[LIVE STREAM] MOCA COOKS with Simon Fan: Crystal Shrimp and Baby Bok Choy with Black Mushrooms
Join MOCA virtually and learn the secrets of cooking your delicious Crystal Shrimp and Baby Bok Choy with Black Mushrooms. Pulled from the captivating "Food and Cooking of Shanghai: Recipes and Stories from China's Most Dynamic City," these two easy-to-follow recipes were crafted by Simon Fan, a New York-based cookbook author and food photographer.
Shanghai, China’s most dynamic city, offers a fascinating cuisine that was born during the city’s dramatic ascent from a port to a global metropolis. Rooted in local dishes of peasant cooking origin, Shanghainese cuisine has, over time, incorporated dishes and cooking techniques from other regions, as well as influences from other countries.
Mr. Fan will also share the stories and talk about the experience of writing his cookbook with Chef Kian Lam Kho, author of the award-winning cookbook Phoenix Claws and Jade Trees: Essential Techniques of Authentic Chinese Cooking.
Please note that your ingredients should be pre-measured before the beginning of the session. The recipes will be accessible in a downloadable link in the registration email or directly at https://www.mocanyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/MOCA-COOKS-with-Simon-Fan_Crystal-Shrimp-and-Baby-Bok-Choy-with-Black-Mushrooms-Recipes-and-Techniques.pdf.
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MOCA has been creating new digital content through multiple platforms, always free of charge—because history matters. We hope you’ll consider making a gift to become part of a continuing lifeline for MOCA. No amount is too little and we greatly appreciate your generosity. Your contribution helps sustain our beloved institution and supports the creation of new, online programming that will bring comfort and inspiration to more communities.
[LIVE STREAM] MOCA TALKS with Mark T. Johnson: The Middle Kingdom under the Big Sky–A History of the Chinese Experience in Montana
From the earliest days of non-Native settlement of Montana, when Chinese immigrants made up more than 10 percent of the territory’s population, Chinese pioneers played a key role in the region’s development. But this population, so crucial to Montana’s history, remains underrepresented in historical accounts, and popular attention to the Chinese in Montana tends to focus on sensational elements—exoticizing Chinese Montanans and distancing their experiences from our modern understanding. "The Middle Kingdom under the Big Sky" recovers the stories of Montana’s Chinese population in their own words and deepens understanding of Chinese experiences in Montana with a global lens.
Prof. Mark T. Johnson has mined several large collections of primary documents left by Chinese pioneers, translated into English for the first time. These collections, spanning the 1880s-1950s, provide insight into the pressures the Chinese community faced—from family members back in China and from non-Chinese Montanans—as economic and cultural disturbances complicated acceptance of Chinese residents in the state. Through their own voices Prof. Johnson reveals the agency of Chinese Montanans in the history of the American West and China.
This program is moderated by Nancy Yao, MOCA President. We look forward to your participation and to sharing this and many more exemplary stories of the Chinese in America.
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MOCA has been creating new digital content through multiple platforms, always free of charge—because history matters. We hope you’ll consider making a gift to become part of a continuing lifeline for MOCA. No amount is too little and we greatly appreciate your generosity. Your contribution helps sustain our beloved institution and supports the creation of new, online programming that will bring comfort and inspiration to more communities.
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This program is brought to you by MOCA friends and partners, including Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Everlasting Elixirs with MOCACREATE at Home
Prepare your own version of the magical elixir that lifted Chang’E from the earth to the moon! 🌏🌝 Using a little bit of science 🧪and some materials you have at home, create a potion that’s sure to stir up some Mid-Autumn magic. 🪄
#MuseumAtHome #Family #Kids #Museum #ChineseAmerican #AsianAmerican #Chinatown #MidAutumn #MidAutumnFestival #中秋节
MOCAKIDS Storytime @ Home: Blessings from the Moon!
How fortunate you are to be blessed by the Moon Goddess, Chang’E during the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival! Learn all about enchanting Chang'E and the wonderful traditions of the moon festival in The Shadow in the Moon by Christina Matula and Mooncakes by Lacey Benard & Lulu Cheng. Do you have a Mid-Autumn wish for Chang'E? Share it with us at storytime!
