Asian Arts Initiative

Check out the article on the , by our curator, Joyce Chung () reflecting on Philly-based artist Rachel Hsu’s () recent public installation work in Maja Park on the Ben Franklin Parkway, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨, which was inspired by Taiwan’s reflexology footpaths and invites us to walk along a surface of rounded stones for a tactile and meditative journey.

Next Tuesday (9/17) 6PM ➡️ Join us for an artist talk and take a closer look at Hsu’s creative process in crafting her first outdoor site-specific sculpture, and explore the thematic connections between her work and the complex emotional and physical experiences it aims to evoke.

This event is co-presented with and will take place at Asian Arts Initiative’ Black Box Theater. Free event registration at the link in bio!

“Lucent Ground” is a performance by Mary Presecott () with Kengchakaj () that conjures a folkloric sound experience unfolding from ancient Asian mythologies, and wonders of the natural and supernatural worlds with voice, piano, percussion, electronics and video.

Join us for this special performance on Thursday, September 26, 7-8:30PM, here at Asian Arts Initiative! Get tickets today at the link in bio 🔗

Next Thursday (9/19) 6PM Come experience our first Words & Sounds Series featuring a veteran jazz improviser and composer Sumi Tonooka () and a Brooklyn-based pianist, volalist, composer and songwriter, Maya Keren ()

Presented with M3 (), Words & Sounds Series invite two musicians on the third Thursdays of each month (Sep-Nov) to explore creative connections between music and spoken words with live music performances and readings by the artists, followed by a guided writing activity and Q&A discussion.

The September edition of Words & Sounds Series is now pay what you wish! Get your tickets today at the link in our bio 🔗

TOMORROW (9/7) 1–4PM✨Block Party at the Rail Park✨Rain or Shine🌦️

Come experience the beat from a giant sound tower with an incredible lineup of DJ sets featuring

PLUS, many family-friendly activities and performances, food vendors, and local community organizations!

Come celebrate with us! RSVP link in bio 🔗

This Saturday (9/7) is a BUSY day in Philly! Check out everything we are doing that you do NOT want to miss:

📣𝗥𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 & 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵: 𝗡𝗼 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 (𝟭-𝟰𝗣𝗠)
After two long years, the fight to save Chinatown and stop 76 Place is reaching a fever pitch. Join and our friends at starting at the City Hall at 1PM for a march and rally telling City Council: No Arena in the heart of our city.

🌳𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 (𝟭-𝟰𝗣𝗠)
Before or after the rally, take a short walk from the City Hall or Chinatown to join our Block Party!! Hosted by AAI and , this is a family-friendly event, showcasing our local community through live performances, arts activities, and various cultural organizations. Come experience AAI’s SOUND TYPE Music Festival as the sound system collective and record label will keep the beat featuring its iconic Tower of Sound with a special guest DJ

🍳𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗿. 𝗧𝗮𝗼 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲 (𝟱-𝟳𝗣𝗠)
After the Block Party, join us at AAI’s black box theater for a special seminar with who will lead a food demonstration and a conversation on the intersections of music, food, and the crosscurrents of the Black and Asian experience.

🔥𝗗𝘂𝗯 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 (𝟴𝗣𝗠-𝟮𝗔𝗠)
Check out the hottest party at ! Presented by , this special event will feature TWO of the East coast premier Dubwise Soundsystems in ONE arena, for a night of heavy weight Deep Roots Culture and Dub. from Brooklyn will be checking in for this special Session alongside Philly’s Roots ambassador

Only a few spots left💥Come experience a one-of-a-kind workshop with Dr. Tao Leigh Goffe () featuring a food demonstration and a conversation on the intersections of music, food, and the crosscurrents of the Black and Asian experience, this Saturday (9/3) 5-7PM.

Dr. Goffe is an award-winning writer, theorist, and interdisciplinary sound artist. Her work explores the history of DJ aesthetics, the role of Jamaican Chinese infrastructure in reggae music industry, and Black electronic sound technologies.

Registration is required for this special edition of SOUND TYPE series and it will take place at AAI’s black box theater at 5PM following the Block Party at the Rail Park (1-4PM). Check out the link in our bio to learn more and RSVP 🔗

The incredible L’Amour Supreme () visited AAI to start a major glow up for our beloved Art Cart! L’Amour will return next Saturday (9/7) to our Block Party at the Rail Park to finish the project in a live painting session! Don’t miss the unveiling of our NEW Art Cart next week 🐲🔥

Hosted by and , the Block Party is a family-friendly event, showcasing our local community through live performances, arts activities, and various cultural organizations. Come celebrate with us! RSVP at the link in our bio 🔗 or

Join us and M3 () for the special Words & Sounds Series this Fall season! For the next three months, on the third Thursdays (9/19, 10/17, 11/21), two musicians will come together to explore creative connections between music and spoken word, featuring live music performances and readings by the artists, followed by a guided writing activity and Q&A discussion.

