Older Events

Past Events

CAM Exhibition Remix
January 19th, 2 – 4 PM
Chinese American Museum

Ten years ago CAM opened its doors to share with the public the Chinese American experience and the history in the region.  To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we revisit a few of these exhibits to discuss these topics through artistic expression. You will receive a unique experience of seeing selected works displayed once again, but this time, occupying the same space with one another to tell a new story.


El Pueblo Tree Lighting Ceremony
December 6th, 5pm – 9:45pm
El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument

Kick off your holiday cheer with a season’s greeting card of your own making. Use the festive surroundings of El Pueblo to inspire memorable papercraft with your own personal holiday messages, guaranteed to generate warm smiles on a winter’s night. We provide the paper, markers, glue and scissors. You provide the creativity.


Origins: Uncovering Your Family History
December 14th, 10am – Noon
Chinese American Museum

In partnership with the Chinese Family History Group of Southern California, the Chinese America Museum will host Origins: Uncovering Your Family History on Saturday, December 14th at 10amto assist those who are beginning their quest to research and record their Chinese family histories.

Do you wish you knew more about your family’s history in China and in America, but don’t quite know how to begin to do the research? Do you want to find out how and why your ancestors immigrated and what kind of lives they led once they settled here? Would you like to uncover information and stories about your ancestors and their descendants, perhaps to construct your family tree, record your family history, or pen a biography of an interesting relative?

Join us as we share important resources for Chinese family history research and genealogy, tips on interviewing your relatives, visiting the National Archives to find immigration and Exclusion Act files, and what to know about Chinese names when doing research. Speakers will also highlight stories and case studies from their personal research on their ancestors.

Event is open to the public.  Please reserve your seat by emailing rsvp@camla.org

SPONSORS
El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
Friends of the Chinatown Library
Asian Pacific Resource Center – County of Los Angeles Library
Asian Pacific American Library Association
Pacific Asia Museum


Monterey Park in the 80s and 90s:
Storefront Signage and the English-Only Movement
November 14th, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Chinese American Museum

On Thursday, November 14th at 6:30pm, the Chinese American Museum will host a panel discussion on the controversy that enraged the ethnically diverse community of Monterey Park. Beginning in the 80s, the Slow-Growth movement and the English-Only movement, were attempts to slow down the population growth and limit Chinese language storefront signage. A recent review of the general code regarding signage in August 2013 has reignited the debate.

Join community members Jose Calderon, Ph.D. and Leland Saito, Ph.D. as they share how they organized against these movements; Los Angeles Times journalist Frank Shyong will also discuss his coverage of the community’s reactions this year when Monterey Park was forced to confront its past.

Event is open to the public.

Please reserve your seat on facebook or by emailing rsvp@camla.org.

More information on Monterey Park and the English-Only Movement can be found here: goo.gl/dYPX6c

Sponsors:
El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
Cal State LA – Asian & Asian Americans Studies Program
C.A.C.A. – Los Angeles Lodge
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
Pitzer College’s Center for Asian Pacific American Students


Unity Observance
October 24th, 7 – 8:30 PM
Chinese American Museum

In Los Angeles on October 24, 1871, a mob of 500 local vigilantes publicly lynched and shot to death 18 Chinese men and boys in one of the most deadly incidents of racial violence ever recorded in the American West.  In the late 1800s and 1900s, anti-Chinese sentiment spread across the America and outbreaks of violence were recorded in Washington, Wyoming and Mexico against the Chinese.

The Chinese American Museum will host a discussion on October 24, 2013 to mark the 142nd year of the Chinese Massacre.  The event will feature a short film from film-maker Valerie Soe and a discussion from Dr. Robert Romero.  The Honorable Mike Eng will close the evening.

Event is open to the public.

Please reserve your seat by emailing rsvp@camla.org

More information can be found on our facebook event page by clicking here.

Sponsors:

El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
Cal State LA – Asian & Asian Americans Studies Program
Visual Communications
C.A.C.A. – Los Angeles Lodge
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
OCA-GLA
UCLA Asian American Studies Center


Shaping Los Angeles: The History Behind Historic Chinatown and Union Station
August 10th, 1 – 3:00 PM
Chinese American Museum

Join the Chinese American Museum and our community partners as we explore the significance of Alameda and Los Angeles Street while taking a closer look at the location of both Historic Chinatown and Union Station.

More information can be found on our facebook event page by clicking here.

Past Events

2013 Lantern Festival
March 2nd, Noon – 7:00 PM
Chinese American Museum

Join us for the 12th annual Lantern Festival and street fair. More information here.