Join us every 2nd and 4th Thursday at 4PM ET for a virtual spin on our signature storytime program. Each storytime will include a song, interactive story, and craft on a different, fun theme. Best for kids ages 3-6 and their care partners, but younger and older kids are welcome! This FREE program will be held LIVE via Zoom.
Please note that this workshop will be recorded via Zoom and hosted on Facebook Live for 1 week.
[LIVE STREAM] MOCA TALKS: Reflections on the 1982 Garment Workers Strike
MOCA TALKS: Reflections on the 1982 Garment Workers Strike with Rachel Bernstein, May Ying Chen, June Jee, and Mae M. Ngai
Until the 1960s and 1970s, Manhattan’s Chinatown was largely a “bachelor society” where men vastly outnumbered women. As women from China and Hong Kong began to immigrate in larger numbers, they provided the workforce for a huge Chinatown garment industry, inheriting the union forged by generations of Jewish, Italian, African-American, Puerto Rican, and Latinx women. In 1982, some Chinatown employers refused to renew the union contract, thinking that Chinese women would be afraid to take action. WE ARE ONE was the rallying cry during the brief and successful strike in the summer of 1982 when 20,000 Chinese immigrant members of Local 23-25 of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) stood together for their union contract. Two major rallies in Columbus Park in Chinatown resulted in a successful settlement of the contract. Additionally, new leaders emerged among the workers who contributed greatly to the union as well as to community campaigns for health and childcare, voter registration, political action and other fights for community services and justice. The extraordinary outpouring of solidarity and energy by the Chinese immigrant women workers in 1982 wrote new pages in labor and community history.
In commemoration of this historic event and in recognition of Labor Day, MOCA cordially invites you to join this virtual panel discussion to reflect on the 1982 Garment Workers Strike.
Moderated by beloved Community Organizer May Ying Chen, esteemed panelists Rachel Bernstein, Director of LaborArts, June Jee, Community Affairs Consultant, and Mae M. Ngai, Lung Family Professor of Asian American Studies and Professor of History, and Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race at Columbia University, will discuss the history and importance of garment workers in Chinatown in the 1980s and 1990s.
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MOCAKIDS Dragon Boat Comics with Comic Artist Laura Gao
Join comic artist Laura Gao in crafting Dragon Boat Scroll-y Comics! Perfect for kids and adults of all ages, attendees will go step-by-step in drawing their own dragon boat and creating an interactive comic that they can roll up into a magical scroll.
What You'll Need: Paper, something to draw with (pencils, pens, markers, crayons, whatever you'd like), tape, and a cylnrical scroll holder (like a chopstick or extra pen/pencil)
This FREE program will be held LIVE via Zoom. Please note that this workshop will be recorded via Zoom and hosted on Facebook Live.
MOCACREATE: Celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival with Teaching Artist Yu Rong
This FREE program will be held LIVE via Zoom. Please note that this workshop will be recorded via Zoom and hosted on Facebook Live for 1 week.
About the Teaching Artist:
Yu Rong is a painter and a product designer who has exhibited paintings and wine goblet designs in the US, UK, Italy, and the Czech Republic. She is interested in designing products that are fun to use and creating paintings that are natural and true. She is currently a teaching artist at the Hope Garden Center and MOCA. Check out her work here: www.yurong.work.
Marvelous Masks: Chinese Opera Costumes Part II with MOCACREATE at Home
Have you ever been curious about the many props in a Chinese opera? 🎼Or wondered what all the colors on the characters’ masks mean? In this week’s MOCACREATE at Home, we’re continuing our explorations of the vibrant world 🌎 of Cantonese opera. This time, we’ll be learning about the props actors use and their distinctive makeup. Then, we’ll be making our own opera masks 🎭 with materials from home! What personality traits will your character have? 🤔
Share your Chinese opera masks in action by tagging #MOCANYC and #MOCACREATEathome on social media, DMing us @mocanyc, or emailing [email protected]!
#MuseumFromHome #MuseumAtHome #ChineseAmerican #Chinatown #DIY #chineseopera #AAPIHeritage #AAPIHeritageMonth #asianamerican
MOCAKIDS Drag Story Hour with Yuhua Hamasaki in Cantonese and English
Join MOCA and Yuhua Hamasaki for a VIRTUAL Drag Story Hour for kids ages 3-8. Stories, songs, and crafts!
