The Museum of Chinese in America on Centre Street in NYC’s Chinatown has reopened with a major facelift courtesy of Maya Lin. The museum features exhibits that include the historic accounts of Chinese immigrants at the turn of the century, rare artifacts (see photo of Chinese menu above), and illuminated biographic profiles of accomplished Chinese Americans as Du Lee who organized the Chinese American Citizens Alliance in 1915 “to combat anti-Chinese sentiments” and I.M. Pei.
If you could include an artifact in a museum that reflects the American and/or Asian American experience of the 21st century, what would it be?
Well, if we’re talking about fantasy “what if” scenarios, I think it’d be great if somehow a lot of the Asian American historical events had been documented on film. I recently wrote about the aviatrix Katherine Cheung–how great would it be if there were footage of her doing her barnstorming flying or Dosan Ahn Chang Ho giving a speech to farm workers in Riverside or Fred Korematsu’s trial after refusing to go along with internment orders in WWII. perhaps one day some obscure newsreel or home movie footage will pop up.
william hung encased in carbonite
the first gate of the first gated community.
The first “A” health rating sign and all the hours logged on WoW, CS & Starcraft.
(On a serious note, WOW, Maya Lin did the work?! Spiffy.)
a piano, a violin, and a shitload of classical sheet music.