NOW Live from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

Bring the whole family to the Smithsonian’s kickoff celebration for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! This day of activities centers on Sweet & Sour, a display that traces the evolution of Chinese food in the United States and the long history of Chinese immigration. Visitors can watch the film, The Killing of a Chinese Cookie, join a discussion with director Derek Shimoda, and participate in many hands-on activities. Children and their families can work with artist Sushmita Mazumdar to create a storybook illustrating a personal story from their own kitchen. Teens from the Hirshhorn’s ARTLAB+ video production program will then interview the children and record their stories, producing videos for the families and for posting on the site www.SmithsonianEducation.org/Heritage.  There will also be curator talks with Cedric Yeh, Deputy Chair and Associate Curator in the Division of Armed Forces History at NMAH. He is also the Co-Chair for the Asian Pacific American Initiatives Committee.

Schedule

11:00 a.m.	Curator Talk with Cedric Yeh Sweet & Sour exhibition case, East Special Artifact Wall
12:00 p.m.	Curator Talk with Cedric Yeh Sweet & Sour exhibition case, East Special Artifact Wall
1:00 p.m.	Screening of The Killing of a Chinese Cookie Followed by Q&A with film director Derek Shimoda Carmichael Auditorium
3:00 p.m.	DVD and book signing with Derek Shimoda and Sushmita Mazumdar LeFrak Lobby, by entrance to Carmichael Auditorium
3:30 p.m.	Curator Talk with Cedric Yeh Sweet & Sour exhibition case, East Special Artifact Wall

Ongoing Activities

Handmade Storybooks with Sushmita Mazumdar
LeFrak Lobby, by entrance to Carmichael Auditorium
Starts on the hour and half hour

Make Clay Fortune Cookies
Activity area at Sweet & Sour exhibition case, East Special Artifact Wall
Special thanks to Meiwah Restaurant for their support of this activity.

Record Your Family Story on Camera
Presidential Suite, 12-2 p.m. and 2:30-4 p.m.
Special thanks to the Pearson Foundation for their support of this activity.

Chopsticks and Spices Carts
First Floor

Cookbook Sales
LeFrak Lobby, by entrance to Carmichael Auditorium

Special Asian Café Menu
Stars and Stripes Café, First Floor

Related Links:

• Sweet & Sour Showcase
• The Killing of a Chinese Cookie Official Website
• Poster of The Killing of a Chinese Cookie
• Sushmita Mazumdar’s Official Website
• Download the Smithsonian Parking Map (PDF)

Smithsonian Participants:

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Committee
• Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
• National Museum of American History
• Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program
• Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies
• Smithsonian Heritage Months Steering Committee

Air travel for participants is provided by Southwest Airlines.