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The Museum2022 Events
Anna May Wong Family Day
Sat., Nov. 5, 2022 | 12pm – 3pm PDT
CAM celebrates the historic launch of the Anna May Wong quarter! She is the first Asian American to be featured on a US coin. Join us at CAM on Saturday, November 5, 2022 from 12pm – 3pm PDT. We partnered up with the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative and the Los Angeles Public Library Chinatown Branch to host a Family Day dedicated to the one and only, Anna May Wong!
The Commemoration of the 1871 Los Angeles Chinese Massacre
Mon., Oct. 24, 2022 | 6:30pm-7:30pm PDT
On Monday, October 24, 2022 the Chinese American Museum hosted our Annual Commemoration to remember the eighteen lives lost during the Chinese Massacre of 1871. The Commemoration event featured remarks from Congressmember Judy Chu followed by keynote speaker Dr. Erika Lee, Regents Professor History and Asian American Studies at the University of Minnesota and this year’s recipient of the Champion for Justice Historymaker Award. The program also featured a special performance by rapper/activist, Jason Chu. The program concluded with a candle-light vigil, a reading of the names and traditional Chinese bowing ceremony led by FCAM Board Chair Dr. Gay Yuen.
Community Xpression
Calling all creatives! Join the Chinese American Museum in activating our gallery walls in Collective Resilience: Community Xpression. Share your artistic interpretation of the themes explored in our latest exhibition!
A selection of submissions will be posted on CAM’s social media accounts, so make sure to send art that you are proud of and would want to be shared with the community. We can’t wait to see and share your inspired #xpressions! All works will be accepted digitally via Google Forms.
About the Collective Resilience exhibition:
Collective Resilience: Asian American Artists Honoring Our Community’s Strength and Unity is CAM’s latest exhibition featuring seven (7) AAPI artists with works that reflect their varied experiences throughout recent years of increased anti-Asian sentiment. Individually, their works include explorations into the relationship between (in)justice and social movements, the confluence of (mixed) identity and heritage, and connections between storytelling and communication. The exhibition celebrates community accomplishments and looks forward to an optimistic future, together.
Kid’s Storytime
Join us for another Kids Storytime Featuring Asian American Children’s Authors on Thursday, July 28 at 4pm PDT. Miss Rita will read Grandpa Across the Ocean written by Hyewon Yum.
Grandpa lives on the other side of the ocean, eats different foods, and his house is the most boring place on Earth! Or is it? A little time together just might reveal that Grandpa is also a troublemaker…just like his grandson! With her signature warmth and humor, award-winning author-illustrator Hyewon Yum shares the challenges and joys of having a relative who lives far away.
About the Author: Hyewon Yum is the author and illustrator of Puddle, The Twins’ Little Sister, Last and Night, amongst others, which have all received accolades. Hyewon’s latest, A Piece of Home, written by Jeri Watts, received multiple starred reviews. Hyewon lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Beyond the Page with Richard Lui
Sit down with us for Beyond the Page with Richard Lui on Tuesday, July 26th@ 6:30pm PDT at the Chinese American Museum! Listen in on the conversation between Lui and FCAM board member Paula Madison as they talk about his latest book, Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness. Together, the two will explore themes in his ‘anti-self’ self-help book such as the ‘selfish pandemic’ in America and how practicing selflessness can bring joy to your life and those around you.
The first 50 guests to arrive in-person will receive a FREE copy of Lui’s book!
Can’t make it in person? The program can also be watched live on Zoom!
About the author:
Richard Lui has more than 30 years in television, film, technology and business. Currently at MSNBC and previously with CNN Worldwide, he is the first Asian American man to anchor a daily national cable news program, and a team Emmy and Peabody winner. He has lived, worked, and volunteered on every continent. Richard is a Celebrity Champion for the Alzheimer’s Association, Caregiving Champion for AARP and Caregiving Ambassador for BrightFocus Foundation.
*Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required to attend in-person. Face masks are also required inside the event space.*
Kid’s Storytime
Join us for another Kids Storytime Featuring Asian American Children’s Authors on July 12, 2022 at 4pm PDT. Miss Rita read, Amah Faraway written by Margaret Chiu Greanias.
A delightful story of a child’s visit to a grandmother and home far away, and of how families connect and love across distance, language, and cultures. Kylie is nervous about visiting her grandmother-her Amah-who lives SO FAR AWAY. When she and Mama finally go to Taipei, Kylie is shy with Amah and the less-familiar language, customs, culture, and food. Kylie begins to see a new side of the things that used to scare her. Soon, Kylie is leading her Amah-Come see! Lái kàn kàn!-back through all her favorite parts of this place and having SO MUCH FUN!
