The COVID-19 global pandemic is not only a public health crisis, it is an economic crisis, and impending mental health crisis as well. The stress and pressure of our families potentially becoming ill, losing their jobs, or being separated and isolated from our friends, schools, and community networks have weighed heavily on our spirits. We crave the role that art plays in our lives as an outlet for processing our emotions, raising our voices, and sharing our personal stories. The work of Arts and Culture organizations like the Wing Luke Museum, as well as the collectivized work of Community driven artists, add to the strength of our community’s emotional and spiritual Resilience. As we struggle with the racism, stigmatization, and economic crisis caused by COVID-19, now, more than ever, our stories and lived experiences as Asian Pacific Americans must be visible, amplified, and not left behind on the road to recovery.
In conjunction with our Resilience Campaign and Wing On Wo & Co 永安和 call for Love Letters to Chinatown, we invite the Community to share their thoughts, feelings, and dreams during this critical time through art — drawings, song, poetry, love letters, vlogs, animations — whatever form you are best able to express yourself. These pieces will be collected and shared in a digital exhibition as part of the Wing Luke Museum’s Resilience Campaign.
Prompt:
What does resilience mean to you and your family, historically/currently?
What does mutual aid mean to you, before COVID-19/after COVID-19?
What is your response to the xenophobia, stigma and racism against the Chinatown-International District, Chinatowns around the nation, and the Asian Pacific Islander American communities due to COVID-19?
What gives you personal resilience through hard times?
How are you processing the conditions of this pandemic, how is it impacting your life or school, what are you doing at home to stay busy/happy/creative/connected?
What is your favorite business or place to hang out in in the Chinatown-International District? What does that place mean to you? What are your favorite memories there? What would be lost if it were gone?
Submission Guidelines:
Up to five (5) photos for a maximum five (5) submissions. Resolution must be at least 1080 x 1080. File type must be PNG, JPG, MP4, MOV, Word Document, or PDF. Videos should be no longer than 5 minutes. Please skip questions 3 thru 5 if you are only submitting a letter
Gratitude:
We appreciate the arts community for raising our collective voice and participating in the Resilience Campaign. As a participant, the Museum is committed to:
Connecting inquiries for sales directly with the artist;
Sharing about the artist and their work with our reach (via website, e-news, and social media);
Establishing a relationship between the artist and the Museum and staying connected about future possibilities for partnerships (such as consignment arrangements, LNY contest, etc.)
Possibility of participating in an Exhibit revolving around the community response to COVID-19 and its impact to the Seattle Chinatown-International District. (See Below for Details)
For any questions, please contact asilva@wingluke.org