The September edition (9/19, 6PM) will feature two pianists: a veteran jazz improviser and composer Sumi Tonooka () and a Brooklyn-based pianist, volalist, composer and songwriter, Maya Keren ()

Learn more about these musicians and get your tickets today at the link in bio 🔗

Come experience SOUND TYPE music festival at the 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 on Saturday, September 7 🔊 Hailing from Brooklyn, the sound system collective and record label Dub-Stuy () will keep the beat featuring its iconic Tower of Sound and special guest DJ Anna Morgan ()

Hosted by and , the Block Party is a family-friendly event, showcasing our local community through live performances, arts activities, and various cultural organizations. Come celebrate with us! RSVP at the link in our bio 🔗 or

Today marks the last day of Anne Ishii () as our executive director at Asian Arts Initiative 🥲💐 We are so grateful for her tremendous work in fostering a brave culture and space for so many artists at the “threshold of transformation” here in Philadelphia and we look forward to and cheer on her continued journey as Program Director at United States Artists ()!

Check out the link in our bio to read one last letter from Anne 💌
Go Anne 🎉 Keep serving 😎

Jordan Deal () is an artist born and based in Philadelphia whose work unsettles the boundaries of music, video, and performance. Deal joins our Spring/Summer season as an exhibiting artist for our current exhibition, 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲: 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 + 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 and a live performance that took place at AAI on May 24, 2024.

Their work consists of personal, found, and archival sounds and images of Black q***r moments exploring the relationships between life and death, birth and decay. Proposing new connections to the environment, Deal utilizes the role of sonic panorama in recontextualizing Black history.

𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 is now closed. Thank you so much for visiting and enjoying the exhibition and Dream House Lounge through this summer! Stay tuned for our next exhibition and come check out our other events and concerts 🔗

This Saturday (8/10) at 7:30PM ➡️ Join us for an evening of beautiful Carnatic music featuring Bhuvana Kannan. Trained in veena and known for her melodious music and great command over the divine instrument, Bhuvana Kannan has performed at many prestigious sabhas (fine arts events) and concerts in India and organizes Veena Festivals. Kannan will be accompanied by other prominent traditional instrumentalists including Aparna Kannan (vocal, veena), Dr. Laxmisha M. Sridhar (mridangam), and Subhang Srinivasan (ghatam).

This concert is co-presented with 🔥 Get your tickets today at the link in our bio 🔗

Gabrielle Patterson (.animates) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans animation, film, illustration, and installation. She often collaborates with artists across disciplines and genres and has created cover art and animated videos for musicians. Patterson joins our Spring/Summer season as an exhibiting artist for our current exhibition, 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲: 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 + 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼.

The video and cover art pieces featured are for the music of ERKONOMICS, a three-song EP by Philadelphia multi-instrumentalist Eric Sherman (). Using digital collage, photo manipulation, painting, and augmented reality, Patterson connects the songs’ common themes, while highlighting each of their unique subject matters and tones.

𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 highlights the shifting roles of music video as a hybrid form of creative expression beyond their musical and cinematic quality as promotional tools of the music industry. Tomorrow (8/3) is the LAST DAY of this exhibition! Come check it out before it closes

Learn more and RSVP at the link in bio 🔗

📢 We regret to announce that tomorrow’s SOUND TYPE concert is canceled due to the artist testing positive for COVID-19. The seminar on Saturday (8/3) at 4PM is still ON as scheduled! Tatsu Aoki and Joshua Minsoo Kim will join us virtually to discuss Aoki’s music and experimental filmmaking practice. Come meet our writers cohort and experience SOUND TYPE by learning more about music practice and critical feedback that push against category, form and stereotypes!

Learn more and RSVP at the link in bio 🔗

Hey Philly youth☀️Discover your unlimited potential through the teachings and practices of Bruce Lee this summer, August 12–16! We welcome previous and new students (age 10-16) to join this one week long martial arts camp that teaches confidence and self-knowledge in a mind, body, spirit curriculum based on Bruce Lee’s philosophies and life. This unique camp experience is presented with

Check out the link in bio to learn more and register 🔗

Brandon Aquino Straus () is an interdisciplinary artist living and working in Philadelphia. He is part of the LGBTQ community and the Filipino diaspora. Straus joins our Spring/Summer season as an exhibiting artist for our current exhibition, 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲: 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 + 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼.

“Mountain to Mountain: Island to Island” (2024) a documentary video that captures international Asian communities and their shared passion for yodeling. The work consists of three parts, each presenting a yodeling community the artist visited in Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Exploring how the yodel song can differ and vary in region, culture, and context, the work underscores the transmutation of their practice into a collectively-created interdisciplinary medium while addressing critical issues such as globalization, cultural adjustments, and preservation of traditions.

𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 highlights the shifting roles of music video as a hybrid form of creative expression beyond their musical and cinematic quality as promotional tools of the music industry. This is the LAST WEEK of this exhibition! Come check it out before it closes on August 3! Our gallery is open on Tue/Thu/Sat 2–6PM.

Learn more at the link in our bio 🔗

We are looking for a teaching artist for our expanding Youth Education programs! Teaching Artist for Youth Leadership Initiative—our year-around high school program—will assist during workshop time and with lesson planning, support classroom management, and attend field trips. Learn more about the position on our website under opportunities! Apply at [email protected] by August 16🌟

Rozz Zimmerman () is an animator and designer who finds inspiration in the tactile nature of print-making, practical effects, and the controlled chaos of horror movies. Utilizing interdisciplinary art forms in the quest for interesting animation, she experiments with materials and techniques, in both the digital and traditional realm. Zimmerman joins our Spring/Summer season as an exhibiting artist for our current exhibition, 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲: 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 + 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼.

Shot in Philadelphia, “Emerald Pools” (2022) depicts how everyday objects become the raw materials for her visual collages, providing an endless catalog of textures and patterns. By layering these elements through digital editing and animation, she constructs maximalist landscapes that are both eclectic and organic, inviting viewers into a vibrant realm of visual exploration.

𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 highlights the shifting roles of music video as a hybrid form of creative expression beyond their musical and cinematic quality as promotional tools of the music industry. This is the LAST WEEK of this exhibition! Come check it out before it closes on August 3! Our gallery is open on Tue/Thu/Sat 2–6PM.

Learn more at the link in our bio 🔗

SAT SEPT 7, 1–4PM 🌳 Join Asian Arts Initiative () and Friends of the Rail Park () to keep the summer festivities going at the Block Party at the Rail Park, this year featuring SOUND TYPE Music Festival! This free family-friendly event will showcase our community through live performances, arts activities, and various cultural organizations. Come celebrate as we unveil our Play Everywhere installation in partnership with FACTS and KABOOM!

Dew Kim () is an artist based in Seoul, Korea whose practice is built on exploring various intersections of art, religion, and identity that lie in the critical point of change and collision. Kim joins our Spring/Summer season as an exhibiting artist for our current exhibition, 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲: 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 + 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼.

𝘒𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘴 ☆ (2020) is a music video by HornyHoneydew, the artist’s K-Pop idol ego character. By becoming an Idol through his work, Kim escapes his own reality where gender binary and heteronormative traditions are prevalent. For the artist, the music video not only provides a space to explore his gender identity through physical experiences, but also serves as a tool for expanding his sense of self by becoming someone else in the video.

𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 highlights the shifting roles of music video as a hybrid form of creative expression beyond their musical and cinematic quality as promotional tools of the music industry. Come check out the exhibition before it closes on August 3! Our gallery is open on Tue/Thu/Sat 2–6PM.

Learn more at the link in our bio 🔗

We wanted to share a bittersweet announcement that our executive director Anne Ishii will be departing the organization on August 15, 2024 after six years of her service. We are immensely grateful for her leadership through the especially challenging pandemic years and the tremendous growth she has cultivated for AAI as a prominent cultural space that fosters brave art for artists of color in the city of Philadelphia and beyond.

We are grateful for your continued support in AAI’s mission to build community through the power of art! Check out the link in our bio to read the full press release to learn more about the transition and our next steps 🔗

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[1/2] photo by

Zain Alam () is an artist & composer of Indian Pakistani origin, described as “a unique intersection, merging the cinematic formality of Bollywood and geometric repetition of Islamic art.” Alam joins our Spring/Summer season as an exhibiting artist for our current exhibition, 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲: 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 + 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 and a sound bath performance that took place in June.

Installed in our Pearl Street Gallery, 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳 & 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵: 𝘋𝘢𝘺 (2024) explores rhythmic foundations drawn from Muslim traditions. Following the two previous iterations of 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳 & 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 series, the work continues the artist’s exploration of the passage of time, light, and spiritual revelation that are distinctive in Islamic experience and the ways in which they engage with individual human perception.

𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 highlights the shifting roles of music video as a hybrid form of creative expression beyond their musical and cinematic quality as promotional tools of the music industry. Come check out the exhibition before it closes on August 3! Our gallery is open on Tue/Thu/Sat 2–6PM.

Learn more at the link in our bio 🔗

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[1/8] artist portrait by Julian Rich

AUG 10 7:30PM ➡️ Join us for an evening of beautiful Carnatic music featuring Bhuvana Kannan. Trained in veena and well known for her melodious music and great command over the divine instrument, Bhuvana Kannan has performed at many prestigious sabhas (fine arts events) and concerts in India and organizes Veena Festivals. Kannan will be accompanied by other prominent traditional instrumentalists including Aparna Kannan (vocal, veena), Dr. Laxmisha M. Sridhar (mridangam), and Subhang Srinivasan (ghatam).

