MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 2022 |
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Wednesday & Friday: 9:30am to 2pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10am to 4pm
Group visits by appointment only.
The health and safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers is our top priority. All visitors ages five and up are required to provide proof of vaccination before entering the Museum, as well as wear a mask at all times inside.
Visitors ages 12 and old must be fully vaccinated, showing that they have at least two doses of an FDA authorized (Pfizer and Moderna) vaccine or one dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine. International visitors must provide proof of vaccination from the vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization.
Children ages 5-11 years must provide proof of at least one vaccination dose. Guests under the age of 5 are not required to show proof of vaccination but must be accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult.
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| FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR |
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Welcoming the Year of the Tiger!
The Lunar New Year starts on February 1st and with it comes the Year of the Tiger which one of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac. Each sign of the Chinese zodiac covers an entire year and brings particular energy to everything that occurs over the next 12 months.
The Year of the Tiger influences the fortune for those born in the 'Tiger' years as well as those of the other 11 animal signs, depending on their relationship with the Tiger. People born in the ‘Tiger’ years are predicted to be brave, competitive, unpredictable, confident and display great levels of willpower.
The Lunar New Year is the most important traditional festival for the Chinese as well as some Asian people. Across the world, the Lunar New Year is seen as a time for family to gather and celebrate the start of a new year. There is a (up to 7-day) holiday over Lunar New Year but the festivities can last for up to 16 days, from Lunar New Year Eve until the Lantern Festival.
Please come to visit Chicago Chinatown and our Museum to experience the atmosphere of the festivities. There will be a Lunar New Year Parade on February 13 in which CAMOC will participate with our own float!
Don’t miss our virtual Chinese New Year event on February 2nd from 6pm to 7pm Central Time. The link to the watch page can be found here.
恭喜發財 [gung hei faat choi] (in Cantonese)! 新年快樂 [xīnnián kuàilè] (in Mandarin)!
Ben Lau
Executive Director
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The US Honors Anna May Wong and Chien-Shiung Wu |
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Left photo: Anna May Wong (source: Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images)
Right photo: Chien-Shiung Wu (source: Bettmann Archive / Getty Images)
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This year, the U.S. Mint honors Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood, as part of the American Women Quarters Program. On February 11, 2021, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the U.S. Postal Service issued a new Forever stamp to honor professor Chien-Shiung Wu, one of the most influential nuclear physicists of the 20th century. |
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Anna May Wong (1905-1961) left a legacy for both women and Chinese Americans, as the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood. She appeared in more than 60 films throughout her career, making her a household name. In addition to her roles in silent films, television, and stage, Wong starred in one of the first movies made in Technicolor. In 1951, Wong was also the first Asian American lead in a TV series. |
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Professor Chien-Shiung Wu (1912-1997) was one of the most influential nuclear physicists of her time, changing modern physical theory forever. Working for more than 40 years in a field dominated by men, Wu was the authority on conducting precise and accurate research to test fundamental theories of physics. While aiding the Manhattan Project during World War II, Wu's invaluable contributions helped make possible the production of the world’s first atomic bomb. |
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Photo of Anna May Wong Quarter: U.S. Mint
Photo of Chien-Shiung Wu stamp: U.S. Postal Service
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CAMOC Participates in Asian Justice Rally: Chicago
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OCA Chicago President Mabel Menard, who is also CAMOC Vice President, spoke at Asian Justice Rally: Chicago to ‘Break The Silence’ with some of the most influential people in our nation. Executive Director Ben Lau also joined this virtual rally. |
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CAMOC Joins Jewel-Osco's LNY Event & World Fare
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CAMOC joined Jewel-Osco's Lunar New Year in Uptown last Saturday and World Fare in Irving Park in early January. In preparation for the Lunar New Year celebrations, they taught shoppers and children how to make lanterns and use chopsticks. They also handed out red envelopes and spread the word about our Museum! |
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Photo Below
Back (left to right): Volunteer Ram Moy, musician Kerry Leung, Board Director John Rohsenow, JOJO, Executive Director Ben Lau, volunteer Viable Shum and Board Director Rich Frachey
Front: Immediate Past President Soo Lon Moy and President Ed Jung
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Calligrapher Ram is writing the Chinese name for Addie Helfers, Ad & Event Coordinator of GT Universe |
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CAMOC receives a BIG donation check from Jewel-Osco |
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Soo Lon, Ben, JOJO, and lion dancers say 'Gong hei fat choy!' |
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At the virtual celebration a couple days before, CAMOC gave an in-depth presentation on the symbolism behind CNY foods and traditions, and the significance of the Year of the Tiger.
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Photo Below
(left to right): CAMOC staff member Dongmei Cai, Executive Director Ben Lau, longtime volunteer Viable Shum, and Board Director Rich Frachey
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A shoppers is testing his chopstick skills |
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Learning to make a paper lantern has so much fun! |
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Playing the tangram is not that hard! |
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Midwest Association of Museums visits CAMOC
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Charity Counts, Executive Director of the Midwest Association of Museums, visited CAMOC on Dr. Martin Luther King Day. President Ed Jung and Vice President Mabel Menard hosted a private tour of the Museum's permanent and temporary exhibitions on both floors. Thank you for visiting us, Charity and the Midwest Association of Museums! |
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Last Photo Above (left to right): Vice President Mabel Menard, President Ed Jung, Executive Director of Midwest Association of Museums Charity Counts |
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CAMOC celebrates Lunar New Year with Yusheng toss
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CAMOC Board Members, friends, and staff celebrated the upcoming Lunar New Year by eating Yusheng together! Also known as a 'Prosperity toss', Yusheng is a salad with strips of raw fish, shredded vegetables, a variety of sauces, and other ingredients, that are added one-by-one with a wish for the new year said aloud, and then tossed together. The dish is popular in Singapore and Malaysia, with roots in Chinese immigration to the region.
