New Asian Arts Initiative Exhibition Celebrates Queer and Trans Artists

Y’all I am absolutely in love with this new exhibition at the Asian Arts Initiative, Unity at the Initiative. Open now through May 1, 2021, Unity is a multi-site multimedia visual exhibition and in-home experience centered on the work of artist and skater Jeffrey Cheung and their UNITY initiative out of Oakland, CA.

“Unity at the Initiative was envisioned as a means to increase representation of queer and trans artists of color; to embellish the gathering spaces of queer – community centers, city parks, art galleries – with more diverse representations of queer and trans bodies. In light of the Pandemic and in response to the nation’s reckoning with racial equity, Cheung and Asian Arts Initiative have re-imagined the project as a pathway to the artistic integrity and freedom of queer and trans Philadelphians of color. Unity at the Initiative endeavors to protect continuity for a creative sector whose ‘2020 troubles’ are compounded by under-representation and outright injustices.”

In addition to showing new site-specific work by Cheung, Unity at the Initiative also showcases the work of over twenty Philadelphia-based artists around the themes of racial and queer identity, physical movement, and resistance. Anchored by an immersive indoor-outdoor exhibition at Asian Arts Initiative, Unity at the Initiative features:

• New media performances by Golden Collier of Diasporan Savant Press, Shanel Edwards, Icon Ebony Fierce, Wit López, and Moor Mother, immersive installation in the 1219 Vine Street storefront of Asian Arts Initiative
• Original paintings exhibited in partnership with Philly AIDS Thrift @Giovanni’s Room by Jeremiah Jordan
• Die-cut mural by Khari Johnson-Ricks in partnership with The Attic Youth Center
• Street exhibition of posters illustrated by Soleil Summer, Malachi Lily, Carta Monir, Golden Collier, and Moor Mother, wheat pasted at partner sites and Asian Arts Initiative
• Iterative capsule exhibition diorama of the Oakland studio for Jeffrey Cheung’s Unity Skate, located within the Pearl Street Box Office of Asian Arts Initiative
• Other project participants include: Alex Shen, FORTUNE, Vitche-Boul Ra, JK Chang, Kilamanzego, Kirby Reiko McKenzie, Lucia Garzón, Marria Nakhoda, Naima Merella, Owen Taylor, Rachel Ishikawa, Ramona Córdova, Rana Ransom, Rashid Zakat, Serena Hocharoen, Toshiro Kamihira, and Zsa Zsa Dali!

The 1223 Skate Park & Wheatpaste Gallery featured in many of the photos above allows visitors to skate inside an art gallery, collect some free prints from the exhibition, and learn to wheatpaste! This room is available by appointment only though, so please click here to learn how to make that appointment.

And y’all, don’t miss Unity at the Initiative Artist Town Hall taking place virtually this Monday, March 26 at 7pm! Event is free, and you can RSVP here for the Zoom link.