This concert is co-presented with . Get your tickets today at the link in our bio 🔗

Elle Hong () is an antidisciplinary artist currently based in Cheyenne/Ute/Arapaho Territories (Denver, CO), who uses dance as a primary text for transcending the (representational) limitations of the body. Hong joins our Spring/Summer season as an exhibiting artist for our current exhibition, 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲: 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 + 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼

𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘯 (2019) examines the tentative nature of visibility and invisibility through a form of dance performance music video. Starting from the artist’s gender dysphoria and desire for being invisible but indispensable, the work borrows clips from “Producer 48”— a Korean idol survival show. While blending into a group of girls make them appear identical, the artist reveals multiplicity by emulating each person’s authenticity that is unique from one another in their presentation of emotions and movements.

𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 highlights the shifting roles of music video as a hybrid form of creative expression beyond their musical and cinematic quality as promotional tools of the music industry. Come check out the exhibition before it closes on August 3! Our gallery is open on Tue/Thu/Sat 2–6PM.

Learn more at the link in our bio 🔗

Friday, August 2 8PM 🎵Get your tickets to experience Tatsu Aoki and Kioto Aoki’s music live! AAI’s SOUND TYPE Music Festival presents the father-daughter duo combining Japanese aesthetic concepts such as ‘ma’, and experimental jazz tradition. On the following day (Sat, 8/3) at 4PM, join us at the free seminar and a conversation between Tatsu Aoki and Joshua Minsoo Kim for a deeper exploration of Tatsu Aoki’s sound practice.

Get your tickets today at the link in our bio 🔗

Patrick Shiroishi () is a Japanese-American multi-instrumentalist and composer, best known for his extensive and incredibly intense work with the saxophone, who has established himself as one of the most prominent improvising musicians in Los Angeles. Shiroishi joins our Spring/Summer season as an exhibiting artist for our current exhibition, 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲: 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 + 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼

Patrick Shiroishi has built a long-term partnership with a sculptor + illustrator Dylan Pecora () for producing videos for his music. 𝘛𝘰 𝘒𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘥-𝘜𝘱 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘥 (2021) reflects the emotional and physical journey of Shiroishi’s grandfather who was confined in Camp Tule Lake, one of the most infamous internment camps in the US during World War II, which was visualized by Pecora to match the tone of the music and enhance the sound dynamic.

𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 highlights the shifting roles of music video as a hybrid form of creative expression beyond their musical and cinematic quality as promotional tools of the music industry. Come check out the exhibition before it closes on August 3! Our gallery is open on Tue/Thu/Sat 2–6PM.

Learn more at the link in our bio 🔗

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[1/8] artist portrait by Kristin Cofer

Camp Bruce Lee, presented with returns to AAI for another summer!! Spread the words and register to this unique martial camp experience that teaches confidence and self-knowledge in a mind, body, spirit curriculum based on Bruce Lee’s philosophies and life. We welcome previous and new students (age 10-16)! The fee for this week-long camp is $250 with limited scholarships available. Check out the link in bio to learn more about the program and find registration form! 🔗

MAJOR THROWBACK💥Join us for an Open Mic Karaoke Night this Friday (5/24) 8PM, hosted by Michelle Myers () and Catzie Vilayphonh () in our 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 lounge in the Storefront Gallery. It’s been nearly 10 years since this iconic Yellow Rage duo last hosted Family Style—AAI’s OG open mic program from the past—and we are thrilled to have them back🧡

Before the Karaoke night, come experience a must-see performance at 7PM by a Philly artist Jordan Deal (). This new sonic performance features improvisation and audience engagement that mines the unseen forces and the materializations of socio-political structures and mythologies.

Learn more and RSVP at the link in bio 🔗

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[2/4] photo still from Magnetic North Video by Gary San Angel
[4/4] photo by

🎊A BIG shout out to our Executive Director Anne Ishii () for her feature in Metro Philadelphia’s AAPI Power Players List among other great leaders and friends in the city! See the full list on Metro Philly’s online publication 🔗

NEXT FRIDAY (5/24) 7PM ➡️ Do not miss a special performance by Jordan Deal () as part of our current exhibition, 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲: 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 + 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼. Jordan Deal will present a new sonic performance featuring improvisation and audience engagement that mines the unseen forces and the materializations of socio-political structures and mythologies.

After the performance at 8PM, join us for an open mic karaoke night hosted by Michelle Myers ( ) and Catzie Vilayphonh () in our Storefront Gallery! Learn more about the event and rsvp to the event at the link in bio 🔗