The story of Chinese Americans in the
West is one of the most dramatic and compelling in our
entire Western heritage. The Autry Museum has
developed an exceptional exhibition - the largest of its
kind - exploring the history of the Chinese in America
from the 1790s to the present. On Gold Mountain: A
Chinese American Experience, based on the acclaimed
book by Lisa See, will run from July 23 through
January 1, 2001. There will be numerous cultural and
theater events celebrating the accomplishments of Chinese
Americans in conjunction with the exhibition.
Lisa Sees book On Gold Mountain explores
six generations of a Chinese American
family who originally immigrated to
California in 1867, then lived and worked in
Los Angeles from 1897 to the present. The
On Gold Mountain exhibition links this
family story to the larger history of Los
Angeless Chinatown and the history of
Chinese Americans in the United States.
The exhibition will personalize the history
of Chinese immigration and make it
meaningful to a broad audience. Although
specific to the experience of Chinese
Americans, themes underpinning On Gold
Mountain are universal. All immigrants to
America face similar challenges: choosing
between the old world and the new,
maintaining culture and language, and
holding on to traditions while responding
to the demands of assimilation.
Utilizing objects and materials from over
50 local and national collections, the
exhibition will examine the events and
influences surrounding Chinese
immigration in California and the United
States, and the circumstances that
transformed the Chinese in America into
Chinese Americans. In addition, it will
provide a detailed look at the evolution of
Los Angeless Chinatown and explore
many of the issues that continue to face
Chinese Americans today. Sandy Lydon -
scholar of Asian history, professor of
Asian American studies, and a consultant
to the exhibition - believes On Gold
Mountain will be the most important
exhibit ever mounted in the United States
focused specifically on the history of the
Chinese in America.
Design elements incorporated into each
gallery will re-create authentic
environments encountered by Chinese
immigrants. As visitors enter the
exhibition they will experience the
difficult conditions under which Chinese
traveled to America not only through
photographs, objects, and documents, but
also through the re-created environment
of a trans-Pacific steamship. Audio
components will be used in four of the
eight galleries, providing information and
nuances otherwise missed through visual
and literary means. In another gallery, a
video installation will explore stereotypes
of Chinese people in popular films. Toward
the end of the exhibition, an area devoted
to genealogy will illustrate methods used
by Lisa See to uncover her own family
history and introduce visitors to
resources with which they may begin
their own exploration of personal
heritage and community history no matter
what their background.
To further enhance a visitors sense of
history and environment, in-gallery
guides will take the form of baskets that
were used by Chinese immigrants to carry
their worldly possessions across the
ocean. These baskets will be filled with
replica objects and suggested activities
to assist families in interpreting the
exhibition. Elements from the baskets will
also be linked to markers within the
galleries, creating interactive education
areas. These Exploration Guides,
otherwise known as Gum Saan Baskets,
will be available for visitors to check out
at the beginning of the exhibition.
This exhibition has been made possible
through the generous support of Bank of
America, with additional support from The
California Arts Council, a State Agency. I
want to especially thank Liam McGee and
Bank of America for their generous
support of this exhibition. Bank of America
has made a significant commitment to
supporting education and culture in the
community and has enormously enriched
the quality of life for all of us in Southern
California, says Autry Museum CEO John
Gray.
On Gold Mountain is rooted in the Autry
Museums commitment to acknowledge
and critically examine the diverse
communities that have contributed to the
shaping of the American West. It will build
upon the museums other work in this
area, including the exhibitions Powerful
Images: Portrayals of Native America;
Independent Spirits: Women Painters of
the American West, 1890-1945; The Mask of
Zorro: Mexican Americans in Popular
Media, and Strength and Diversity:
Japanese American Women 1885-1990.
IMAGE:
Home altar to honor ancestors, 1990s.
Photo courtesy of Leslee Leong.
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