Austin’s Asian American Resource Center’s (AARC) Community Art Exhibit Program is proud to present four new community art and historical exhibitions to kick off the 2020 exhibit season. Works include a teen anime/manga/video game art show, an antiques clocks collection, a historical journey of the south’s first anti-domestic violence group for the Asian community, and a showcase of nature photography balanced with the Japanese poetry form of haiku. An exhibit opening reception celebrating all participating artists will be held on Jan. 10, 2020 from 6-8 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. The exhibits will be on display from Jan. 10 through March 28, 2020.

The AARC’s Community Art Exhibit Program displays artwork that celebrate the diverse and dynamic cultural heritage, history, identity and creativity of Asian American Pacific Islanders. Exhibits are displayed on a quarterly schedule. To learn more about this program and the exhibiting artists, visit austintexas.gov/page/asian-american-resource-center-exhibits.

Upcoming Exhibits

“Kingdom Arts: Citywide Art Show for teen Anime, Manga and Video Game Enthusiasts”

Experience the fantasy worlds of anime, manga, and video games with a new exhibit featuring work from teen artists that celebrates Asian pop culture genres. Central Texas middle and high school students explore new possibilities with their imaginative creations, which include cosplay photography, product design, drawings, paintings, digital prints, fiber art, and metal sculpture work. The collection’s title, “Kingdom Arts,” pays homage to the groundbreaking video game series, Kingdom Hearts, which combines storylines of famous Disney characters with protagonists from Final Fantasy, a popular Japanese video game series from Square-Enix. 

“Shen’s Precious Clocks and Watches” | Peter Shen

Scientist and photographer Peter Shen takes on the role of curator to craft an exhibit that explores the rich artistry, engineering, and history of time pieces. This ensemble of carefully selected clocks and watches represents distinct moments in the advancement of measuring time. Discover innovations in engineering and design that tell the story of how clockmakers addressed evolving attitudes about time and punctuality.  

“Courage to Be: The Saheli Story” | Asian American Resource Center and Austin History Center

Derived from a Hindi word meaning female friend, Saheli started in February of 1992 as an informal support group for South Asian women in Austin. Their vision was to prevent abuse in family relationships, break the cycle of violence and pursue a cycle of peace by bridging the cultural gap between the Asian community and local social services. Explore archival materials from the Austin History Center to learn how Saheli members had the courage to become the first organization of its kind in the U.S. South to serve the Asian community.

“A Ginkgo Walk” | Sneha Sundaram

Sneha Sundaram balances nature photography with the Japanese poetry form of haiku to create visual and literary sensations. A ginkgo walk is an ancient Japanese haiku practice in which the writer walks through natural surroundings to draw inspiration. Sundaram bases her art on this practice and strives to encourage the audience to find their own meditative moment in nature. 

Asian American Resource Center

8401 Cameron Rd.
Austin, TX 78754
aarc@austintexas.gov
austintexas.gov/aarc
512-974-1700