Between Line and Thread: Connecting the Asian American Arts Centre Collection
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 30, 3-5pm
The exhibition “Between Line & Thread” is curated by Sophia Ma (马琳), with the generous support of and the institutional context provided by Robert Eng Lee, AAAC, the invaluable research assistance and writing of Colleen Dalusong, and graphic design by Meg Chew.
Think!Chinatown is a place-based intergenerational non-profit in Manhattan’s Chinatown, working at the intersection of storytelling, arts and neighborhood engagement. We believe the process of listening, reflecting and celebrating develops the community cohesion and trust necessary to work on larger neighborhood issues. By building strength from within our neighborhood, we can shape better policies and programs that define our public spaces, celebrate our cultural heritage and innovate how our collective memories are represented.
Asian American Arts Centre (AAAC), established in 1974, is one of the earliest Asian American community arts organizations in the country. Choreographer Eleanor Yung (an original member of the seminal collective Basement Workshop) co-founded AAAC as the Asian American Dance Theatre (AADT) with the support of her partner Bob Lee, who would become the eventual director. In 1987, the dance theatre and visual arts program evolved into the AAAC. Through these changes and evolutions, the mission always remained the same: to promote and support Asian American art and artists.
Chinatown Arts Festival is a month-long festival celebrating the cultural richness of Manhattan’s Chinatown with musical and dance performances, storytelling projects, film screenings, community workshops, art exhibitions, a block party, and so much more! This series of cultural programs hosted by Think!Chinatown presents traditional Chinatown artists, and emerging Asian American artists in context and dialogue with each other, bringing the generations together and making connections with a wider arts audience. The festival also highlights cultural happenings presented by neighboring organizations and artists to increase awareness of Chinatown’s cultural assets.