Enjoy lively murals and installation by: Anna Dugan, Maria Fong, Amanda Beard Garcia, Ashley Jin, Victoria Lai, Katelyn Lipton, Ponnapa Prakkamakul, Jenny Tran, Nell Valle
Create your own self-paced tour:
APM coffee: 99 Kneeland St, Boston, MA 02111, Coffee is always beautiful, Amanda Beard Garcia
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC): 38 Ash Street, Boston, MA 02111, A Soft Place to Land, by Ashley Jin
Crave Chinatown: 75 Kneeland St, Boston, MA 02111, Wing to Wing, Victoria Lai and Jenny Tran
Liuyishou Hotpot Boston: 702 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111, Tigers Hot Pot Together, Nell Valle
Happy Lamb Hotpot Boston: 693 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111, Mga Babae Ngayon At Kahapon - Women Today and Yesterday, Anna Dugan
Dumpling Cafe: 695 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111, Intergenerational Persistence, Maria Fong
Q Restaurant: 660 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111, Together Everywhere, Ponnapa Prakkamakul
WakuWaku: 2 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111, In the Clouds, Katelyn Lipton
Coffee is always beautiful by Amanda Beard Garcia at APM coffee (99 Kneeland St, Boston, MA 02111)
“Small moments of comfort and joy make a community special: like picking up coffee in an unfamiliar spot that quickly becomes your morning go-to; running into an old friend on your way to the park; gathering at abundant round tables with family; visiting your favorite local bakery to order a treat that’s been mastered over decades. Pockets of home away from home.”
A Soft Place to Land by Ashley Jin at Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) (38 Ash Street, Boston, MA 02111)
“Since a key part of BCNC’s mission is to support local families, I wanted to speak directly to the community they serve about what makes Chinatown special. Through conversations with Red Oak youth and Youth Center interns, it was clear they valued the delicious and cheap eats from the neighborhood. They also talked about Chinatown’s importance because of the tight knit community, resources for new immigrants, and activism against gentrification. For the final image, I aimed to incorporate these themes of food as nourishment, and a common thread that ties a community together to empower social change. I also couldn’t resist honoring one Red Oak student’s enthusiastic request to make a mural with “lots of flowers and butterflies!” Just as butterflies and flowers have a symbiotic relationship to feed and grow, the people and resources in Chinatown need each other to create a more resilient community for all.”
Wing to Wing by Victoria Lai and Jenny Tran at Crave Chinatown (75 Kneeland St, Boston, MA 02111)
“Wing to Wing is a collaborative mural created by Victoria Lai and Jenny Tran that gained inspiration from the symbolic meaning of cranes in many cultures across Asia. Some cranes, depending on the species, are migratory birds. Throughout different parts of Asia, cranes represent happiness, longevity, youth, and good fortune. The basis of Chinatown is a community that arrived from different regions of Asia- the unity of cultures and people. Those who came far from the familiarity of their homeland built a new home for generations to come, many of whom find safety within Chinatown. No matter where they fly to and stand together, the community will thrive.“
Tigers Hot Pot Together by Nell Valle at Liuyishou Hotpot Boston (702 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111)
“Tigers Hot Pot Together celebrates the vibrant community in Chinatown and the Year of the Tiger. Chinatown has always been like coming home for many people including myself. It has given us a sense of belonging. It’s exciting going out for hot pot with friends. The smell and taste of the broth and food that’s been made with gentle care are comforting and unforgettable. I wanted to capture the feeling of love, community, and joy with my tiger characters. Their warmth and excitement for hot pot and for each other signify the beauty and the coming together of this community. Chinatown has faced hardships, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This and other forms of art serve as symbols of the hope and resilience we have. This place means something. This place is a home and we’re here to stay.”
Mga Babae Ngayon At Kahapon - Women Today and Yesterday by Anna Dugan at Happy Lamb Hotpot Boston (693 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111)
“What makes a community special? The women of today and yesterday. None of us would be here without the sacrifices and strength of the women who came before us. Asian women today carry on the legacy of our mothers and grandmothers and so on, while continuing to evolve the roles our ancestors once held into what it means to be an Asian woman today. Each face is a woman in the Chinatown community who carries these nuanced ties to their ancestors, to their fellow women, and to themselves. I invite women in the community to picture themselves among the women painted and to celebrate themselves as part of a larger powerful legacy.
Featuring the faces of: (L-R) Amanda Beard Garcia, Anna Dugan, Sophia Chen, Ashley Yung, Cynthia Yee, and Alison Qu”
Intergenerational Persistence by Maria Fong at Dumpling Cafe (695 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111)
“Intergenerational Persistence is a window mural paying homage to Chinatown garment factory workers, to their families, and to the delicious 小笼包 (soup dumplings) available at the mural's site, Dumpling Cafe. Organized immigrant women in the garment industry were instrumental in Boston Chinatown's activist history, fostering worker solidarity and mobilization around community issues. Through persistent effort, generations of Chinatown residents can thrive. 水滴石穿”
Together Everywhere by Ponnapa Prakkamakul at Q Restaurant (660 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111)
“This mural is inspired by Chinese Dragon Dance as a symbol for community. Historically, local villagers gather annually to do a dragon dance to entertain a rain deity for rainwater and good harvest. Nowadays, even without a dragon dance, it still takes a village to make good food. The stitching and sewing details reflect on the history of the place which used to be a part of the Leather District. The design of this mural is to celebrate and honor the people that make food for us. These people include the ones who farm, fish, harvest, deliver, cook, and serve - especially restaurants in Boston Chinatown. Community gatherings can also be seen inside Q Restaurant, since hot pot is a communal dining experience. Eating hot pot creates a sense of sharing, togetherness, and trust.”
In the Clouds by Katelyn Lipton at WakuWaku (2 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111)
“People often overlook the diversity of birds, and different species blend together to the untrained eye. Many are migrants and symbolize the beauty of crossing boundaries. The birds pictured are the national birds of Taiwan, South Korea, China, and Japan - Blue Magpie, Magpie, Red-crowned Crane, and Green Pheasant. Chinatown acts as a meeting place for generations of immigrants of all backgrounds to connect and celebrate their different cultures. People often come from different places, and their shared experiences of migration and building a new home bring them together in this unique neighborhood.”
Residence Lab Activation at Tufts Community Common 186 Harrison Street
Interact with artwork by Residence Lab 2022 participants Amanda, Xingyao, Yanna, Victoria, Peiqiong, Niq, Ann, Allison, and Winnie that respond to the theme, “Radical Inclusion.” Residence Lab is a partnership between Pao Arts Center and Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) to empower and train artists and residents to collectively preserve the Chinatown community through creative and artistic space activation. This year’s installation is supported by Tufts University.