Roots: Asian American Movements in Los Angeles 1968-80s

Exhibit runs January 19 - June 11 at the Chinese American Museum



If you're in Los Angeles, check out this cool new exhibit opening this month at the Chinese American Museum. Roots: Asian American Movements in Los Angeles 1968-80s collects and presents the history and work of young Los Angeles activists that shaped Asian America through a long decade of fighting displacement, serving their communities, agitating for revolution, and analyzing the intersections of gender, race, and class.

The exhibit opens on January 19, with an opening reception at Pico House. Here are some more details:

The Worst Lynching in American History

Chinese American Museum commemorates the anniversary of the Chinese Massacre of 1871.



Monday marks the 145th anniversary of the Chinese massacre of 1871, one of the worst mass lynchings in U.S. history. On October 24, 1871, racially motivated riots resulted in the massacre of 19 Chinese men and boys in the streets of downtown Los Angeles -- one of the darkest chapters in the city's history.

On the evening of October 24, 1871, several white policemen entered Chinatown to break up an argument between members of rival Chinese tongs. Whether by anger or accident, a white man was shot to death. Shortly thereafter, a mob of 500 entered Chinatown and assaulted every Chinese person they saw.

Eleven white men, including Sheriff James Burns and prominent Los Angeleno Robert Widney, attempted to protect the Chinese and stop the violence, but they were also attacked. After five hours, the vigilantes had tortured and hanged 19 Chinese men and boys, and looted Chinese homes and businesses.

The incident drew national attention and provoked a grand jury investigation. Seven men were held responsible and convicted for the riots, but only one actually served any jail time.

On Monday in Los Angeles, the Chinese American Museum will join with other community organizations and local leaders for a vigil observing the anniversary of the Chinese Massacre of 1871.

'Yellow Peril!' Book Talk and Signing

Saturday, November 8 at the Chinese American Museum



The book Yellow Peril: An Archive of Anti-Asian Fear uses visuals, documents, and essays to explore the deep historical origins of Asian paranoia in the United States. Author John Kuo Wei Tchen, will be at the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles this Saturday, November 8 to talk about his book. Here's more info:

L.A. Heat: Taste Changing Condiments

March 13 - July 12 at the Chinese American Museum


Hot sauce lovers! If you're in Southern California, you are invited to check out L.A. Heat: Taste-Changing Condiments, a new art exhibition inspired by two of America's leading hot sauce brands, Huy Fong Sriracha and Tapatio. It runs March 13 - July 12 at the Chinese American Museum in downtown Los Angeles.

Do you like it spicy? The exhibition is the brainchild of CAM Interim Executive Director and Curator Steven Y. Wong, who challenged local artists to create works with the hot sauce products in mind. The result is a collection of thirty imaginative pieces in a variety of mediums.

The exhibition kicks off this Thursday with an opening reception. Here are some details:

13th Annual Los Angeles Lantern Festival, March 1

Presented by the Chinese American Museum and El Pueblo Historical Monument


Los Angeles! Join the Chinese American Museum for the 13th Annual Los Angeles Lantern Festival on Saturday, March 1. There will be food and live entertainment from the YouTube comedy duo the Fung Brothers, music from Connie Lim, comedy from our homegirl Jenny Yang, and beats from DJ Phatrick. The event is free. Here's a breakdown of what's happening that day:

Fund This: L.A. Heat: Taste-Changing Condiments

A spicy art exhibition inspired by Sriracha and Tapatio.



This is a worthy crowd-funding campaign if I've ever seen one. Presented by the Chinese American Museum, L.A. Heat: Taste-Changing Condiments is an upcoming exhibition that offers a curated selection of artwork inspired by Sriracha and/or Tapatío from established and emerging Los Angeles artists. Are you hearing me? An art exhibition inspired by hot sauces. Say no more. I'm in.

This spicy exhibition is coming to the Chinese American Museum in March 2014 and will run through July 2014. In order to make this happen, they've launched an Indiegogo campaign with a variety of support levels. Here are some more details about the exhibition: