Chinese American Museum
The Chinese American Museum (Chinese: 華美博物館; abbreviated CAM) is a museum located in Downtown Los Angeles as a part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument. It is dedicated to the history and experience of Chinese Americans in the state of California, the first such museum in Southern California. It presents exhibits of fine art by Chinese American artists as well as historical exhibits.
Planning for the museum began in October 1984, with the grand opening taking place on December 18, 2003.
The museum is housed in the Garnier Building, the oldest surviving Chinese building in Southern California. The original Los Angeles Chinatown was located here before it was moved to New Chinatown for the construction of Los Angeles Union Station.
It is funded by the State of California, the City of Los Angeles, Friends of the Chinese American Museum, the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, the Getty Foundation, the El Pueblo Association, the Center for Chinese Medicine, and hundreds of other donors.
Exhibits
A permanent exhibit at the museum is the recreation of the Hing Yuen Hong Chinese Herb Shop of yesteryear. Another permanent exhibit opened on December 13, 2012, is "Origins: The Birth and Rise of Chinese American Communities in Los Angeles", celebrating the growth and development of Cantonese American enclaves from Downtown Los Angeles to the San Gabriel Valley.
Past exhibits have included "Sunshine and Shadow: In Search of Jake Lee", showcasing the 60 watercolor work of prolific artist Jake Lee; "Milton Quon's Los Angeles" (2005-2006); "The Art of Diana Shui-In Wong" (2006); and "Tyrus Wong (Chinese: 黃齊耀): A Retrospective" (2004), who was one of the earliest and most influential Chinese American artists.
- The exhibit on "Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection" was opened on October 23, 2009. It was based on Arthur Dong's Hollywood Chinese documentary that was broadcast on PBS on May 27, 2009. The documentary, a study of more than 90 years of Chinese Americans in films, ranging from the first Chinese American film The Curse of Quon Gwon that was produced in 1916 to Ang Lee's 2005 Brokeback Mountain. It closed on November 7, 2010.
- "Remembering Angel Island", commemorating the centennial anniversary of the opening of the immigration station in California, July 16, 2010 – January 31, 2012.
- Dreams Deferred: Artists Respond to Immigration, December 10, 2010 – December 18, 2011. This exhibition showcased local artists exploring the tensions, repercussions, hopes, and dreams of immigrant communities in the face of new immigration legislation, through a broad spectrum of art including street art, graffiti art, sculptures, painting and multimedia installations. Artists included: Augustine Kofie, Cache, Eriberto Oriol, Ernesto Yerena Montejano, Eyeone, K. Lovich, Jesus Barraza of Dignidad Rebelde, Joel “rage.one” Garci, John Carlos De Luna, LeHumanBeing, Oscar Magallanes, Patrick Martinez, Sand One, Shepard Fairey, Shark Toof, O.G. Slick, Swank, and Tempt.
- Breaking Ground: Chinese American Architects in Los Angeles (1945-1980), January 19, 2012 – June 3, 2012. Part of Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A., 1945-1980, this exhibition showcased the achievements of four pioneering Chinese American architects whose contributions were critical to the development of Los Angeles’ urban and visual landscape between 1945 and 1980. The exhibit focused on the lives and work of Eugene Kinn Choy, Gilbert L. Leong, Helen Liu Fong, and Gin D. Wong, FAIA, four architects who played pivotal roles in the development of Mid-Century Modern and Googie Architecture movements, unique to California's Post-War architectural renaissance.
- LA Heat: Taste Changing Condiments, March 13-July 12, 2014. This art exhibition explored the impact of Sriracha and Tapatio in Los Angeles. The exhibit included a curated selection of artwork from artists of diverse backgrounds passionate and reflective about notions of identity, community, and foodways. Participating artists included: Edith Beaucage, Erik Benjamins, Audrey Chan, Ching Ching Cheng, The Chung!!, Chris Christion, Clayton Brothers, Eye One, Gajin Fujita, Daniel Gonzalez, Pato Hebert, Michael C. Hsiung, Phung Huynh, Tomo Isoyama, Nery Gabriel Lemus, Sandra Low, Trinh Mai, Patrick Martinez, Michael Massenburg, Kwanchai Moriya, Jose Ramirez, Yoshie Sakai, Jose Sarinana, Sand One, Shark Toof, Sket, Slick, Henry Taylor, Werc.