Drag Story Hour (DSH) is just what it sounds like—drag queens reading stories to children. DSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. In these spaces, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish, where dress up is real.
Drag Story Hour NYC provides a range of fun and fabulous educational experiences for children and teens from 3 to 18 years old in libraries, schools, museums, and community spaces in all five boroughs of New York City. Through storytelling and creativity, DSH teaches children about gender diversity and all forms of difference to build empathy and give kids the confidence to express themselves however they feel comfortable. Learn more here: https://www.dshnyc.org/. #DSH
This FREE program will be held LIVE via Zoom.
Please note that this workshop will be recorded via Zoom and hosted on Facebook Live.
MOCAKIDS Meet & Greet with Author Margaret Chiu Greanias and Illustrator Tracy Subisak
Join us for a MOCAKIDS Meet & Greet with author/illustrator duo Margaret Chiu Greanias and Tracy Subisak! Margaret will read her new picture book, Amah Faraway, a delightful story of a child's visit to a grandmother and home far away, and of how families connect and love across distance, language, and cultures.
This FREE program will be held LIVE via Zoom.
Please note that this workshop will be recorded via Zoom and hosted on Facebook Live.
[LIVE STREAM] MOCA TALKS: You Are Not Alone–Creating Space for Mental Health
You Are Not Alone is a panel discussion about mental health organized in conjunction with MOCA’s current exhibition "Responses: Asian American Voices Resisting the Tides of Racism".
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian Americans have become hypervisible targets for racist rhetoric too often replayed in mainstream media, directly contributing to a spike in hate crimes and verbal attacks that have disproportionately affected women and elders. Since the Atlanta spa shootings, disturbing news footage of brutal and seemingly random attacks continue to circulate with unprecendented regularity, such as the murders of Michelle Go and Christina Yuna Lee. Despite calls for unity and mutual understanding, these incidents have further driven wedges within and between communities across class and racial lines. In turn, these uncertain times have also led to an increased demand for Asian American mental health therapists.
Please join us to learn more about the recent history of healthcare in Chinatown from an intergenerational group of professionals, who will reflect on the recent waves of violence and what the current landscape of mental health and access to care is for Asian American families.
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MOCA has been creating new content through multiple platforms, always free of charge—because history matters. We hope you'll consider making a gift to become part of a continuing lifeline for MOCA. No amount is too little and we greatly appreciate your generosity. Your contribution helps sustain our beloved institution and supports the creation of new programming that will bring comfort and inspiration to more communities.
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This program is brought to you by MOCA friends and partners, including Bloomberg Philanthropies and Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC).
Remembering with Willow Crowns for Qing Ming with MOCACREATE at Home
Today is Qing Ming (清明), a time to honor our ancestors 💗 and visit their resting places. Willows and their leafy branches 🍃 are thought to represent new life 🌱🌸 and ward off evil, so they are a common sight during Qing Ming. Join MOCA educator Alice in learning more about this important holiday and then create a willow branch crown to wear or give as an offering.
Download the willow leaf template here: https://bit.ly/35GoUR8.
We’d love to see how you choose to remember your loved ones. Send a picture of your willow branch tributes to [email protected], tag us @mocanyc, or use the hashtags #mocanyc, #MOCACREATE, or #MOCACREATEatHome.
#MuseumFromHome #MuseumAtHome #ProjectsAtHome #QingMing #Spring #Remembrance
Tell Us A Story: Opera Costumes with MOCACREATE at Home
Have you ever been to the opera or heard opera music? 🎶 What about Chinese opera? For this week’s MOCACREATE at Home, we’re exploring the vibrant world 🌎 of Cantonese opera, the different roles actors play, and their unique costumes. 🎭 Then, we’re making our own opera puppets with materials from home! What role will your puppet play? Put on an opera performance at home for your family and friends to see! 🤩
Download our template for puppet hands and headpieces here: https://bit.ly/3upPDKd
We’d love to see your Chinese opera puppets in action! Tag #MOCANYC and #MOCACREATEathome on social media, DM us @mocanyc, or email [email protected].
