“Chinatown is woven from threads of community, memory, culture, food, and gathering together, forming an unbreakable fabric of connection. This tapestry is shaped by the daily rhythms found in every Chinatown: people gathering before the gate plaza, playing games, chatting, sipping tea.

Drawing from my Taiwanese roots and family, the table is set with the Formosan black bear, tiger, and pig — each a zodiac sign from my family — joined by rabbits, the familiar inhabitants of Cambridge, my Boston home, and second home.

Surrounding them, lush greenery frames the scene, with Chinese vegetation threading across the composition. These living threads bridge the mythical creatures perched atop the Boston Chinatown Gate, watching over and blessing the community that thrives beneath their gaze. Threading together the culture, heritage, the inspiration, and the hope for a greener Chinatown.”