Life for member of the See Family has paralleled that of many Chinese American families since the 1950s.  Spending time with her grandparents at the F. Suie One Company in Chinatown, Guest Curator Lisa See grew up hearing many family stories.  In 1989, Florence See Leong, encouraged Lisa to write a family history.  On Gold Mountain: The One-Hundred-Year Odyssey of a Chinese American Family was the result. Researching her family history led Lisa to interview more than 70 people.  She dug through archives looking for clues and traveled Oregon and China to meet with distant relatives who only knew each other through treasured keepsakes: faded letters, photographs and newspaper clippings.

Lisa See at Dimtao, China Lisa interviewed over 70 people for her work on On Gold Mountain, which she even traveled to Fong See's home village in China to meet his family. Courtesy of Lisa See

The remarkable story Lisa See uncovered became the basis for this exhibition: a glimpse into our understanding of the Chinese American experience.  What makes this exhibition special however, is the combination of this story with the remarkable collection of material maintained by Florence See and Gilbert Leong, handed down to Lisa's cousin, Guest Curator Leslee See Leong, the current proprietor of the F. Suie One Company.

Chinese American Contributions

The flood of newcomers, the national obsession with traditional values, and the more personal search for roots, have fueled the resurgence in cultural and recreational activities and traditions that had declined in the 1950s.  Chinese cuisine, fashion, popular and traditional music, choral singing and karaoke, operatic and vernacular opera, martial arts, lion and folk dances, tai chi, kung fu and qigong have all found audiences, not only in the Chinese American community, but also in the mainstream.

Science and Technology

Many Chinese Americans have played key roles in the design, development and deployment of new sciences and technology.  From tactical and strategic defense systems, to medical research, silicon chip manufacturing, computer software and the Internet, Chinese Americans have made important and lasting contributions.

Politics and Government

By the 1970s, an increasingly vocal number of Chinese Americans began to promote a Chinese American presence within the electoral and governmental systems.  They worked to organize constituencies to gain political power within the existing institutions.  National advocacy organizations such as the Organization of Chinese Americans and the Committee of 100 address the rights of Chinese Americans citizens and permanent residents of the United States.

Celebrations Maintain Tradition

Chinese Americans preserve their cultural ties to China through food, traditional dress for special occasions and by celebrating festivals, including the Dragon Boat Festival, Ching Ming Festival, Moon Festival, and most importantly, Chinese New Year.  The celebration of Chinese New Year became a huge commercial success in the 1950s and 1960s, drawing large numbers to Chinatowns around the country.  Today, Chinese Americans are building new temples and rediscovering traditions as part of a deeper search for their roots.

 Arts and Entertainment

From modest beginnings, the contributions of Chinese Americans to arts and entertainment have grown steadily.  In the motion picture industry, Anna May Wong and Bessie Loo were early film stars.  Cinematographer James Wong Howe was the first Chinese American to win two Academy Awards.  More recently, Bruce Lee's pioneering success in action films has had lasting influence. In addition to motion pictures, Chinese Americans have contributed greatly and increasingly influenced national culture in the fields of literature, journalism, theater, television, architecture and music.
Sports

Chinese Americans such as Michelle Kwan and Michael Chang have become stars in their athletic pursuits.  Athletes like Tiger Woods-a self-labeled "Cablinese," who honors his Caucasian, African-American, Native American, and Asian background-help people around the world not only redefine the world of golf but also rethink issues of race and identity.  Traditional Chinese activities such as tai chi, kung fu and qugong have all found practitioners, not only in the Chinese American community, but in the mainstream as well.

Law and Politics

The Immigration Act of 1965 and national civil rights movement caused fundamental changes during the late 1960s and early 1970s.  Student and faculty protests in the 190s led to the creation of special university admissions programs for minorities and Asian American Studies departments.  With the repeal of restrictive land covenants, Chinese Americans were able to move out of Chinatowns and into suburbs such as Monteray Park in Southern California, "the Asian Beverly Hills."  National advocacy groups such as the Organizations of Chinese Americans and Committee of 100 address the rights of Chinese American citizens and permanent residents of the United States.  Today Chinese Americans serve in courtrooms, in city council chambers, in statehouses, and in presidential administrations.

Contemporary Art

Contemporary Chinese Americans artists work in all media and all styles.  These three internationally renowned women artists use traditional Chinese motifs, and sometimes found objects such as rice sacks, to explore personal or family stories, the larger history of the Chinese American experience, racism and politics, and personal issues of identity.