#MuseumFromHome #MuseumAtHome #ChineseAmerican #Chinatown #DIY #chineseopera
[LIVE STREAM] MOCA MIXOLOGY: Craft Cocktails at Leaf Bar & Lounge
Join MOCA virtually and learn the secrets to creating your own delicious and colorful cocktail, exclusively curated by Todd Leong and Helen Lee, co-owners of the Leaf Bar & Lounge. Highly rated and recommended by The New Yorker - “We wanted to create something that is for our people,” Mr. Leong said—Asian-Americans, in other words. “We don’t share everything culturally—what do the Vietnamese really have in common with the Fujianese? A bar brings them all together because everyone likes to drink.”
Mr. Leong and Ms. Lee will first lead the audience through the process of making several craft cocktails including Chrysanthemum Old Fashioned. Once the cocktail is poured into a glass, cheers and sip your cocktails as they share the stories and inspirations behind Leaf Bar & Lounge and how their current projects will reshape the future of Flushing, Queens.
Please note that your ingredients should be ready before the beginning of the session. The suggested ingredients include 1.5 oz Chrysanthemum-infused Whiskey, 0.5 oz Agave Nectar, Muddled Ginger, and Angostura bitters.
MOCA TALKS: Mae Ngai in conversation with Beth Lew-Williams
In celebration of VIRTUAL MOCA FEST 2022, historian Mae Ngai discusses her latest book The Chinese Question: The Gold Rushes and Global Politics with Beth Lew-Williams, Associate Professor of History at Princeton University. The Chinese Question narrates a complex history of the economic, social, and cultural circumstances around the mid-19th century gold rushes in America, South Africa, and Australia, and their impact on the Chinese diaspora. Professor Ngai and Lew-Williams discuss this history and its relevance to current times.
We look forward to your participation, and to sharing this and many more exemplary stories of the Chinese in America.
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MOCA has not skipped a beat since its temporary closure in March 2020. We've been creating new digital content through multiple platforms, always free of charge—because history matters. We hope you'll consider making a gift to become part of a continuing lifeline for MOCA. No amount is too little and we greatly appreciate your generosity. Your contribution helps sustain our beloved institution and supports the creation of new, online programming that will bring comfort and inspiration to more communities.
MOCA TALKS with John Wang: Founder of the Queens Night Market and Co-author of its Award-Winning Cookbook
In celebration of VIRTUAL MOCA FEST 2022, the Museum proudly presents its next featured MOCA TALKS speaker, John Wang, founder of the Queens Night Market and co-author of "The World Eats Here: Amazing Food and the Inspiring People Who Make It at New York’s Queens Night Market".
Night Markets have long been popular in Asia, and happily, they’re now making the transition to the US, though with a main difference—instead of featuring one cuisine, they incorporate foods from all over the world. One of the first night markets to debut in the US is infamous for its culinary variety since it’s based in the most diverse urban area on Earth—Queens, NYC.
The Queens Night Market runs every Saturday night in the summer, attracting nearly 2 million visitors and bringing amazing vendor-chefs together from over 90 countries for the community to gather and celebrate with great food. And now it even has its own award-winning cookbook! Featuring cuisines from over 40 countries, "The World Eats Here" showcases 88 vibrant and diverse recipes directly from Queens Night Market’s vendor-chefs, many of whom are first- and second-generation immigrants. Each recipe is paired with the personal history of its chef, and the stories are at once poignant, funny, frustrating, heartwarming, and as unforgettable as the recipes themselves. With its range of cuisine and rich personal histories, this cookbook proves that food (and the stories it tells) has the power to bridge cultural barriers, share traditions and memories, and bring us all closer together.
John has a remarkable story to tell and we cannot wait to share it with you. We look forward to your participation, and to sharing this and many more exemplary stories of the Chinese in America.
MOCA TALKS with Abigail Hing Wen: Loveboat Reunion
The Museum proudly presents its next featured MOCA TALKS speaker, author and producer Abigail Hing Wen and her new novel "Loveboat Reunion".
This novel is a standalone companion to New York Times Best Seller "Loveboat, Taipei," currently under development for film with Ace Entertainment, producers of Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I've Loved Before. It follows the stories of Sophie Ha and Xavier Yeh who have what some would call a tumultuous past. It’s a classic tale of girl-meets-boy, boy-meets-other-girl, heart-gets-broken, revenge-is-plotted, everything-blows-up. Spectacularly.
