Asian
Room
The Asian room at the Ethnic Cultural Center depicts
a mural by the artist Jesse Reyes. He painted this
mural on the 24th of October 1985. Below is the
artist statement of the mural.
The ASIAN ROOM INSTALLATION is a representation
of achievement through adversity, sacrifice and
determination. Typical verbage perhaps, but nonetheless
accurate. The visages of ten Asian Americans, known
and unknown, of distant and recent times, tell
a story if you care to listen.
Whether it is the pride in being an AMERICAN,
told through the eyes of three anonymous wartime
relocation internees, that show what price was
paid to prove loyalty to the American dream. The
defiance of Gordon Hirabayashi, unwilling, and
rightfully so, to accept being treated a second
class citizen by the injustice of Executive Order
9066.
The
community spirit that banded together for the
freedom of Chol Soo Lee, wrongly imprisoned
for a crime he did not commit. The optimism of
Carlos Bulosan, who believed that America was in
the heart, and wrote it down for all of us to read
and to remember. The fists of Middleweight Champion
of the World Ceferino Garcia, that fought their
way out of those migrant fields and cannery rows.
The face of a Chinese laborer, upon whose back "Manifest
Destiny" was carried and mined and/hammered
out of the west. "Manifest Destiny" that
HE was not allowed to share. The strength of Queen
Liliuokalani, who spoke out for her people against
the military invasion of Hawaii and the subjugation
of the Hawaiian people by the United States government,
in total disregard for THEIR self- determination.
Or a recent immigrant from Indochina, whose American
story has only begun. Like the others, to seek
that promise of the "pursuit of happiness",
hopefully without its cruelty. Unfortunately, the
murder of Vincent Chin, or the Grand Ledge case,
show that there is a lot to learn, and much to
overcome.
The ASIAN ROOM INSTALLATION is also a protest
against the apathy of many young Asians to day
no longer interested in community issues or the
importance of the strife that came before, and
of its significance TODAY. Not some young urban
fantasy and $17,000 starting salary to be taken
for granted like hairspray. Perhaps the ASIAN ROOM
INSTALLATION will aid in reminding those young
Asians that awareness of our forefathers -and of
ourselves isn't just the stuff of some 60's power
movement, but a concrete reality that we must deal
with every day.
To reserve this room, please refer to the Reservations section.
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