Family Fun: Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month

Come celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with fun for the whole family!

The AAPI Employee Resource Group at Crystal Bridges, the Momentary, and Art Bridges is teaming up with Crystal Bridges’ Youth & Family programming to co-host this free, drop-in program celebrating Asian Pacific heritage and our local AAPI communities.

Come meet local artists, learn about how their heritage informs their art, and enjoy family-friendly activities here at the museum. From Taekwondo demonstrations and storytelling to artmaking, film screenings, and more, there’s sure to be plenty of creative fun for folks aged 8 to 80 and beyond.

Free, no tickets required. Drop in anytime from 1 to 4 p.m.

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month recognizes the contributions and influence of people of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage to the history and culture of the United States.

On May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrated to the United States. When a shipwrecked 14-year-old named Manjiro was rescued by an American whaling ship and taken to the United States, he became the first known Japanese person to set foot in America. On May 10, 1869, the golden spike was driven into the First Transcontinental Railroad after it was finished. Many of the laborers who constructed the railroad that connected the eastern and western coasts of the United States were Chinese immigrants. The anniversaries of Manjiro’s arrival in the United States and the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad led to the choice of May as AAPI Heritage Month.

Representation matters. When children see themselves reflected in books, movies, and other media, it empowers them to imagine more possibilities for their future. And for all kids, learning about other cultures nurtures empathy and a broader view of the world. Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month by learning about members of the Northwest Arkansas community whose creative practices are inspired by their individual heritages and experiences.

Terence Lee

I am a Chinese American who moved from Taiwan in 1999. I landed in Fort Smith to help with my family’s restaurant business, Lin’s Garden. I started Songahm Taekwondo (TKD) in 2008 with both of my kids with the goal of providing them a balanced mental and physical training. Little did I know, I’ve become the most dedicated one among us. I am currently an international certified 5th degree Black Belt instructor with five World Champion titles in Traditional Forms and Weapons competition.

Throughout the years of practicing this art, I’ve come to realize that beneath the eye-pleasing martial movements that you see in movies, TKD gives me a great foundation to develop a better self. Besides the punches and kicks, the life skills that I practice in TKD help me reach my fullest potential: high goal setting, perseverance, confidence, discipline, respect,and courage. These values reflect not only on my martial art training, but also on my family life and work.

Other than Taekwondo, I am also a practitioner of Taijichuan (Tai-Chi), which is a Chinese originated martial art, for almost two decades. While TKD emphasizes more on external training like bones and muscle strength, Taijichuan develops a theory of internal training by combining the breathing methods with martial application.

Janice Almajose Agustin

I am a Guamanian-born Filipina American and first year MFA student at the University of Arkansas- Fayetteville. I moved to California at the age of thirteen and have lived around Southern California before moving to Fayetteville, AR in August of 2021. My background is in printmaking, papermaking, and book arts, where I explore different concepts and multidimensional forms. I am currently experimenting with different mediums, including paper, clay, wood, sound, and video. As a papermaker, I spend time in the studio learning how to transform natural fibers and recycled paper to handmade paper without large specialty equipment. My exploration of different fibers, including egg cartons, and natural dyes has generated ways to work as a sustainable artist. My creative practice extends to gardening where I am learning how to grow and harvest plants for natural dyes and hand paper making.

Chung Park

I am a Korean-born American artist and I moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas for graduate school last year. Ever since I was a child, I always loved to draw and paint. I ended up loving art so much that I am now working on my master’s degree to become a professional artist as an adult. Before coming to Arkansas for graduate school, I lived in Korea for many years. Between 2014 and 2018, I discovered a paper called hanji. Hanji is a paper from Korea made from mulberry trees. I became obsessed with the colors and textures of hanji and used it as my main material to make collages. The paper also became a symbol for me to help express my artistic identity as a Korean American artist. I found comfort in finding creative energy within hanji and now wish to share with everyone the wonders of hanji and hanji collage.

The Family Fun: Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month event is co-hosted by The Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Resource Group from Crystal Bridges, the Momentary, and Art Bridges. This group serves as a safe space for staff who identify as Asian, Asian American, and/or Pacific Islander to build a sense of community, provide opportunities for personal and professional growth, and promote equity and inclusion within the work environment. Allies are invited to help build this community as well as engage in learning opportunities.

Sponsored by Northwest Arkansas Naturals