Since the start of the pandemic, the Asian American community has experienced an increase in violent attacks and verbal insults. Experiencing these racially-charged incidents may cause re-traumatization of past experiences. For many Asian Americans, a first memory of discrimination and embarrassment was in the lunchroom. In collaboration with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network (CACEN), we are asking you as members of the community to respond to a statewide call for visual artwork, photography, and stories reflecting moments when you feel you have been judged due to the cultural foods that you enjoy - and/or why you love those foods.
We will only share the names of those who would like for us to alongside their responses, otherwise these will be anonymous sharings.
By sharing these stories, we deepen empathy and build a sense of community and healing knowing that we are not alone in these experiences -- it’s time to be proud of the foods of our families and ancestors!
Thank you to CACEN, Asian Avenue Magazine, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and Kaiser Permanente for generously supporting the Japanese Arts Network in this exhibit feature which will be part of the "Colorado’s API Food Culture: Rice & Resilience" exhibition at History Colorado Center on the third floor mezzanine for one year starting on April 16th, 2022.
Those works of art or photographs which are selected to be included in the History CO exhibit will receive a small honorarium in gratitude for participating.