists to present their work in a rapid-fire format of 4 slides in 4 minutes. With COVID-19 and the shelter-in-place order in effect, we decided to hold this event online via Zoom. Learn about all of the artists’ work in this recorded video!
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Collective Impact and Artist Dialogues
Watch and listen to the panels from AAWAA’s 30th Anniversary Symposium, featuring speakers like Cynthia Tom, Tomie Arai, Sita Bhaumik, Isabelle Thuy Pelaud and more.
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“Atlas of dreams” - A recent publication by artist member, Lydia Nakashima Degarrod
From the Writer:
As part of the interdisciplinary project Atlas of Dreams, I created a series of artistic maps, that both show the places where 400 dreamers recounted their memorable dreams and also depict the emotional impact of these narratives in the grid of cities in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Flo Oy Wong's 30th Anniversary Keynote Speech
“To be an AAWAA Member is to be a PEARL IN THE FIRE…Continue to make art passionately. Believe in AAWAA. Advance the visibility and recognition of Asian Americans in the arts…May AAWAA sit firmly at the table of contemporary American art and culture.” - Flo Oy Wong
Missed AAWAA’s 30th Anniversary celebration? We got your back. Listen to the words of Flo Oy Wong in her Keynote speech at our 30th Anniversary Symposium, PEARLS IN THE FIRE.
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Offering Gratitude for 30 Years of AAWAA!
A Special Message from the New Board President
Dear AAWAA Family,
I started AAWAA as a volunteer in 2013, just in time to help out with the exhibition underCurrents and the Quest for Space, curated by Inson Choy. I had just finished a master’s program in Art History at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, but I was already burned out on the art world and the limited opportunities I could see for artists and curators of color. Finding the AAWAA sisterhood and seeing APA women create space for ourselves at underCurrents gave me a renewed sense of possibility.
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Meet the 2019-20 Emerging Curator Fellows!
Lauren Ito and Kamardip Singh will curate two multidisciplinary art exhibits at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center and The Galallery in Spring-Summer 2020.
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Mural Muse
Artists and organizers of the Generations of Hope Mural
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Welcoming Susie Kagami
Introducing AAWAA’s New Executive Director
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No Women In Art
Reflecting on Women’s Representation in the Arts
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Alternative Perspectives
An Interview with Co-Curators Erina C. Alejo & Diana Li
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