Expansive and romantic, glamorous and tender, Loveboat Reunion takes readers back to Taipei through the eyes of Sophie and Xavier, on an unforgettable journey of glittering revelry and self-discovery that’s perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Mary H. K. Choi.
Abigail has a remarkable story to tell and we cannot wait to share it with you. We look forward to your participation, and to sharing this and many more exemplary stories of the Chinese in America.
The conversation will be co-moderated by Jennifer Wu and Neil Wu-Gibbs, Director of Programs and Strategic Initiatives at MOCA. Jennifer Wu is a partner in the Litigation Department at Paul, Wiess and serves as co-chair of the Women’s Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY).
MOCAKIDS: Making Tang Yuan for the Lantern Festival with Ye Ye
Let's celebrate the Year of the Tiger with some delicious homemade tang yuan! Tang yuan, glutinous rice balls with sweet or savory fillings, are a traditional treat enjoyed during Lunar New Year. In Chinese, the name sounds like “reunion,” so they represent togetherness and unity. Celebrate the upcoming Lantern Festival with this meaningful and tasty dish.
Please note that this workshop will be recorded via Zoom and hosted on Facebook Live for 24 hours.
In this workshop you will learn to:
- make a tang yuan dough
- make black sesame seeds (powder) filling and red bean paste filling
- wrap tang yuan
- boil tang yuan
- freeze and store them
We'll prepare approximately 12 tang yuan. We will only use a small portion of some of the ingredients on this list.
- 1 packet of red bean paste
- 1 packet of black sesame powder
- Glutinous (sweet) rice flour
- 2 tbsp lard or butter; margarine or coconut oil, if you’re vegan
- 2 tbsp sugar
- Red food coloring (optional, if you have it)
ABOUT COOKING INSTRUCTOR YE YE
Ye Ye has been teaching cooking classes full time - first in person and now virtually - to both adults and children. She was born and raised in Suzhou, a beautiful city in eastern China, and is now based in New York City.
MOCA TALKS with Terry Lautz: Americans in China – Encounters with the People's Republic
MOCA proudly presents its next featured MOCA TALKS speaker, historian Terry Lautz and his new book "Americans in China: Encounters with the People's Republic".
"Americans in China" tells the stories of men and women who have engaged with China through politics, diplomacy, education, science, business, art, law, journalism, and human rights. Their pathbreaking experiences provide unique insights and deep human perspectives on issues that have shaped US engagement with the People's Republic.
Three of the book’s chapters involve Chinese Americans who encountered the PRC: scientist C. N. Yang; businesswoman and cultural ambassador Shirley Young; and journalist Melinda Liu. Each of them is a trailblazer who forged greater awareness and understanding of China.
Terry has a remarkable story to tell and we cannot wait to share it with you. We look forward to your participation, and to sharing this and many more exemplary stories of the Chinese in America.
MOCAKIDS Author Meet & Greet with Eugenia Chu
What does it take to make Lunar New Year dumplings? Dough? Filling? Patience? Join MOCA for a festive virtual MOCAKIDS Author Meet & Greet with Eugenia Chu, who will be joining us all the way from Miami! Eugenia will read aloud from her first book, Brandon Makes Jiǎo Zi (餃子). Follow along with Brandon and his grandmother as they make dumplings together for the new year! Afterwards, Eugenia will share her family’s dumpling recipe and show us how to make a simple paper lantern. She will also share a few fun tidbits from her brand new book, Celebrating Chinese New Year!
What you’ll need: construction paper; scissors, glue or tape; string (optional)
Best for kids ages 3-9 and their care partners; all are welcome.
This program is free to the public. Please note that this workshop will be recorded via Zoom and hosted on Facebook Live.
MOCAKIDS: Whirling, Twirling Ribbons: Ribbon Dance Workshop with NYCCC
Participants join NYCCC’s professional dancer to learn some beautiful and fun movements from the signature Ribbon Dance. The teaching artist will introduce the background of the Lunar New Year, as well as the dance style, and show you how to draw different shapes in the air with the dance props in hand. You are encouraged to dance creatively with a scarf, a hand towel, or anything you would like to dance with.
