The Japanese American National Museum strives for appreciation and understanding of the Japanese American Experience. The museum aims to provide a voice and forum to enable people to explore Japanese history and heritage. We are extremely excited for their current exhibit, Supernatural. The exhibit uses the art of Audrey Kawasaki, Edwin Ushiro, and Tim Watters to portray the various superstitions within the Japanese culture. The exhibit is opened on February 9th and will remain open until March 17th, 2013. For information about this exhibit, visit the JANM website here.
Continue reading to find out more about the featured artists:
The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) aims to retain and present the rich history, heritage, culture and diverse experiences of Chinese descent in the United States. Founded in 1980, the museum strives to create dialogue and understanding from all cultures about the experience of Chinese Americans. Much to our excitement, two upcoming exhibits are Fashion exhibits:
Front Row: Chinese American Designers
April 26, 2013 to September 29, 2013
Front Row celebrates the rise of Chinese American designers in New York. This spans from the emerging designers in the 1980′s such as Anna Sui, Yeohlee Teng, Vera Wang and Vivienne Tam all the way to current Fashion designers such as Derek Lam and Phillip Lim who have built global enterprises and have become established figures in an international fashion world. The exhibit not only features the work of seventeen designers, but analyzes the very unique relationship between Asia and New York.
Front Row is guest-curated by designer Mary Ping, and features the work of Thomas Chen, David Chu, Melinda Eng, Jade Lai, Derek Lam, Wayne Lee, Humberto Leon and Carol Lim, Phillip Lim, Mary Ping, Peter Som, Anna Sui, Vivienne Tam, Yeohlee Teng, Zang Toi, Vera Wang, and Jason Wu.
Shanghai Glamour: New Women 1910s-40s
April 26, 2013 to September 29, 2013
Focused on the early 20th century, Shanghai Glamour delves into the very unique fashion of Shanghai women and analyzes how it created a picture seduction and mystery for the city.
“ The city’s identity was deeply associated with its women and their fashion. Their dresses and manners textured the city’s modern life and became the emblems of Shanghai modernity. Beyond the glamour, the changing styles of female clothing and the controversial images of modern women also manifested the social and political anxieties in the transitional period that ushered in new gender roles.”
The exhibit features twelve outfits from the 1910s-1940s from the China National Silk Museum in Hangzhou and various accessories, posters, lifestyle magazines, and period images. Shanghai Glamour examines how women used fashion to create their identity.
To learn more about these exhibits, click here.
The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience is now holding an exhibit on fashion. Titled “Fashion: Workroom to Runway”, the exhibit highlights the many ways in which Asians have contributed to the growing fashion industry. The exhibit not only shares personal stories from early sewing schools and garment workers, it even showcases designers and professionals including Gei Chan, Banchong Douangphrachanh, Harold Koda, Hisako Nakaya, Josie Natori, Maiden Noir, Malia Peoples, Andy South, Chrissy Wai-Ching, and Luly Yang. Visitors will get an in-depth look into the creative process behind these designs and learn about issues on stereotypes, labor, and the ideals of beauty.
Keep reading to find out more!
