Chinatown Park Mural Project
The newly expanded Chinatown Park is enclosed by a perimeter of concrete barriers, with a surface length of 223 feet. This 160-foot design was co-created by youth artists from Asian American LEAD and Chinatown Art Studio, around the themes of immigration/AAPI experience, Chinese American History, community advocacy and equality.
Youth artists attended a series of design workshops facilitated by DC muralist Shani Shih, facilitator of Chinatown Art Studio, followed by community paint days between November and December 2023.
Black, brown and immigrant communities in the District have experienced intense gentrification in recent decades – Chinatown is an important example. Ongoing displacement continues to erode the Chinatown community; there are currently less than 300 Chinese Americans living in Chinatown, and small businesses are struggling to survive.
Through centering AAPI and Chinatown youth voices, the Chinatown Park Mural Project establishes much-needed community ownership in the park space. Community representation in such a visible public space in Chinatown helps to combat issues of Chinatown gentrification and community erasure, and uplifts the perspectives and stories of longtime residents in the neighborhood.
The endcaps of the barriers feature designs created in collaboration with local artist Hillel Smith. Community members created windows, which were adhered to the barrier murals, through collaborative programming done through Chinatown Art Studio and Sixth & I.
Mural Map
Left Side
AALEAD
Right Side
Chinatown Art Studio
Section 1
Immigration to America
AALEAD youth’s portion of the mural depicts the experience of immigration to America - setting down roots through concentration and diligence.
The glasses show the dual consciousness of having multiple identities.
There is a small brick wall symbolizing the 1882 exclusion act and the experience of racism - which lotus flowers are growing through with resiliency.
Chinatown History & Culture
Section 2
Section 2 shows DC Chinatown archway with the Capitol in the background, which references Chinatown's first location along Pennsylvania Ave.
Next are cultural traditions and activities in Chinatown, including Wushu martial arts practice, a lion dance lionhead spreading a trail of red envelopes to reference lunar New Year, 9-man volleyball which is a big Chinatown tradition.
Section 3
Community & Equality
Residents standing in front of new and old buildings show the community resilience amid neighborhood changes.
A firm handshake and a joyful gathering of women of color symbolize Black and brown unity.
The panther and tiger side by side are a clever nod to the histories of Black Power/Yellow Peril solidarity and civil rights organizing.
Section 4
Resiliency & Future
Chinatown Art Studio youth’s mural design begins with a young AAPI girl experiencing bullying and alienation. Despite these circumstances, she gathers strength amid a pond of lotus flowers - a flower that pushes through layers of mud in order to bloom. The lotus symbolizes her resiliency and her bright future.
Section 5
Cultural Self-Expression
We then transition into a section that showcases the rich mediums of cultural self-expression in Chinatown – traditional calligraphy brushes and painting, a woman playing the guqin, and Chinese instruments including the pipa. Floral patterns line the background.
A dance of the Four Symbols of Chinese Constellations is taking place on a grand Chinese opera stage – a symbol of harmony and balance (bird, dragon, tortoise with snake, tiger).
Section 6
Chinese Holiday Customs
This section celebrates a number of holidays and the tradition of storytelling that undergird Chinese holiday customs. We start with the dragon boat festival, move into the legend of Chang’e and Hou Yi that is told with the Mid-autumn festival (Chang’e steals an immortality pill from an evil king to save the world, an ascends to the moon).
Before we transition into a family scene, where a family is gathered around the table eating important holiday dishes.
