Think!Chinatown is happy to host "Bloom: A Black-Asian Friendship and Bouquet Making Experience" at our 1 Pike studio! Some words about the event from the organizers, Unblended:
“Calling all Black and Asian friends! Come hang out with us on Saturday, April 22nd and make a free mini bouquet! Create a gratitude bouquet for your friend, meet and make new friends, and celebrate Black and Asian joy. Bring a brunch-y item to share.
Photographer @chanelmatsunami will be taking friendship portraits throughout the afternoon to highlight this special workshop. Workshop bae @alisha.acquaye will have cute prompts for ice breaking, friendship building conversations.
All are welcome, with the intention of centering Black and Asian connection.
An assortment of spring blooms will be provided by @joyflowerpotnyc. Flowers and supplies are first come first serve! We will be able to share materials to make about 30 bouquets. We suggest you get here early.
Unblended is an interview and photography project by @alisha.acquaye and @chanelmatsunami focused on the mutual empowerment of Black and Asian friendships. With our artistic expressions that center community and dreaming of better worlds, we are excited to explore what unique shapes solidarity takes in other Black and Asian friendships, and what lessons they can teach us about loving and uplifting people of different identities. Chanel and Alisha are inaugural recipients of the Bandung Residency for Black and Asian Solidaries from @aaartsalliance and @mocada
Alisha Acquaye is a writer, workshop facilitator and community organizer from Brooklyn, NY. Their writing is published in Catapult, Allure, Teen Vogue, and more places. Alisha has collaborated on three feature projects with Airbnb.org, a nonprofit that houses people affected by environmental disasters and national crises. Alisha is the Lead Teaching Artist at New York Writers Coalition, a virtual community that facilitates free writing workshops.
Chanel Matsunami Govreau is an interdisciplinary artist and educator based in Brooklyn, NY. They explore fantasy, queerness, and Japanese-diasporic identity through photography and performance. Chanel has exhibited at Pao Arts Center, Boston, MA; Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, Seattle, WA; Chashama, New York, NY and more. As an educator, Chanel teaches digital storytelling to young people who are recent immigrants to the United States.
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This project is a part of the What Can We Do? micro grant program, presented by Asian American Arts Alliance (A4) and is supported by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Special thanks to Council Members Christopher Marte and Sandra Ung.
More information at aaartsalliance.org”