The contemporary side of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) month
Join the Salida Creativity Lab for a slate full of family-focused AAPI events this Sunday, May 21 at Tres Litros Beer Company, 118 North E St. in Salida. While the community has been celebrating the traditional art and culture of Asian American Pacific Islander people all this month, May 21 offers a chance to learn about other dimensions of AAPI — from artists who are making their art and performing in today’s world.
Game on and story time too
The afternoon kicks off with some challenging rounds of Mahjong, a game of skill, strategy, and luck. Families will enjoy a reading by Brynn Ronning Sandoval, illustrator of the children’s book “Little Chairs”, written by Dr. Jazmin Parcon Sandoval.
According to Sandoval, “The story is one that celebrates family, a talking bird, and three little chairs that belonged to me and my mother-in-law and her sisters in the Philippines.” At 5:00 p.m. an adult vibe settles in for the rest of the evening’s events.
Get down with Asian pop culture
Jumping to pop culture, a screening of “Giant Robot: Asian Pop Culture And Beyond” will follow. For those who may be unfamiliar, “Giant Robot” was a bimonthly magazine of Asian and Asian-American popular culture founded in Southern California in 1994, lasting until 2011. It was one of the earliest American publications to feature prominent Asian film stars such as Chow Yun-fat and Jet Li, as well as Asian musicians from indie and punk rock bands.
According to ASIA FEST event organizer Tina Gramann, the 2022 PBS/KCET documentary film focuses on the influence of the Asian American pop culture magazine “Giant Robot” which created an appetite for Asian and Asian American pop culture, exploring L.A.’s Sawtelle Boulevard as a Japanese American enclave, and ultimately resulted in a lasting legacy of Asian American artists that achieved worldwide recognition. “The film is more age-appropriate for adults,” Gramann notes.
After the lights come back up
The audience is invited to join in a special AAPI Recognition Ceremony to acknowledge AAPI business owners and leaders in the community.
Karaoke brings things to a fun finale
Even normally shy people love Karaoke. Put on your shower-singing persona and have a go at it! (A warm up beer might bring out your best style)
The lineup includes:
- 4:00pm- Mahjong with Mary
- 4:30pm- Brynn Ronning Sandoval presents “Little Chairs”
- 5:00pm- GIANT ROBOT
- 6:00pm- AAPI Recognition Ceremony
- 6:15pm- Karaoke with Steve Lee
While you’re there
You can also view the current photo exhibit “Asian Barbie in Rural.Colorado”. The King Kaeng Curry cart, featuring a special menu will also be open!
ASIA FEST/AAPI Month organizers Salida Creativity Lab and Tres Litros Beer Company thank sponsors High Country Bank, HHSB Family Fund, Salida Council for the Arts, Kaleidoscope Toys, CoWork Salida, and Devon Kasper Realty. In addition, they appreciate in-kind(ness) sponsors Partnership for Community Action and Chaffee County Boys & Girls Club.
Editor Note: “Giant Robot” was produced by “Artbound” an Emmy® award-winning arts and culture series from the Los-Angeles based PBS outlet, KCET. The film features interviews with James Jean, Margaret Cho, Takashi Murakami and Daniel Wu among others. Directed by Dylan Robertson and Dennis Nishi. Produced by Radiant Features.
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