Events
Chinese New Year Celebration
During the Chinese New Year celebration each year, a Lantern Festival is held at the museum, featuring live entertainment, including lion dancers, acrobatics, musical, Chinese knotting, and dance performances. "Long Story Short", a documentary on actress Jodi Long's family, was shown at the 8th Annual festival which was held on February 7, 2009. The 2013 Lantern Festival was held Saturday, March 2, 2013, 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Historymakers Awards
Each year, the museum sponsors the annual Historymakers Awards Banquet, which "honors extraordinary individuals who have made a significant impact or contribution towards the advancement of the Chinese American community and beyond." A 2009 honoree was Lisa Lu (Chinese: 盧燕), Chinese-American actress and documentary producer for excellence in film and entertainment.
| No. | Date | Visionary | Lifetime Achievement | Arts & Entertainment | Individual | Corporate | Justice & Leadership | Community & Giving | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1997) |
Oct 22, 1997 | — | — | — | Charles Woo | — | Hon. March Fong Eu | — | — |
| Peter Woo | Hon. Matthew Fong | ||||||||
| J. Paul Getty Trust | Larry Wong | ||||||||
| 2 (1998) |
Oct 6, 1998 | — | Dan Louie Jr., Ph.D. | Bessie Loo | Cathay Bank | — | — | Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association | — |
| Iris Chang | Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association | ||||||||
| 3 (1999) |
Sep 11, 1999 | — | Albert Quon | Michelle Kwan | Charles Sie | — | — | Friends of the Chinatown Library | — |
| 4 (2000) |
Nov 17, 2000 | — | You Chung Hong | Joan Chen | Gareth Chang | Chinese Historical Society of Southern California | — | Deborah Ching | — |
| 5 (2001) |
Dec 9, 2001 | — | Billy Lew | Nancy Kwan | — | — | Hon. Ronald S.W. Lew | — | — |
| Tyrus Wong | |||||||||
| 6 (2002) |
Nov 9, 2002 | — | Gerald Jann | — | Steven Chu | — | Hon. Delbert Wong | Dolores Wong | — |
| Bing Liu | |||||||||
| Caroline Hsu | |||||||||
| 7 (2003) |
Sep 21, 2003 | — | Munson A. Kwok, Ph.D. | Jackie Chan | Dominic Ng | — | Gilbert Cedillo | Dr. Annie Chin Siu | — |
| Peter Paanakker Estate | |||||||||
| Henry C. Lee, Ph.D. | |||||||||
| Lisa See | |||||||||
| 8 (2004) |
Sep 10, 2004 | Leroy & Carol Baca | Wilbur Woo | — | — | — | Antonio Villaraigosa | — | — |
| Debra W. Yang | |||||||||
| 9 (2005) |
Sep 10, 2005 | Joseph and Betty Wong | William Chun-Hoon | Andrew and Peggy Cherng | Kenjohn Wang | — | Lucille Roybal-Allard | — | — |
| No. | Date | Visionary | Lifetime Achievement | Arts & Entertainment | Individual | Corporate | Justice & Leadership | Community & Giving | President |
| 10 (2006) |
Sep 10, 2006 | — | Robert and Edith Jung | Tim Dang | — | — | Assy. Judy Chu | Rev. Dr. Hoover Wong | — |
| C.Y. Lee | |||||||||
| 11 (2007) |
Sep 9, 2007 | Lai Y. Lillian Lee Jang | Southern California Council of Chinese School | — | — | Southern California Edison | John Chiang | — | — |
| Stewart Kwoh, Esq. | |||||||||
| 12 (2008) |
Sep 7, 2008 | — | — | Arthur Dong | Lisa Ling | Union Bank of California | — | Jim Tsai | — |
| Pacific Alliance Medical Center, Inc. | |||||||||
| 13 (2009) |
Sep 20, 2009 | Jean Bruce Poole | — | Lisa Lu | — | — | Matthew Lin | Paul Tea | — |
| 14 (2010) |
Sep 19, 2010 | Kong Chow Benevolent Association | Dr. S.Y. Wong | — | Blake Chow | Avery Dennison | — | Dr. Tim Siu | — |
| 15 (2011) |
Sep 22, 2011 | Gin D. Wong, FAIA | — | — | Hwei Chih Cheng Sun | Chinese-American Engineers and Scientists Association of Southern California | — | The Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles | — |
| 16 (2012) |
Sep 27, 2012 | Latham & Watkins, LLP | Chinese American Citizens Alliance | — | — | Tom McKernan & The Automobile Club of Southern California | Carol Liu | Carl K. Moy, MD | — |
| 17 (2013) |
Sep 12, 2013 | Kin Hui | Charles W. Wong | David Henry Hwang | — | — | Michael F. Eng | Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment | — |
| 18 (2014) |
Sep 25, 2014 | Ming Hsieh | David Fon Lee | — | Kenneth Chin-Ming Lo | Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary | Dr. James Bok Wong and Betty KC Yeow | Board of Directors, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals | — |
| 19 (2015) |
Sep 17, 2015 | Greg Penske | Jeffrey G. Chan | — | Paula Madison | Enterprise Rent-A-Car | — | Dr. Ina Chan Un Chan, BBS | — |
| No. | Date | Visionary | Lifetime Achievement | Arts & Entertainment | Individual | Corporate | Justice & Leadership | Community & Giving | President |
| 20 (2016) |
Sep 15, 2016 | Susanna & Evans Lam | Bill Imada | Fresh Off the Boat | Gang Ding | — | Kent Wong | Esther Woo Jan | — |
| 21 (2017) |
Sep 14, 2017 | Assy. Ed Chau | Dunson K. Cheng | Milton Quon | — | Nissan North America Inc. | T.G. Wing Chow, M.D. | Leo Chu | — |
| 22 (2018) |
Sep 13, 2018 | Winston and Joanne Young | Dr. Kang L. Wang | — | — | Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco | Los Angeles Chinatown Corporation | Hong Kong Schools Alumni Federation Scholarship Foundation | — |
| 23 (2019) |
Sep 19, 2019 | Elizabeth Yang | Suellen Cheng | — | — | Morning Light Foundation | Linda Liu Sun | Linda Moy | Doré Hall Wong |
| 24 (2020) |
Oct 20, 2020 | Judge Dolly Gee | Helen Zia | — | Mei Wah Lau | Los Angeles Times | Hilda Solis | — | Jim Jang |
| Asian American Journalists Association–LA Chapter | Renee Tajima-Peña |
- Notes
- ^ Judge Ronald S.W. Lew Visionary Award (named for Lew starting in 2007)
- ^ Dr. Dan S. Louie Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award (simply the Dan Louie, Jr. Award from 2003–2006)
- ^ President's Award
- ^ Excellence in Business
- ^ Excellence in Government Award
- ^ Service to History
- ^ Excellence in Leadership
- ^ Founders' Award
- ^ Excellence in Entertainment
- ^ Excellence in Community Service
- ^ Excellence in Community Empowerment
- ^ Also received Excellence in Business
- ^ Excellence in Sports
- ^ Excellence in Science & Engineering
- ^ Excellence in the Arts
- ^ Excellence in Business Leadership
- ^ Distinguished Service Award
- ^ Also received Excellence in Community Service
- ^ Excellence in the Performing Arts
- ^ Excellence in Law and Justice Award
- ^ Excellence in Science
- ^ Excellence in Community Leadership and Volunteerism
- ^ Excellence in Cultural Advancement in Letters
- ^ Special Youth Recognition
- ^ Excellence in Medicine
- ^ Excellence in Cultural Advancement
- ^ Excellence in History
- ^ Excellence in Culinary Culture
- ^ Excellence in Business and Immigration
- ^ Excellence in Literary Arts
- ^ Excellence in Corporate Leadership
- ^ Excellence in Film
- ^ Excellence in Journalism
- ^ Excellence in Healthcare
- ^ Excellence in Film and Entertainment
- ^ Excellence in Law Enforcement
- ^ Excellence in Education
- ^ Excellence in Science and Engineering
- ^ Community Impact Award
- ^ Excellence in Medicine and Community Service
- ^ Also received Excellence in Architecture
- ^ Excellence in Arts and Letters
- ^ Excellence in Government Leadership
- ^ International Corporate Award
- ^ Excellence in Community Leadership
- ^ Humanitarian Award
- ^ Chinese American Heritage & Legacy Award
- ^ Excellence in Leadership and Philanthropy
- ^ Excellence in Community Services Award
- ^ Excellence in International Partnerships
- ^ Excellence in Philanthropy
- ^ Excellence in Global Education
- ^ Community Trailblazer Award
- ^ First female president of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association.
- ^ Societal Transformation Award
- ^ Courage in Leadership Award
- ^ Advocacy in Action Award
- ^ Champion for Justice Award
See also
- History of the Chinese Americans in Los Angeles
- Museum of Chinese in America
- Chinese-American Museum of Chicago
- Chinese American Museum DC
- Chinese Historical Society of America
- Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
- Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park
- Chinese Culture Center