This book is suited for children 3-6 years old, though we welcome children of all ages with parental supervision.
About the Author:
Margaret Chiu Greanias is a children’s book author who writes children’s picture books with heart and humor, including “Maximillian Villainous ,” “Amah Faraway,” and “Hooked on Books.” She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, three children, and a fluffle of dust bunnies.
About the Illustrator:
Tracy Subisak’s art is the perfect blend of her love for visual design and engineering. She is the illustrator of “Grizzly Boy,” “Cy Makes A Friend,” “Shawn Loves Sharks,” and “Wood, Wire, Wings.” Tracy calls Portland her home but regularly adventures where inspiration takes her.
40th Anniversary of the Murder of Vincent Chin
Join the County of Los Angeles Commission on Human Relations and CAM on Thursday, June 23, 6:30 – 8:30pm PDT for the 40th Anniversary of the Murder of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American draftsman from Detroit brutally murdered in 1982 in an act of racism. His death sparked an outpouring of unity across the Asian American community and a call for justice nationwide as his murderers never received any jail time.
This year’s commemoration was held in person at the El Pueblo Historical Monument Kiosko Plaza. In honor of Vincent Chin, there will be a candlelight vigil, speakers, performances, music, and more.
Kid’s Storytime
Join us for another Kids Storytime Featuring Asian American Children’s Authors on June 16, 2022 at 4pm PDT. Miss Rita will read, “Little Messy Marcy Su” written by Cherie Fu and Julie Kwon.
A story about messiness that any child and parent can relate to — featuring a unique Chinese American, intergenerational twist. Marcy Su couldn’t help make messes, track mud on the floors, and get stains on her dresses. But Mama has had enough! Waipo and Waigong are visiting today, and Marcy’s room is a disgrace. What will her grandparents think? Not to worry—Marcy knows just what to do!
Kid’s Story Time is hosted in partnership with the Chinatown Branch Library with stories read by Children’s Librarian, Rita Law.
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
CAM celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a series of in-person and virtual programming to honor the diversity within our community. Here is a list of programs featured during AAPIHM:
Wednesday, May 4th at 4:00 – 4:30pm PDT | Special Edition Kids Storytime Featuring Asian American Children’s Authors (virtual)
Tune in virtually with the little one(s) as CAM and Miss Rita welcome guest author Ruth Chan for a reading of her book, “Thank You, Neighbor,” followed by a fun arts and crafts activity! This book is suited for children 4-8 years old, though we welcome children of all ages with parental supervision.
Please click here for printables for the At-Home activity:
Saturday, May 7th at 10:30am – 12:30pm PDT | LA’s Chinatown Murals: Connecting Past and Present (in-person)
Grab your walking shoes and join us for an in-person walking tour! Developed in conjunction with our latest exhibition, “Collective Resilience: Asian American Artists Honoring Our Community’s Strength and Unity,” this tour begins at the Chinese American Museum and takes you through the Chinatown community! FCAM Board Member and community historian Eugene Moy will guide the tour and share the stories of LA’s Chinatown through the public art in the neighborhood. Guest artists from our exhibition will also be featured.
*Tickets are required, space is limited. Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test is also required to attend.
Tuesday, May 17th at 6:30 – 8:00pm PDT | An Untold Past: Chinese Americans in Los Angeles (in-person & virtual)
Learn about the many Chinatowns that have existed throughout Los Angeles’ history. Moderated by FCAM board member and Cal State LA professor Juily Phun, PhD, the program will bring the stories of our museum to life with a conversational panel discussion and live audience Q&A. Panelists include Will Gow, PhD, Isabela Seong-Leong Quintana, PhD and CAM Executive Director Emerita Suellen Cheng. This program will be open to the public for in-person viewing in addition to a live stream via Zoom.
Watch the online recording here.
Tuesday, May 24th at 4:00 – 4:30pm PDT | Kids Storytime Featuring Asian American Children’s Authors (virtual)
Join Miss Rita for a reading of “Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma” written by Joanna Ho! This lyrical picture book tells the famous cellist’s immigration story and how he uses music to build bridges between cultures. This book is suited for children 4-8 years old, though we welcome children of all ages with parental supervision.