2013 National Art Contest
Deadline for Submissions: March 8th, 3:00 PM

The Chinese American Citizens Alliance’s National Art Competition in Parntership with the Chinese American Musiceum are pleased to announce a juried nationwide art competition for students during the 2012-1013 school year. Click here for more information.


N is for Neighborhood
Sunday, September 23, 2012 with Audrey Chan
11 a.m.–3 p.m.
CAM at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
No RSVP required

Join artist Audrey Chan in an activity sure to stimulate your creativity. This interactive,
family-friendly workshop encourages visitors to create original artworks about their unique neighborhoods. Families will craft postcards and participate in a collaborative video inspired by letters of the alphabet.


16th Annual Historymakers Awards Banquet!
Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012
5p.m. President’s Reception & Silent Auction /6:30 p.m. Dinner & Awards Program
Venue to be announced

Join Honorary Diner Chair, Charlie Woo, and the Board of the Friends of the Chinese American Museum at the 16th Annual Historymakers Awards Banquet! Prominently recognized as one of the premiere Chinese American events in Southern California, the Banquet honors the achievements of extraordinary individuals who have made a significant impact or lasting contributions towards the advancement of the Chinese American community and beyond in the fields of art, literature, journalism, medicine, film, science, business, government, law, athletics, and their community. In addition, the Banquet also serves as the major annual fundraiser for CAM, helping to raise critical funds to cover operational and program costs.


Artist Tour and Discussion
Sunday, October 28th
2–3 p.m. General Public / 3–4 p.m. Members only*
CAM at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument

Learn more about the creative process and the inspiration behind the art on an in-depth tour with the exhibition artists. Whether shaped by personal experience or influenced by historical or current events, the works of art featured in the exhibit take on a grand life of their own, adding visual commentary to the rapidly changing views of Chinatown. Featured artists to be announced.

To RSVP, call (213) 485-8567 or email rsvp@camla.org by Friday, October 26.
* The 3–4 p.m. members-only event includes refreshments and conversations with the artists.


The Accidental Sociologist in Asian American Studies – Book Talk and Signing with Professor Min Zhou
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 7:00PM
at Chinese American Museum
425 N. Los Angeles Street | Los Angeles, CA 90012

The Chinese American Museum & the UCLA Asian American Studies Center Endowed Chairs Research Series are pleased to present The Accidental Sociologist in Asian American Studies – Book Talk and Signing with Professor Min Zhou. The Accidental Sociologist recounts Min Zhou’s journey of critically examining the ever-changing experience of Chinese/Asian Americans. Zhou will discuss how contemporary patterns of Chinese immigration, settlement, and integration differ from those of the past and how Chinese Americans are positioned in 21st-century American society. Particular attention will be paid to the San Gabriel Valley.

Books will be available for purchase. The talk will be followed by a reception and a tour of the Chinese American Museum. For more information on the event, contact UCLA Asian American Studies Center: www.aasc.ucla.edu / 310-825-2975. Click here for the FLYER


Stories From Chinese America: An Arthur Dong Dvd Release Event and Reception
Saturday, November 6, 2010 / 3:00pm – 5:00pm
The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy
(111 N. Central Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012)

Come celebrate the launch of a new, limited-edition DVD anthology by renowned documentary filmmaker Arthur Dong. Headlining the event will be a screening of the newly scored 1916 silent film, THE CURSE OF QUON GWON, the earliest known Chinese American feature film that Arthur helped to rescue during his work on the documentary, HOLLYWOOD CHINESE.

Dong will be present to give a tour of the many hours of extra archival and interview footage that comes with this new DVD anthology. A reception sponsored by the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, with a donation by API Equality-LA, will follow the screening.

Presented by Visual Communications and co-presented with the Chinese American Museum, Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, API Equality-LA, Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment and Organization of Chinese Americans – Greater Los Angeles chapter.

Click here for the event flier [pdf].


Hollywood Chinese Film Screening and Curator Talk with Arthur Dong
Thursday, December 3, 2009 / 6–8 p.m.
CAM at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
Co-presented by Visual Communications

Lights, camera, action! The film that inspired the exhibit—Arthur Dong’s Award-Winning documentary, Hollywood Chinese! The 90-minute film screening was kicked-off with an insightful Curator Talk with Arthur Dong, where he discussed the origins, inspirations and motivations for the Hollywood Chinese project.


“Shanghai Girls” Book Talk with Lisa See / Thursday, October 29, 2009 / 6–8 p.m.
CAM at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument

Presented in partnership with Facing History and Ourselves’ Community Conversation series, New York Times best-selling author Lisa See presented and signed her latest novel “Shanghai Girls” (2009), which follows the story of two sisters through 1930s Shanghai, Angel Island, and Los Angeles Chinatown. This program continued the dialogue of Chinese and Chinese American presence in Hollywood sparked by the exhibit, Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection.


