Northern Kentucky residents can view artworks from Asian American and Pacific Islander Kentuckians at the Erlanger branch of the Kenton County Library this month.
Called “Continent to Commonwealth,” the exhibit showcases the work of Kentuckians of Asian and Pacific Island descent, who submitted works in a variety of media. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
The library branch in Erlanger is the second stop on the exhibit’s statewide tour. The first stop was in Frankfort at the Capitol building. Created by a partnership between the Kentucky Arts Council, Asia Institute-Crane House and the Kentucky Chinese American Association, the exhibit initially honored American American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May.
Shay Spisak, Erlanger branch’s programmer, said the exhibit dovetailed nicely with the library’s summer reading program, called “Find Your Voice,” which provides a variety of learning and recreational activities for elementary school students throughout the summer.
The arts council has not determined where the exhibit will go in August.
“As an Asian American, it is important for me to depict myself or other individuals who identify as Asian in my paintings as well, further pushing the notion that we belong to and are participating in our local communities while also retaining our greater Asian heritage and culture,” said Eriko Whittaker, Jefferson County resident and one of the showcased artists, on the Kentucky Arts Council’s website.
The works on display range in styles and techniques, with some committing to realistic depictions of nature and everyday life and others experimenting with open-ended forms and abstraction.
Several pieces also deal with political and social themes, such as the resurgence of racist attitudes against Asians and Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic and the practice of Americans adopting babies from Asian countries.
“I find empowerment through being able to fully own, celebrate and share my personal narrative through my art forms,” said Mahalia Xiaoqi, whose work is also showcased in the exhibit. “Too often in today’s world, I find myself or my experiences becoming intertwined or overwhelmed with narratives and retellings that others choose for me. Through my art, I reclaim what is and always has been wholly mine.”
Some even have poems and other text accompanying their pieces.
The exhibit will continue until the last day of July. It’s free and open to the public; you do not need a library card at the Kenton County Library to view the artworks. You can view a digital slideshow of the artworks below. You can also watch an interview with two of the artists who contributed to the exhibit here.
