Immigration: Grassroots Asians Rising Protest Through Illumination Art
On Saturday night, Asian-American activists and organizers gathered in the parking lot of the Chinese Christian Church and Center on the corner of Vine and 11th streets to protest current immigration policies as part of the event Here to Stay. Here to Stay featured illuminations by the Chinatown Art Brigade that were projected onto the […]
Chinatown North: Asian Arts Initiative Encourages Protest Through Art
Aram Han Sifuentes still remembers the first protest banner she made — the words “Dump Trump” sit emblazoned atop a teal fabric playfully covered in pugs. The fiber artist said she always has extra fabric on hand, and after the results of the 2016 presidential election, she turned to her craft to respond to Donald […]
Immigration: Using Art to Share the Asian American Migration Experience
Through the power of art, even the most complex stories of immigration and assimilation can be expressed. Located on the 1200 block of Vine Street, the Asian Arts Initiative has linked art and communities since 1993. AAI is a multidisciplinary arts center dedicated to exploring experiences of Asian Americans and bridging dialogue with diverse communities. […]
Chinatown: Stakeholders Tackle Crucial Development Questions As Neighborhood Grows
The story of Philadelphia’s Chinatown isn’t unique. But the history of this city’s Asian immigrant- and Asian-American home is, for residents, what makes it stand out from other stories of gentrification. Historically, Chinatowns have grown in abandoned urban neighborhoods, unwanted for things other than industrial business. In Philadelphia, this part of town – called Chinatown […]
Chinatown North/Callowhill: Naming the Neighborhood Proves To Be Longtime Challenge
There’s a battle of sorts being waged near the Vine Street Expressway. Development throughout the entire city has been picking up over the past few years in Philadelphia, and the area north of Chinatown is no exception. But it’s not just arguments over development that are sparking debate between community leaders in the neighborhood north […]