Eating fish is integral to Chinese New Year because the Chinese character for fish: 魚 'yu', sounds like 餘 'yu', which means abundance. The saying 年年有餘 'nian nian you yu' translates to 'abundance through the year'. So here's to good fortune and prosperity in the Year of the Tiger!
First photo: Tossing Yusheng together!
Second photo (left to right): Vice President Mabel Menard, President Ed Jung, Mabel's friend Megan, Board Treasurer John Hsiao, Curator of Collections Riley Ren, Immediate Past President Soo Lon Moy, volunteer calligrapher Ram Moy, and Executive Director Ben Lau
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CAMOC Attends the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Chicago Virtual CNY Greeting |
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Executive Director Ben Lau joined the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Chicago's virtual Chinese New Year greeting. Along with other representatives from Chinese organizations across the city, the group welcomed in the Year of the Tiger! |
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Photo Above: Consul General Zhao Jian wishes everyone a healthy and prosperous Year of the Tiger
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2022 Chinese New Year Celebration
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Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Time: 6 - 7pm CT
Location: YouTube Premiere
Celebrate the New Year of the Tiger with the Chinese American Museum of Chicago at our annual Chinese New Year Celebration. This year’s event will take place virtually on YouTube. Festivities include learning about Chinese New Year traditions, musical performances, lion dance, and much more! This event is FREE and for all ages. Ring in the lunar new year with a night of celebration!
Join the watch page by clicking the button below. You can set a reminder by going to the watch page and clicking on the bell icon.
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| BECOME A MEMBER TODAY! |
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Becoming a member is a simple and effective way to get involved with the Chinese American Museum of Chicago. Your membership represents a personal investment in the Museum and ensures the continuation of the wide array of quality exhibitions, programs, and events we bring to the community. In addition, you are affirming the importance of the Museum’s commitment to bring the Chinese American experience in the Midwest to as many people as possible.
$150 = Free event admission for member & 3 guests for 1 year
$100 = Free event admission for member & 1 guest for 1 year
$60 = Free event admission for member only for 1 year
$30 = Free event admission for seniors & students for 1 year
$500 = Corporate Membership for 1 year (with 10 individual memberships, recognition in program & on plaque)
For Members who support us beyond the basic level, we offer extra recognition and the following benefits:
$250 = Bronze (Honorary Membership)
$500 = Silver (Honorary Membership)
$1,000 = Gold (Lifetime Membership or a small donor brick)
$1,500 = Platinum (Lifetime Membership and a small donor brick)
$5,000 = Diamond (Large donor brick)
$5,500 = Jade (Large donor brick plus Lifetime Membership)
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TOP:
Large Brick
7.5" X 7.5"
LEFT:
Donor Wall in Front Lobby
BOTTOM:
Small Brick
3.5" X 7.5"
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You can read the full list of benefits on our website by clicking the button below. There are also instructions on how to join at the bottom of the page, along with the Membership Form. |
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We are looking for dedicated, reliable, and energetic individuals who would like to experience our historic institution from the inside — as volunteers! We need volunteers for docents, greeters and special events. If you are interested in volunteering for us, please use the button below to visit our related page and download a volunteer form. |
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Do you have any thoughts on a possible program, a collection to donate, or a fundraising idea for our Museum? Please let us know! We value and welcome your input on how we can continue to provide great programming and resources for our community. If you would like to share an idea, please contact us at office@ccamuseum.org. |
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| SPECIAL COLLECTION |
CAMOC Together Against COVID-19
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An old Chinese saying, 時勢造英雄 (Shíshì zào yīngxióng ), which means a hero is made in the time of misfortune aptly describes how people rally together in the pandemic. During this challenging time we are deeply moved by the proactive steps and incredible acts of generosity and support exhibited by the Chinese Americans. Thousands of individuals and organizations have been raising money, donating personal protective equipment, and providing free meals to those in need, especially to front-line healthcare workers and others. CAMOC is inviting you to help us preserve these heroic moments by sharing the stories to our Together Against Covid-19 Special Collection.
CAMOC started this special collection with the goal of recording the experiences and stories of individuals, families, and organizations during these unprecedented times. The Together Against Covid-19 Collection will include various forms of content, which can be photos, videos, articles, audios, letters, paintings, certificates, or any form you can think of. If you are not sure whether your content fits our collection or you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Please send your story to covid19@ccamuseum.org , with the subject Together Against Covid-19 Collection. And please include your contact information , including full name, organization or community if applicable, email, phone number, and mailing address.
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ABOUT US
The mission of the Chinese American Museum of Chicago - Raymond B. & Jean T. Lee Center (CAMOC) is is to advance the appreciation of Chinese American culture through exhibitions, education, and research and to preserve the past, present, and future of Chinese Americans primarily in the Midwest.
The museum building, formerly the Quong Yick Co., is located in Chicago's Chinatown, at 238 West 23rd Street in Chicago. The Museum opened to the public on May 21, 2005. After a devastating fire in September of 2008, the Museum was closed for renovation and reopened in 2010.
CAMOC is governed by the Board of Directors of the Chinatown Museum Foundation (CMF), a 501(C)(3) non-profit corporation located in Chicago, Illinois.
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