Chinatown 2017: Continuity and Change

A photographic examination of changes and continuities in San Francisco Chinatown during the past 35 years prepared by Malcolm Collier, Emeritus Faculty, Asian American Studies, San Francisco State University. 

• Opening Reception: Tuesday, September 26, 5-7 pm
• Closing Conversation: Thursday, October 12, 5-7 pm
• Location: 41 Ross Alley, San Francisco Chinatown
• Dates: September 21 - October 15, 2017 / Hours: Thurs-Sun, 11am - 4pm

High school teachers, students, and staff might be interested in a photo exhibit in Chinatown's Ross Alley, opposite the fortune cookie factory.  It shows changes in the Chinatown community from the 1960s in photos taken by students from San Francisco State University's Asian American Studies classes.

On display will also be a brilliant Lego model of Chinatown.  High school students from the Chinatown Alleyway Project used different colors of Legos in a block-by-block rendition of housing, commercial and other (i.e. non profits, churches, hospitals).  It is a stunning reminder of how much housing is crammed into those Chinatown blocks.  The largest block of housing, the four Ping Yuen Public Housing Complexes, were originally built in the 1950s to house WWII Chinese veterans and their families.

Also possibly available at a discount will be Exploring Chinatown:  A Children's Guide to Chinese Culture by Carol Stepanchuk.  The book is illustrated by local artist Leland Wong, who created some of TACT's most beloved t-shirt designs.  The book can be used in Grades 4-8 and describes food, reading and writing, celebrations, families, religion (good for 6th Grade), art, and performing arts.

Last but not least, go across the street into the fortune cookie factory and see the mural of Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors.  He came to Chinatown a few years ago to promote their game in which the team wore Lunar New Year t-shirts.

You can't miss this.  All exhibit items will only be on display for a month with limited viewing hours.