Saturday, June 4th at 11:00am – 4:00pm PDT | Collective Resilience Zine Fest (in-person)
CAM will host a zine festival to commemorate the closing of AAPIHM celebrations at El Pueblo Historical Monument. This program is hosted in conjunction with our current exhibition, “Collective Resilience: Asian American Artists Honoring Our Community’s Strength and Unity.” Similar to the themes of the exhibition, the Zine Fest will bring artists together to share their work centered around AAPI culture, art, and identity. The festival will feature interactive workshops for all ages and an opportunity to purchase zines and more from the artists!
Click Here for the Zine Fest Artist Directory.
Kid’s Storytime
April 5 at 4pm PDT | “Friends are Friends, Forever” by Dane Liu
This is a picture book based on the author’s own immigration story, the infinite impact of friendship, and passing on love and kindness around the world. It follows the story of Dandan and Yueyue, set in Northeastern China. This is their last night together before Dandan moves to America. The two best friends have a favorite wintertime tradition: crafting paper-cut snowflakes, freezing them outside, and hanging them as ornaments. There is no one to carry on the pair’s tradition―until a special friend comes along.
This book is suited for children 4-8 years old, though we welcome children of all ages with parental supervision.
An Untold Past: Chinese in Canada
“An Untold Past” is back and we’re excited to partner with the new Chinese Canadian Museum of British Columbia to explore the history and changing population of our friends to the North!
Join the conversation on Tuesday, April 19th from 5 – 6:30pm PDT.
The discussion features Henry Yu, PhD of the University of British Columbia, Imogene L. Lim, PhD, of Vancouver Island University, and Paul Yee, acclaimed writer and historian. It is moderated by Dorothy Fujita-Rony, PhD, of UC Irvine. The conversation reflects on family and community history as collective memory and how it is preserved and shared in the new Chinese Canadian Museum.
“An Untold Past” is a series developed by the Chinese American Museum to tell the often-unknown history of Chinese diasporas in the US and around the world.
21st Anniversary of the Los Angeles Lantern Festival
CAM presents the 21st Anniversary of the Los Angeles Lantern Festival with virtual programs and special events throughout Lunar New Year. Join us for the following virtual events in celebration of this year’s Lantern Festival.
Thurs., Feb. 3rd at 4pm – 4:45pm | Kids Storytime with Oliver Chin
Join with the little one(s) for a special edition of our Kids Storytime series with the Chinatown Branch Library welcoming author Oliver Chin for a reading of The Year of the Tiger. Enjoy listening to the story read by Oliver Chin and a fun arts and crafts activity led by Children’s Librarian, Miss Rita. Children of all ages welcome with parental supervision.
Thurs., Feb 10th 5pm – 6pm | Familiar Flavors: Stories Made in the Kitchen
Cook along with CAM and cookbook author, Kristina Cho! She’ll be demonstrating her grandmother’s recipe for Fa Gao (Steamed Cupcakes) and be joined by local food writer and editor, Cathy Chaplin. Audience members will receive a discount code during the program to purchase Kristina’s new Chinese baking cookbook, Mooncakes and Milk Bread.
Wed., Feb 23rd at 4pm – 4:45pm | Kids Storytime with Ms Rita
Join us for another Kids Storytime in our Lantern Festival series! Miss Rita will be reading “My Love For You Is Always,” written by Gillian Sze and illustrated by Michelle Lee. This book is suited for children 4-8 years old, though we welcome children of all ages with parental supervision. Kid’s Story Time is hosted in partnership with the Chinatown Branch Library with stories read by Children’s Librarian, Rita Law.
Thurs., Feb 24th at 5pm – 6pm | Lunar New Year Symbols and Traditions with Chef Don Lee
Chef Don Lee and FCAM Board Chair Dr. Gay Yuen will share all about the special ingredients that make up the many lucky Lunar New Year dishes! Watch to see clips from our shopping trip at one of our favorite spots at Wing Hop Fung where we found everything from dried abalone to the special Chinese wine, Moutai!
Sat., Mar 5th at 2pm – 3pm | 21st Anniversary of the Los Angeles Lantern Festival Livestream Event
Kid’s Story Time Featuring Asian American Children’s Authors
Join us for the first Kids Storytime in the new year! On Wednesday, January 26th at 4pm PST, Miss Rita will be reading “Dumplings for Lili,” written and illustrated by Melissa Iwai.
Lili is making dumplings with her grandmother when missing ingredients send her upstairs to ask the neighbor to borrow some cabbage. In turn, the neighbor asks if she has any potatoes! She soon finds herself in a race through the building borrowing ingredients and helping all the grandmothers make their different dumplings!
This book is suited for children 6-8 years old, though we welcome children of all ages with parental supervision.