- Chinese American Museum
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Chinese American Museum
華美博物館
Established 1984 Location 425 North Los Angeles Street
Los Angeles, CAType Chinese-American experience
and history in Southern CaliforniaWebsite Chinese American Museum official site The Chinese American Museum (Chinese: 華美博物館; pinyin: Huáměi Bówùguǎn; abbreviated CAM) is a museum located in Downtown Los Angeles as a part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument. It is dedicated to the history and experience of Chinese Americans in the state of California, first such museum in Southern California. It presents exhibits of fine art by Chinese American artists as well as historical exhibits.
Planning for the museum began in October 1984, with the grand opening taking place on December 18, 2003.
The museum is housed in the Garnier Building, the oldest surviving Chinese building in Southern California. The original Los Angeles Chinatown was located here before it was moved to New Chinatown for the construction of Los Angeles Union Station.[1]
It is funded by the State of California, the City of Los Angeles, Friends of the Chinese American Museum, the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, the Getty Foundation,[2] the El Pueblo Association, the Center for Chinese Medicine, and hundreds of other donors.
Contents
Exhibits
A permanent exhibit at the museum is the recreation of the Hing Yuen Hong Chinese Herb Shop of yesteryear.
Past exhibits have included "Sunshine and Shadow: In Search of Jake Lee", showcasing the 60 watercolor work of prolific artist Jake Lee; "Milton Quon's Los Angeles" (2005-2006); "The Art of Diana Shui-In Wong" (2006); and "Tyrus Wong (Chinese: 黃齊耀): A Retrospective" (2004), who was one of the earliest and most influential Chinese American artists.[3]
A new exhibit, Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection, opened on October 23, 2009. It is based on Arthur Dong's Hollywood Chinese documentary that was broadcast on PBS on May 27, 2009. The documentary, a study of more than 90 years of Chinese Americans in films, ranging from the first Chinese American film The Curse of Quon Gwon that was produced in 1916 to Ang Lee's 2005 Brokeback Mountain. It closed on November 7, 2010.
"Remembering Angel Island" is a new exhibition commemorating the centennial anniversary of the opening of the immigration station in California, July 16, 2010 – January 31, 2012.[4] The "Dreams Deferred: Artists Respond to Immigration" will run from December 10, 2010 – December 18, 2011.
Events
During the Chinese New Year celebration each year, a Lantern Festival is held at the museum, featuring live entertainment, including lion dancers, acrobatics, musical, Chinese knotting, and dance performances.[5] "Long Story Short", a documentary on actress Jodi Long's family, was shown at the 8th Annual festival, held Saturday, February 7, 2009.[6]
Each year, the museum sponsors the annual Historymakers Awards Banquet, which "honors extraordinary individuals who have made a significant impact or contribution towards the advancement of the Chinese American community and beyond." A 2009 honoree was Lisa Lu (Chinese: 盧燕), Chinese-American actress and documentary producer for excellence in film and entertainment.[7][8]
- Other Historymakers Awards honorees:
- Jackie Chan (Chinese: 成龍) (entertainment), 2003
- Iris Chang (Chinese: 張純如) (arts), 1998
- Joan Chen (Chinese: 陳冲) (arts), 2000
- John Chiang (Chinese: 江俊輝) (government), 2007
- Andrew and Peggy Cher (culinary culture), 2005
- Assemblymember Judy Chu (Chinese: 趙美心) (government), 2006
- Tim Dang (entertainment), 2006
- Arthur Dong (Chinese:曾奕田) (film), 2008
- March Fong Eu (Chinese: 江月桂) (government), 1997
- Nancy Kwan (Chinese: 關家蒨) (actress), 2001
- Michelle Kwan (Chinese: 關穎珊) (sports), 1999
- C.Y. Lee (literary arts), 2006
- Judge Ronald S.W. Lew, (law), 2001
- Lisa Ling (Chinese: 凌志慧) (journalism), 2008
- Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (government), 2005
- Lisa See (author), 2003
- Tyrus Wong (Chinese: 黃齊耀) (artist), 2001
See also
- Museum of Chinese in America
- Chinese Historical Society of America
- Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
- Chinese Culture Center
References
- ^ Angels Walk - Chinatown, Lisa See (writer), published by Angels Walk LA, 2003
- ^ Getty Foundation Multicultural Undergraduate Internship program celebrates 15th anniversary. June 12, 2007. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
- ^ Past exhibits at CAM
- ^ Maria L. La Ganga, Pain, fear and longing: memories of Angel Island, Los Angeles Times, July 19, 2010
- ^ Lantern Festival 2007
- ^ CAM 2009 Lantern Festival
- ^ 12th Annual Historymakers Awards
- ^ Past Historymakers Honorees
External links
- Chinese American Museum official site
- Pauline Wong Executive Director by KCET Departures Video interview with Pauline Wong
Chinese American museums in California Chinese American Museum · Chinese Culture Center · Chinese Historical Society of America · Chinese Historical Society of Southern California · Oroville Chinese TempleCoordinates: 34°03′21″N 118°14′21″W / 34.055832°N 118.239103°W
Categories:- United States art museum and gallery stubs
- Los Angeles County, California geography stubs
- Chinese history stubs
- Museums in Los Angeles, California
- Museums established in 2003
- Chinese American museums in California
- Art museums in California
- Asian art museums in California
- Other Historymakers Awards honorees:
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