Please note that this workshop will be recorded via Zoom and available on Facebook Live.
MOCAKIDS: Making Lucky New Year Dumplings with Sophia Hsu
Dumplings are one of the luckiest Lunar New Year foods! Shaped like gold ingots, or pieces of Ancient Chinese money, dumplings represent good fortune in the year to come. Families often get together to make dumplings on Lunar New Year’s Eve, and at midnight, they eat the dumplings and wish for good luck and wealth all year long. Join us and Sophia Hsu to learn how to make your own new year dumplings and see how much luck you can ring in for the new year!
Please note that this workshop will be recorded via Zoom and hosted on Facebook Live.
Note on Ingredients: Please have ready your rested dough or store bought dumpling wrappers for the beginning of the workshop. Sophia will not be making the dough live, but you can use her recipe to prepare your dumpling dough in advance. Store bought dumpling wrappers will also work well. Additionally, please bring ingredients for the dumpling of your choosing, either pork and chive or veggie. Sophia will be preparing the veggie dumplings during the workshop, but will happily answer questions about the pork and chive dumplings. You can find the recipes and list of ingredients here: https://www.mocanyc.org/event/lunar-new-year-family-festival-year-of-the-tiger/.
MOCA COOKS: Damn Good Dumplings with Chris Cheung
Join MOCA virtually and learn the secrets to creating your own Damn Good Dumplings for Lunar New Year from Chef Chris Cheung! Drawn from his critically-acclaimed Damn Good Chinese Food: Dumplings, Egg Rolls, Bao Buns, Sesame Noodles, Roast Duck, Fried Rice, and More–50 Recipes Inspired by Life in Chinatown, this recipe is a staple of Cheung's Brooklyn restaurant East Wind Snack Shop.
Once the dumplings have been fully prepared and everyone is ready to dig in, Chef Cheung will share personal insights and stories with Herb Tam, MOCA Curator and Director of Exhibitions, as they walk participants through the markets, restaurants, and streets that Cheung's food conjures.
Please note that your ingredients should be pre-measured before the beginning of the session. The ingredient list and detailed preparation steps will be accessible in a downloadable link in the registration email or directly at https://www.mocanyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/MOCA_COOKS_Damn_Good_Dumplings_Recipe_and_Techniques.pdf.
MOCA TALKS: Chinese Almanac - Year of the Tiger with Joanna C. Lee and Ken Smith
Every year since 2010, when their Pocket Chinese Almanac launched at MOCA, authors Joanna C. Lee and Ken Smith have been relating day-by-day forecasts deeply rooted in Chinese culture. In their talk at MOCA in January 2020, they relayed advice from their consulting geomancer months before the lockdown: (1) Do not try to convince others to change their minds, and (2) find a safe place and hide. That should have told us all something!
This February 2—the second day of this Lunar New Year—is when married daughters traditionally visit their parents’ home with gifts and red envelopes to families and relatives. It also happens to be Groundhog Day, which seems to be appropriate for the Year of the Tiger, when many events and challenges seem to be recurring in exactly the same way.
As we all look forward to smoother, healthier, more harmonious times, join us for a glimpse of what the Chinese almanac has to say about 2022 and the preparations and protections we may need.
We will continue to accept book orders leading up to and also after the program: https://my.mocanyc.org/7543.
MOCAKIDS Author Meet & Greet with Michele Wong McSween
Join Gordon, Li Li, and Brooklyn-based author Michele Wong McSween for a special Mandarin lesson featuring all your favorite zodiac animals and more. Michele will read and teach English and Mandarin words from her bilingual book, Gordon & Li Li Celebrate Chinese New Year, where Gordon & Li Li learn about good luck foods, special greetings for a happy and prosperous New Year, and more! A special Year of the Tiger craft will follow the reading! Best for children ages 3-5. Older and younger siblings welcome!
What you’ll need: crayons, scissors, glue stick, a paper bag, and tiger puppet template.
Please note that this workshop will be recorded via Zoom and available on Facebook Live.
MOCAKIDS The Mane Event: Lion Dance Workshop with United East Athletics Association
You may have seen it on the streets of Chinatown, and at weddings and grand openings for businesses. But do you know what the Chinese lion dance is? Join lion dancers from the United East Athletics Association for this interactive workshop where you’ll learn more about lion dancing, see what it takes to be a lion dancer, and practice your moves.
