nskripchun
Jun 14th, 2008, 01:53 PM
I meant to post this earlier, but got caught up in school work... gotta give a shoutout to my old workplace!
The museum definitely a part of Seattle's Asian American community's unique vision of Pan-Asianism...
the museum is also the first Smithsonian Institution affiliate in the Pacific Northwest.
http://www.nwasianweekly.com/2008270024/wluke20082722.htm
Wing Luke’s grand opening draws the crowds
By James Tabafunda
Northwest Asian Weekly
When he envisioned creating a Chinese folk art museum in the International District, Wing Luke was one of the first to push for preserving the traditions and culture of one of Seattle’s earliest minority groups. He was already a pioneer, having become the first Asian American elected to public office in the Pacific Northwest.
In 1966, his Wing Luke Memorial Museum was established after his death, in the midst of a diverse neighborhood.
Forty-two years later, the new and renamed Wing Luke Asian Museum held its grand opening on May 31 at its new location, 719 S. King St. Even more inclusive now, the museum explores issues related to the culture, history and art of all Asian Pacific Americans.
Under a gray sky and short periods of light rain, hundreds of people gathered in front of the ID’s newest community center and Smithsonian Institution affiliate. Mistress of ceremonies and KOMO-TV news anchor Mary Nam introduced the event’s speakers, multicultural drumming performance, ribbon-cutting ceremony and drill teams.
Its new home is the result of a five-year, $23 million capital campaign and occupies the 60,000-square-foot East Kong Yick Building, originally built by 170 pioneers in 1910 to house Chinese immigrants. Just two blocks away, its old home was only 7,500 square feet.
Mayor Greg Nickels was the first speaker of the day, telling the audience about a mob of people who escorted Seattle’s Chinese citizens onto departing ships in February 1886. “As each new person comes to our shores and calls Seattle home for whatever reason, we embrace them as our brothers and our sisters, and we never again exclude people from our community,” he emphasized.
A total of nine speakers addressed the crowd, including former museum executive director Ron Chew, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, Gov. Chris Gregoire and King County Executive Ron Sims.
Current museum executive director Beth Takekawa followed the mayor and said, “Please remember our families who voyaged across the waters, a journey of great sacrifices depicted in the artwork now gracing our halls. Please remember those who were left behind. Their legacy is our responsibility.”
She mentioned receiving file folders from the family of the late architect Ben Woo and finding his 1967 design records for the museum’s very first exhibit. Along with those records, she found his dedication to his friend Luke and read it, saying, “In his memory, this museum was created to serve as a link between the cultures which were joined in his life.”
McDermott made note of the fact the grand opening occurred on the last day of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. He added the Asian community and the city of Seattle should take great pride in recognizing the Asian community has “come of age” by creating a permanent home for their museum. “Thank you for inviting me and giving me a pair of scissors to cut the ribbon,” said McDermott as he held his orange-colored scissors up in the air.
Seattle-based Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects designed the museum. Before its construction began, architect Rick Sundberg participated in monthly coordination meetings with museum supporters and officials to gather their input. He said, “You only get to do a project like this once a decade.”
The museum spans two floors, a mezzanine and a top floor; its spaces include Historic Immersion Exhibits, the George Tsutakawa Art Gallery, East and West Lightwells, a Community Hall, the Governor Gary Locke Library and a Community Heritage Center.
Board of trustee member Bruce Hayashi of Seattle joined several people as they walked around the museum after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. A board member for the last five years, he said, “This is exciting. It’s really a fantastic place, and it’s wonderful to see the community’s reception.”
Takekawa said that she hopes the museum is part of the “rebirth of the neighborhood.” “We set ourselves up so that we would be complementary so that, hopefully, people will come here,” she said. “We do not have a café because we want people to have an experience in the district.”
With the museum’s grand opening completed, Hayashi looks forward to its future. He said, “My hopes are that it stirs a lot of interest in what the Asian community represents and (creates) a broader understanding of the diversity of the Asian community throughout the world.”
