Ấp Ủ: Identity | Journey | Legacy

Rooted in stories of place, family, journey, identity and—ultimately—home, the multi-layered works on view as part of this special exhibition were created by elders from San José’s large and vibrant Vietnamese community in a creative learning workshop led by artists Trinh Mai, Binh Danh, and Cynthia

Ấp Ủ: Identity | Journey | Legacy

Cao at the Vietnamese American Cultural Center in December 2019.

The workshop was the first in a series of three that are being conducted as part of “Hidden Heritages: San José’s Vietnamese Legacy,” a two-year partnership between the San José Museum of Art and Chopsticks Alley. The program brings Vietnamese artists and community members together to share, amplify, and artistically present stories that share the life experiences of Vietnamese Americans in San José, one of California’s most diverse cities. In the first workshop, more than thirty elders participating in Chopsticks Alley Art’s “Adventures in Contemporary Art” program hand wrote stories of their journeys from Vietnam, then painted images of native flowers and birds to layer over the top of them. English translations of the stories are available by podcast, which can be accessed using the QR code below.

“Hidden Heritages: San José’s Vietnamese Legacy” builds on the continuing, shared goals of each of the partner organizations to promote creative expression as a tool for cross-generational storytelling and reflection, and to demonstrate the power of art to build community and to deepen crosscultural understanding. The program will culminate in spring 2021 with an exhibition and an original public performance by Emmy-award winning multimedia artist Van-Anh (Vanessa) Vo that will take place at City Hall—a site in the heart of downtown that has been an important starting point for successive waves of new immigrants to San José.

“Hidden Heritages” is supported, in part, by the California Arts Council, a state agency.

Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov” “Adventures in Contemporary Art” is supported, in part,

by SVCreates, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara, and by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San José. Special thanks go to our partners at the Vietnamese American Cultural Center. For more information, please follow the “Hidden Heritages” project website: https://sjmusart.org/hidden-heritages

www.chopsticksalley.com/podcast

A Mature Decision When I was young, I lived in Phú Nhuận. After graduating as a registered nurse in 1977 I had to work in Vĩnh Long. At the time my boyfriend decided to get a marriage license so I could work with him as my husband in Sài Gòn. But the health department said it was too late, so I had to return to Khánh Hội to avoid having to pay back the tuition I owed.

English translations of more stories are available by podcast, which can be accessed using this QR code.

In 1981, our family decided to escape by sea. It was a very difficult decision because I had a two-year-old son and a two-month-old daughter, so we prayed, made the sign of a cross, and created a “go” and a “stay” card for us to draw. We let our baby daughter draw first. She drew “go.” Then the three of us remaining also picked the “go” cards. And so we made our decision with a lightened heart to leave without fear that our children were too young for the journey. We were hungry and thirsty but because of the infant formulas we brought along our families passed through difficult times. The owner of the boat used formula cans to mix each can with five gallons of water. My baby daughter also helped the entire boat to get food and clothing. When we met up with an oil rig everyone held up my baby to show her to the people on the ship. Because of the baby, they provided us with food and water to drink.

And now my children are successful. Our family is thankful to Mother Marie and the United States of America.

Hanh Doan

On April 30, 1975, after the order to let down our guns and surrender from President Dương Văn Minh, Sài Gòn became confusing and chaotic.

Following that was the implementation of the Household Registration System.

Then the rice was replaced by millet and wheat flour.

Then the order to exchange money for the first time came, then the second time, and then the third time. Everyone became equal. We were all poor.

Among millions of people, I was one who sought ways to cross the sea. Climbing on tiny little fishing boats, I risked my life by challenging the vast sea to arrive on the shores of freedom.

July 1978, I set foot on American soil, in the city of San José, to begin a new life, in a land that is free and has respect for human life.

I started working jobs for minimum wage and attended night school to enhance my skills. I was able to build a family, and today we have created a comfortable life for ourselves.

Hung Hoang

Workshop Participants

Anh Le Anna Le Cam Linh Le Canh Thi Tran Chinh Phu Nguyen Diep Le Du Hoang Hanh Doan Hanh Lam Hanh Le Hoang Duong Hue Vu Hung Hoang Huy Truong Huyen Nguyen Jennifer Chau Kathy Cong Kim Nguyen Kim Chi Nguyen Kim Pham Kin Tracy Tran Lan Vu Loan Nguyen Mai Ma Minh Nguyen Nho Pham Nhu Truong Phung Tran Phuong Trinh Quang Van Ngo Tammy Tran Trieu Mai Tuoi Truong