Wing Luke – Exploring Asian America through Expression and Art

Exquisite pieces of Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) culture, history, and art are displayed, bringing a large community closer together.

Right in our back yard.

The Wing Luke Asian Museum (www.wingluke.org,) located in Seattle, WA, is home to a community-based exhibition functioning as a fluid collection celebrating the multicultural Asian Pacific American community. The new 60,000 square foot building, nearly 8 times larger than its previous location, is the result of major recent renovations. The museum renovation was celebrated with a grand opening on June 1, 2008.

Chi Sigma Alpha’s very own co-founder, Elizabeth Shaiken, is a museum assistant at the Wing Luke Asian Museum. I sat down with Liz to ask about her experiences at the museum.

With the Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle as the only accredited pan-Asian Pacific American museum in the United States, I was curious about the exposure of APIA culture and art in our community. “I feel Asian American art is still something new that many individuals in and outside the APIA communities are continuously learning to appreciate and find a connection,” Liz comments.

What brings life to the museum are the local artists who are present to share their insights. “Understanding APIA art sometimes means having to understand the experiences the artist has gone through,” says Liz, whose favorite piece is June Sekiguchi's "A Separate Reality", part of the Museum's "How the Soy Sauce Was Bottled: Uncommon Stories of Common Objects" exhibit (Summer and Fall, 2007).

As far as her involvement at the museum, she reflects that the museum inspires her to stay connected to the APIA community locally and globally. She shares, “The museum has helped broaden my ties to and knowledge of the community both on a personal and professional level in learning about the issues and concerns different communities face in a variety of topics.”

How can you get involved in the conversation? “There are several ways for students and the community to get involved," say Liz, "We have volunteer and internship opportunities available. Or simply visit us; our exhibits constantly change, providing for new perspectives on new issues.”

The Wing Luke Asian Museum is a powerful avenue in which to publicly display the struggles and joys of APIA history and culture. Liz reflects, “Asian American art is usually overtly politicized and addresses certain key issues (for example immigration, assimilation, stereotypes) of being Asian American in past, present, and future society.”

See also:

New York Times -- Seattle Asian Museum Moves Around the Corner and Into Its Identity
By Edward Rothstein, 5/31/2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/31/arts/design/31muse.html ,

Seattle Times – Expanded Wing Luke Asian Museum's treasures are its stories
By Jack Broom, 5/25/2008
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004437298_wingjourneys25.html

By Hyon-he G., Gamma Class, Alpha Chapter

Wing Luke Asian Museum
www.wingluke.org
719 South King Street in Seattle's Chinatown-International District
Phone: (206) 623-5124
Fax: (206) 623-4559

Hours for the Wing Luke Asian Museum
Monday closed
Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm
First Thursday & Third Saturday of the month, 10am-8pm

Pricing
General Admission:
Adult (18-61) $8
Seniors (62+) $6
Students: grades 6 & above $6
Students: grades K-5 $5
Kids ages 5-12 $5
Kids under 5 free

Tour info: (206) 623-5124 ext. 133

Extend info on hours and pricing. >>.

Volunteer and Internship opportunities at Wing Luke >>