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MOV Details New Exhibition on Chinese Immigration, Readies Webinar on Indigenous Art Clothing

The GOODS from the Museum of Vancouver

Vancouver, BC | The Museum of Vancouver (MOV) and the University of British Columbia (UBC) in partnership with the Province of British Columbia proudly present A Seat at the Table: Chinese Immigration and British Columbia, a new feature exhibition that opened to the public on November 19th, 2020.

A Seat at the Table looks at Chinese immigration to this province as a story that is local and global, historical and contemporary. Using food and restaurant culture as an entry point, A Seat at the Table at MOV features stories that point to the great diversity of immigrant experiences and of the communities that immigrants develop.

In this 4000-sq ft exhibition, environments evoking the quintessential Chinese Canadian diner and dim sum restaurant, set the stage for moving stories of separation, loss and alienation but also of solidarity, tenacity and success. Seated in a restaurant booth, visitors learn about people like Chin Nee Young, who arrived on Vancouver Island in 1908 at the age of 14. Another story comes from Kee Toy Joseph, a Squamish artist who explores his Chinese ancestry through art. Then there is the Wu Family, originally from Taiwan, who were among the first to introduce bubble tea to the Vancouver region in the 1980s.

Animated maps, short films, virtual reality and art installations show Chinese immigrants forging social connections with other migrant and Indigenous communities in British Columbia while maintaining ties with their relatives in China. These stories underscore the extent of systemic racism and its enduring impact on Chinese Canadians while highlighting their ability to resist, organize, seek justice and thrive. The exhibition’s tone strikes a balance between playful and serious. Its crowdsourcing elements illustrate this approach: one interactive digital wall displays photographs of people’s favourite Chinese Canadian restaurants while another station asks visitors to fill in cards shaped like restaurant order pads with
their thoughts on how to fight everyday racism.

With its sister exhibition located in Chinatown, A Seat at the Table at MOV is one of the largest museum projects on Chinese Canadian history and culture in Canada to date. The research component includes an extensive and ongoing oral history project. The exhibition itself seeks to diversify representations of Canada and make them more inclusive. It also seeks to transform public understanding of Canada’s long engagement with the Pacific, and successive waves of Chinese migration. Fresh perspectives on migration, diaspora, cultural representation and agency encourage the public to rethink what it means to be British Columbian.

The large-scale project team includes a diverse advisory committee of public historians, activists, academics, local artists and museum professionals from different parts of BC. The project is co-curated by Denise Fong (Doctoral Candidate, Interdisciplinary Studies, UBC), Viviane Gosselin (Curator, Director of Collections and Exhibitions, MOV) and Henry Yu (Professor, Department of History, UBC). The exhibition is designed by Goodweather Studio.

To further explore the exhibition themes, MOV and partners are developing a host of public programs including: virtual curatorial talks, exhibition tours, workshops, community collaborations, and more.

Denise Fong, Co-curator: “We hope that this exhibition will offer a creative space for many more conversations to be had about what it means to be Chinese Canadian, whether you are third generation Chinese Canadian with deep roots in this country, or if you have just arrived in Canada as a new immigrant.

\Viviane Gosselin, Co-curator: “The knowledge sharing that has taken place between individuals, community groups, academics and museum professionals for the production of A Seat at the Table project is exceptional and will resonate with diverse audiences who will recognize themselves in the stories.”

Professor Henry Yu, Co-Curator: “Through their struggles in the face of racism and exclusion, Chinese Canadians helped make BC a more inclusive and just society overall. There is still much work to be done, and the project will help play a role in inspiring younger generations, especially newcomers, to understand the continuing and ongoing efforts that all of us must strive towards to struggle to acknowledge our past and continue to change BC for the better.”


WEBINAR: Shop #IndigenousFirst this holiday season with Ay Lelum

Have you ever wondered if it is appropriate to wear Indigenous Art clothing if you are not Indigenous? Have you wondered how to source Authentic Indigenous Makers?

This webinar will explore the concept of #IndigenousFirst and outline the importance of supporting Indigenous businesses this holiday season. Ay Lelum will discuss the impact of non-Indigenous allyship and how others should support by wearing and purchasing such products. With the shift in consumer consciousness of wanting to support Indigenous and BIPOC businesses, they will also discuss how a consumer can identify Authentic Makers.

Not only will Ay Lelum outline what they do as a Second Generation Coast Salish Design House, they will also share other like-minded Indigenous businesses and markets to support.

Dates: Saturday, November 28, 2020 | DETAILS & TICKETS
Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Platform: Zoom (Information about how to connect will be sent to participants prior to the event)
Tickets: $1-$10 Sliding Scale (A service fee and GST is also applied to ticket sales.)

About Museum of Vancouver | The Museum of Vancouver connects Vancouverites to each other and connects Vancouver to the world. The museum’s programs, exhibitions, and collections bring people together and inspire conversation about the future. The museum, an enthusiastic civic advocate, is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring a socially connected, civically engaged city.

Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
100 Chestnut St, Vancouver, BC V6J 3J9
604-736-4431

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