Hollywood Chinese Red Carpet Exhibit Reception / Friday, October 23, 2009 / 6–8 p.m.
CAM at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
FOR MEMBERS ONLY

CAM members enjoyed a Hollywood-styled grand opening of the Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection exhibit complete with red carpet access! The celebratory evening included celebrity guests, delicious refreshments, and an exclusive opportunity to preview the blockbuster exhibition before it opened to the general public.


The 13th Annual Historymakers Awards Banquet Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009
5pm President’s Reception and Silent Auction/ 6:30pm Dinner
Hilton Hotel in Universal City

A premiere event in Southern California, this annual banquet heralds the inspiring achievements of individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the Chinese American community. In addition, this event also serves as the chief fundraiser for CAM. We invite you to make history with us as a guest, sponsor or volunteer! Click here for more info: Historymakers 2009


New CAM Website / Launch date: May 2009

Check out CAM’s new website! The newly designed site will feature an inviting modern look that balances Chinese design elements with a local, contemporary vibe. Improved user-friendly navigation, a cleaner, streamlined homepage, quality presentation of cultural, historical and educational content and interactive features like secured online membership registration, a search engine, and social media tags will enhance the user experience. In celebration of the launch, all online membership sign-ups and renewals during the months of May and June will receive a free gift! See details below.


Special Membership Promotion / May and June 2009

In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and the launch of our newly redesigned website, CAM will be offering a special membership promotion beginning May 1, 2009 thru June 30, 2009. All ONLINE membership sign-ups and renewals will receive a FREE “Hollywood Chinese” documentary poster autographed by award-winning filmmaker, Arthur Dong. This keepsake gift is a prelude to CAM’s upcoming blockbuster exhibition, “Hollywood Chinese” opening this fall. The gifts are for pick-up only at the museum, one poster per membership signup and/or renewal, while supplies last.


CAM co-presents three films at the 25th Anniversary Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival / April 30 – May 7, 2009

CAM is proud to co-present three noteworthy films at Visual Communications’ (VC) 25th Anniversary Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, happening April 30, 2009 – May 7, 2009! Join us in supporting VC and the film festival by purchasing tickets at www.vcoline.org. We hope to see you at the screenings of:

WHO KILLED VINCENT CHIN?:

On June 9 1982, at the height of anti-Japanese fervor in the U.S. Vincent Chin, a Chinese American Draftsman, was bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat by two autoworkers. Christine Choy and Renee Tajima’s Academy Award-nominated documentary explores the Vincent Chin Story, raising questions about the complexity of race relations, immigrant life, and labor hostilities during a period of US “trade war” with Japan.

CHILDREN OF INVENTION:

Based on Tze Chun’s own award-winning short film WINDOWBREAKER, which screened at the 2007 Los Angles Asian Pacific Film Festival, CHILDREN OF INVENTION is a drama about the influence of an adult world on children, the immigrant mentality, and shortcuts to the American dream.

DIM SUM FUNERAL*:

In a stately home, sixty-something Mrs. Xiao lies in her bed, immobile, eyes shut. Her longtime housekeeper and, some might say her only friend, Viola Gruber, must now call each of the four children to inform them their mother has passed away. All the Xiao children had issues with their mother. Mrs. Xiao had made them compete for her affections pitting one against the other, and, so they came to view one another as opponents. And they still do. Now here they are, gathered in the mansion built by their late father… to bid farewell to their mother.


Democracy and Diversity Art Contest / Dec. 14, 2008 – March 6, 2009

The Chinese American Museum in partnership with the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (C.A.C.A) is launching a public art contest for students in grades K-12. Themed Democracy and Diversity, students are encouraged to submit artwork and a brief statement that reflects what democracy means to them. Twenty-four winners will be chosen from this contest.


Lantern Festival 2009 / Saturday, February 7, 2009

Everyone’s favorite community tradition is celebrating its eighth year at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument! Lantern Festival 2009 will spotlight the sights and sounds of this popular Chinese holiday with a recreation of a traditional village street fair featuring brilliant lantern displays, exciting stage performances, a variety of interactive workshops showcasing Chinese traditional and culturally-diverse arts and crafts, and a new evening film screening to experience. Save the date now — participation at the festival will be free of charge as always!


Underground Undergrads: UCLA Undocumented Immigrant Students Speak Out / March 8 at 1pm at CAM

CAM is proud to partner with the Organization of Chinese Americans, UCLA Labor Center, and the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council to present an in-depth discussion based on a new UCLA Labor Center book, Underground Undergrads that profile immigrant students and the issues and struggles they face in completing their degrees without the aid of governmental financial assistance. Admission is free, please RSVP by calling (213) 485-8567 by March 5, 2009.