For more information about the Wing Luke Asian Museum, visit www.wingluke.org.
James Tabafunda can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
The museum definitely a part of Seattle's Asian American community's unique vision of Pan-Asianism...
the museum is also the first Smithsonian Institution affiliate in the Pacific Northwest.
http://www.nwasianweekly.com/2008270024/wluke20082722.htm
Wing Luke’s grand opening draws the crowds
By James Tabafunda
Northwest Asian Weekly
When he envisioned creating a Chinese folk art museum in the International District, Wing Luke was one of the first to push for preserving the traditions and culture of one of Seattle’s earliest minority groups. He was already a pioneer, having become the first Asian American elected to public office in the Pacific Northwest.
In 1966, his Wing Luke Memorial Museum was established after his death, in the midst of a diverse neighborhood.
Forty-two years later, the new and renamed Wing Luke Asian Museum held its grand opening on May 31 at its new location, 719 S. King St. Even more inclusive now, the museum explores issues related to the culture, history and art of all Asian Pacific Americans.
Under a gray sky and short periods of light rain, hundreds of people gathered in front of the ID’s newest community center and Smithsonian Institution affiliate. Mistress of ceremonies and KOMO-TV news anchor Mary Nam introduced the event’s speakers, multicultural drumming performance, ribbon-cutting ceremony and drill teams.
Its new home is the result of a five-year, $23 million capital campaign and occupies the 60,000-square-foot East Kong Yick Building, originally built by 170 pioneers in 1910 to house Chinese immigrants. Just two blocks away, its old home was only 7,500 square feet.
Mayor Greg Nickels was the first speaker of the day, telling the audience about a mob of people who escorted Seattle’s Chinese citizens onto departing ships in February 1886. “As each new person comes to our shores and calls Seattle home for whatever reason, we embrace them as our brothers and our sisters, and we never again exclude people from our community,” he emphasized.
A total of nine speakers addressed the crowd, including former museum executive director Ron Chew, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, Gov. Chris Gregoire and King County Executive Ron Sims.
Current museum executive director Beth Takekawa followed the mayor and said, “Please remember our families who voyaged across the waters, a journey of great sacrifices depicted in the artwork now gracing our halls. Please remember those who were left behind. Their legacy is our responsibility.”
She mentioned receiving file folders from the family of the late architect Ben Woo and finding his 1967 design records for the museum’s very first exhibit. Along with those records, she found his dedication to his friend Luke and read it, saying, “In his memory, this museum was created to serve as a link between the cultures which were joined in his life.”
McDermott made note of the fact the grand opening occurred on the last day of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. He added the Asian community and the city of Seattle should take great pride in recognizing the Asian community has “come of age” by creating a permanent home for their museum. “Thank you for inviting me and giving me a pair of scissors to cut the ribbon,” said McDermott as he held his orange-colored scissors up in the air.
Seattle-based Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects designed the museum. Before its construction began, architect Rick Sundberg participated in monthly coordination meetings with museum supporters and officials to gather their input. He said, “You only get to do a project like this once a decade.”
The museum spans two floors, a mezzanine and a top floor; its spaces include Historic Immersion Exhibits, the George Tsutakawa Art Gallery, East and West Lightwells, a Community Hall, the Governor Gary Locke Library and a Community Heritage Center.
Board of trustee member Bruce Hayashi of Seattle joined several people as they walked around the museum after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. A board member for the last five years, he said, “This is exciting. It’s really a fantastic place, and it’s wonderful to see the community’s reception.”
Takekawa said that she hopes the museum is part of the “rebirth of the neighborhood.” “We set ourselves up so that we would be complementary so that, hopefully, people will come here,” she said. “We do not have a café because we want people to have an experience in the district.”
With the museum’s grand opening completed, Hayashi looks forward to its future. He said, “My hopes are that it stirs a lot of interest in what the Asian community represents and (creates) a broader understanding of the diversity of the Asian community throughout the world.”
For more information about the Wing Luke Asian Museum, visit www.wingluke.org.
James Tabafunda can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.