Wow, what an opening!
Okay, I’m finally recovered. That was an intense opening at the Japanese American National Museum last Saturday. The museum was free to the public for the opening so we don’t have any hard numbers, but from Lindsay & friends shooting almost 400 people for the interactive wall, we’re estimating between 800-1000 people came through that night. And I think I talked to almost all of them (well, it feels like it)!
Thanks to everyone for coming out in force. That was an amazing way to show how much Hapas are the changing face of Asian America, and also how much the story of Hapa identity is universal. I love how all sorts of people took part in the interactive wall photos & statements … young and old, all sorts of races, funny, serious, etc. Great stuff and really fun to read. Don’t forget to go out to JANM on Saturdays so Lindsay can photograph you and you can be part of the evolving project … the show runs through October.
Props as well to the spoken word artists. Heard many great things from lots of people.
I have never signed so many books for so many people in one day. I hope I got to everyone that wanted one. I know the bookstore ran out, but they’ve got more now and I’ll be there for most of the public programs so I can always sign there. I know the line goes slow, but I try to at least have a short interaction with each person. You are patient enough to stand in line, I at least owe you that. And sorry for my crazy Chinese Auntie who kept coming up to the side of the table for pics/kisses/no-waiting-in-line-signatures/etc. (Do I really need to put “crazy” in front of “Chinese Auntie”?)
It was a huge amount of work leading up to the show (big props to Clement and the preparatory team) so I’m still catching up on sleep.
Again, I wish I could have put everyone I’ve photographed in the show. I feel a certain attachment to each image and statement. Hopefully, if book sales go well we can continue with another edition. In the meantime, I’m still photographing people when I can. (Several of the JANM images were shot in New York just a couple weeks ago).
Mostly for the next two months though, I’m going to focus on training for FINA World Masters Swimming Championships in Stanford this August. I just started lifting this week and realize you get really sore AS YOU GET OLD.
One silver lining about getting older, is you age up into different Master’s age groups though.
That’s it for now. Let me know what you thought of the show … or think of the show if you can go see it. Park across the street and bring your parking ticket over for validation (they give you your $5 back), and hit up the great restaurants in the area.
Also, Heather and I fell in love with Waraku, a store across the street … trying to find a way for them to do a wedding registry!