Scope and Contents This collection mostly contains materials procured by Alex Jay and focus on Chinese American writers and playwrights, artists and illustrators, actors, comic book artists, filmmakers, designers, and architects. There are various periodicals, artwork, books, comic books, recipes, playbills, and other items either by Chinese Americans or about Chinese Americans, all dating between 1914 and 2015. Objects are also searchable via PastPerfect Online System at...

Abstract On June 6, 1993, the Golden Venture ran aground near Rockaway Beach, Queens, NY. The cargo ship passengers, nearly 300 migrants primarily from Fujian Province, China, were being smuggled into America by a Chinese crime syndicate. While the asylum-seekers waited for uncertain legal outcomes in York Country Prison, Pennsylvania, they began creating paper sculptures employing the traditional Chinese folk art of paper folding. Originally, these pieces were created as gifts for their lawyers and...

Scope and Contents

Ths sub-series includes different types of paper materials, from Weekly Ledger, calendar, drawing portfolio, to sheet music and postcard that do not belong to other named sub-series under 2017.003.

Scope and Contents

This sub-series consists of thirteen objects as well as three paintings related to Chinese American culture and art. Objects include wine bottles, fortunetelling sticks, a jigsaw puzzle, a glass tumbler, a tin can, merchandise packagings, a war memorial medal, a ceramic large plate with match covers and a check, a letterpress block, and a shirt.

Three paintings are by artists Helen Gee (Yun Gee's wife), Paul Fung Jr., and Irving Sinclair.

Abstract Originally from Wuhan, China, Chen Weng is a Chinese American artist and graphic designer based in Seattle, Washington who created an online comic series called Messycow Comics. Weng published several short comics about the outbreak of COVID-19 during the beginning of the global pandemic, attempting to provide a positive and comedic outlet for her audience during a time of increasing fear and anxiety. During this oral history, she describes her creative process and audience, noting how she...

Abstract MOCA sits down with Jenny Lam, an independent artist and curator in Chicago, to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted her work. She discusses how she had to change her plans for a show titled “Slay-sian” which exhibited the works of 39 Asian American artists. Jenny also talks about her perception of the pandemic in the US and in Hong Kong where her family lives. The interview concludes with her thoughts on the importance of the arts during COVID and the responsibility of Asian...

Abstract Kam Mak is an artist who emigrated with his parents from Hong Kong to the United States at age ten in 1971. In this interview, he vividly describes growing up in an old tenement building on Eldridge Street and becoming involved with street kids during the seventies. He mentions the strong presence of street gangs during his childhood as well as the turning point during his youth that redirected him towards art as an escape from getting into trouble. Mak also discusses conceptual ideas that...