Embedded Files
Asian American artists living in Redmond are continuously making contributions in the art scene, contributing to Chinese American history and making the city increasingly diverse and vibrant. Exploring these individuals' unique perspectives brought by their experiences as Asian Americans and cultural heritage can show us how these identities influence their work.
-- Isabella Y.
Little Masters Club Volunteer
"Mrs. Yin-Wah Ashton, a native of Hong Kong and an artist in the Northwest for more than six years, teaches the art of classical Chinese painting in a workshop at the Marymoor Museum. Her art work has been exhibited at the Bumbershoot Art Festival, the Portland Art Museum, Gallery West in Portland, and at the Olympic Hotel in Seattle."
Sammamish Valley News, 1975
Yin-Wah Ashton also served as the assistant curator of Asian Arts for the Seattle Art Museum.
Robert Peng and his wife, Sheau-Ling, became U.S. citizens soon after immigrating. Building on the skills he had developed as a member of the "Republic of China Pottery Research Association" he founded Free Form Pottery in his Redmond home.
'It has taken me more than 10 years to develop my glazes,' he said, displaying the glaze-sample shards of stoneware in dozens of boxes. He is most proud of a reduction firing of a copper-base glaze that produces both deep red and blue in the same firing."
Seattle Post Intelligencer, 2000
Artist Cheryll Leo-Gwin, also a charter member of the Redmond Arts Commission, designed the Bridge to Brotherhood mural in Redmond's Flagpole Plaza to celebrate the diverse ethnicity of King County’s residents. Leo-Gwin is a fourth-generation American of Chinese descent whose inspiration for this artwork was both her personal experience with racial prejudice and the histories of local immigrants.
"But Leo-Gwin added that the photos show 'the building blocks of what is America. They are everyone. They are all of us.'"
Seattle Times, 1997
Artist Jing Jing Wang was commissioned by the Redmond Arts and Culture Commission to create Redmond's most recent piece of Asphalt Art.
"...the artist facilitated robust public outreach with the LGBTQIA+ community and used their feedback to create an inspiring welcoming experience. The crosswalk, like the flag that inspired it, was designed to create more inclusive spaces for all."
Seattle Times, 2023
CHIME Band
The CHIME Band was formed in October of 2004, by a group on Chinese Microsoft Employees. The band has been performing for over twenty years, fulfilling their mission to support events within the Asian American community, and to share Asian music and culture with others.
The Chime Band has performed in a variety of regional events and festivals, such as the Microsoft Asian Spring Festival, the Seattle Chinese Art and Culture Festival, and the UW's Spring Festival Gala.
Their performances utilize many traditional Chinese instruments top create a fusion of Western and Eastern musical styles.
"...the Chime band introduces the Chinese art forms and musical traditions to a huge community. With this, growing awareness and cultural exchange is being fostered, by showcasing the beautiful traditions that have been passed down for generations by immigrants decades ago to current community members, the Chime band is encouraging growing conversation and unity among the promotion of cultural exchange."
-- Isabella Y.
Little Masters Club Volunteer
Redmond Poet Laureates
Established in 2008, Redmond's Poet Laureate program has helped to build a more literate and understanding community through poetry and the literary arts by broadening the awareness of poetry and expressing the spirit of Redmond. Each poet brings a unique perspective to this role, which allows them to engage with Redmond's history in new and interesting ways.
Shin Yu Pai was served as the Redmond Poet Laureate from 2015 to 2017. During her tenure, she explored different ways to engage with audiences, while connecting with Redmond's history and sense of place.
In an Interview with The Seattle Review of Books, Shun Yu Pai noted, "Redmond is a city that is very much made up of many immigrants from Southeast Asia, and it was really great to be able to draw some of those folks out with some of those things I’m trying to do."
Her animated poem “Heyday" explores Redmond's history of logging. And, in the exhibit, “Animating Archives: Contemporary Chlorophyll Prints she recreated historical images of Redmond and its residents -- including You Hong Woo -- as chlorophyll prints on leaves that were harvested from locations around the city.
In 2023, Ching-In Chen was appointed poet laureate of Redmond, Washington, through 2025.
They are also a community organizer and advocate, specifically in Asian American communities, and in coalition with other communities of color and LGBTQIA+ communities.
Their Read Local Eat Local project partnered poets with local establishments, such as restaurants, grocery stores, community gardens, food banks, and more to celebrate the spirit of culture through poetry.
Ching-In Chen invited community members to submit poems for the project based on the themes of food, harvest, and the community. Selected poems were printed on postcards and distributed to businesses participating in the project.
Page updated
Report abuse