Remember to wear clothes you can move in easily!
This event is free to the public. Please note that this workshop will be recorded via Zoom and available on Facebook Live.
Calligraphy Corner: Lunar New Year Lucky Phrases
How’s your handwriting? ✏️ Looking good? Use it to help welcome the Lunar New Year! One of the most popular ways to decorate for the Lunar New Year is to write good-luck phrases on red paper and hang them on your front door🚪. Need some practice? 🙋♀️ Write along with us! We’ll practice “fu/福” for good luck, “nian/年” for year, and “xin nian kuai le/新年快乐” to wish everybody a very happy Lunar New Year! ❤️
MOCA COOKS: Chocolate-Hazelnut Macau-Style Cookies with Kristina Cho
Join MOCA virtually and learn the secrets to bake your own delicious Chocolate-Hazelnut Macau-Style Cookies! Pulled from the critically-acclaimed Mooncakes and Milk Bread: Sweet and Savory Recipes Inspired by Chinese Bakeries, this recipe was crafted by Kristina Cho, cookbook author, recipe developer, food stylist, and photographer.
Support your local bookstore by ordering Mooncakes and Milk Bread! Learn more at https://eatchofood.com/cookbook.
MOCA SPOTLIGHT SERIES: Gish Jen
MOCA Spotlight Series returns on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at 5:00 P.M. EST. We are honored to present our next featured speaker, the award-winning author Gish Jen and her new book, Thank You, Mr. Nixon.
Beginning with a cheery letter penned by a Chinese girl in heaven to “poor Mr. Nixon” in hell, Jen embarks on a fictional journey through U.S.-China relations, capturing the excitement of a world on the brink of tectonic change.
Opal Chen reunites with her Chinese sisters after forty years; newly cosmopolitan Lulu Koo wonders why Americans “like to walk around in the woods with the mosquitoes”; Hong Kong parents go to extreme lengths to reestablish contact with their “number-one daughter” in New York; and Betty Koo, brought up on “no politics, just make money,” finds she must reassess her mother’s philosophy.
With their profound compassion and equally profound humor, these eleven linked stories trace the intimate ways in which humans make and are made by history, capturing an extraordinary era in an extraordinary way. Delightful, provocative, and powerful, Thank You, Mr. Nixon furnishes yet more proof of Jen’s eminent place among American storytellers.
Support your local bookstore by pre-ordering Thank You, Mr. Nixon, available on February 1. Learn more at www.gishjen.com/tymn.
Weekly Collections Story: Kam Mak’s Lunar New Year Stamps
In this excerpted oral history clip, Chinese American artist Kam Mak recollects winning the 12-year contract to design a vibrant new series of Lunar New Year stamps for the United States Postal Service in 2008. He discusses how objects and memories he associates with experiencing Chinese New Year in Chinatown—the dawn to dusk fireworks, the small red lantern that his mother hung, kumquats—and his own art aesthetic inspired his shift away from the iconic zodiac animals of the USPS’s inaugural artist Clarence Lee. He also recounts the lobbying efforts of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) for the creation of a commemorative stamp and the very belated step towards recognizing the contributions of Chinese Americans who helped build this country that it represented.
Mak grew up in Manhattan Chinatown in the 1970s and '80s. During his youth, he fell in with neighborhood street gangs which were very prevalent at the time, but his introduction to art through painting murals with Arlan Huang, Tomie Arai and City Arts after school gave him a new direction in life. As a professional artist, Mak takes as subject the everyday and ordinary in Chinatown, paying particular attention to street vendors and the live animals they sold. His oral history is part of MOCA’s Archaeology of Change project documenting gentrification and change in Chinatown in recent years. Listen to the engaging full oral history on MOCA’s Oral History Archive platform: https://bit.ly/3H19DYG
2008.040.015 Oral History Interview with Kam Mak, March 6, 2008, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
Kam Mak口述历史专访,2008 年 3 月 6 日,美国华人博物馆 (MOCA) 馆藏。
#chinesenewyear #lunarnewyear #chineseamerican #chineseamericanhistory #museum #museumofchineseinamerica #chinatownnyc #archiveshashtagparty #oralhistory