MOCA rebuilds, but not without some controversyĪs MOCA has gone from relative obscurity to a nationally recognized institution, it’s also come under greater scrutiny from some in Chinatown – a neighborhood that has endured many crises over the years and was hit especially hard by the pandemic. “(There is a) generation in their 80s and 90s who have lived through many episodes within the last 80 to 90 years of US-China history that is going to be lost if we don’t record their history.” “We have a great sense of urgency to take down as many oral histories as possible,” Yao added. The studio has just recently been set up, and the museum hopes to start holding interviews here soon. Now, there’s a dedicated space with cozy chairs, a warm backdrop and a microphone and video camera. Capturing and preserving oral histories of Chinese Americans was a vital part of MOCA’s mission even before the fire, but the resulting audio quality was often poor, Ma said. 'Perpetual foreigner': Photos explore Asian American belonging in everyday spacesĪ new oral history recording booth in the MOCA Workshop also reflects how the museum’s work has evolved. “We’ve almost become a 24/7 reference desk for those types of questions.” You don’t understand what to keep and what to throw away,” Yao said. You don’t know what’s valuable in your closet. “You don’t speak your parents’ mother tongue. Would MOCA be interested in taking donations? Many were from later generations of Chinese Americans who couldn’t decipher the materials they were now tasked with sorting through. Some had lost loved ones to the Covid-19 pandemic, or other causes, and were left with troves of family heirlooms that they didn’t have a specific use for, said Yao. Other items, such as a Chinese typewriter and Chinese American pilot Maggie Gee’s airman ID, are still in need of sponsors.Īs MOCA was in the throes of figuring out how to save the tens of thousands of artifacts it had amassed over decades, Chinese Americans started reaching out with questions of their own. So far, the museum has raised enough money to remove mold and grime from a painting by Chinese American watercolorist Dong Kingman and mend the Joy Luck Restaurant sign, according to its website. Patrons can then “sponsor an object” by making a donation. The museum periodically posts salvaged items on its website, detailing their significance, the extent of the damage and the cost of repairs. Other objects need further attention and care, and MOCA is inviting the public to take part. On the ground floor, a green velvet dress with butterflies at the collar and cuff is among the labeled garments hanging on padded hangers. Archival boxes containing issues of “The China Daily News” and “The China Press” – Chinese language newspapers published in the US – are neatly stacked on shelves upstairs. Many of the artifacts have already been carefully cataloged and stored. Launched during the Cold War, Chinatown's pageants were about much more than beauty It’s where the critical work of restoring and rehousing artifacts is taking place. The two-story, 4,000-square-foot building down the block from the museum now serves as a research and collections center. “We were able then to not only save our current collection, but expand it.”Īs MOCA’s collection continues to grow, Yao said she hopes to illuminate the nuances around the Chinese experience in the US – and tell a richer, more complex story about the nation.Īfter being salvaged from the fire in January 2020, the museum’s collections were freeze-dried and eventually brought to the MOCA Workshop. “This incredible tragedy with a five-alarm fire actually put us on the map,” she told CNN. Yao likens MOCA’s recent wins to a phoenix rising from the ashes. The influx of funding has also helped the museum move closer to its longtime goal of securing a permanent home – a new facility designed by the architect Maya Lin is set to open in 2025. After the disaster, MOCA was named one of “America’s cultural treasures” by the Ford Foundation and received another grant from MacKenzie Scott. It also brought in millions of dollars in resources. News of the tragedy brought attention from all over the US, reminding people of the rich history that was at stake. But as MOCA President Nancy Yao sees it, the fire has been a boon of sorts. This sign for a former Chinatown business was damaged when the building housing MOCA's collections caught fire in 2020.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |