As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage during the month of May, you may want to consider taking a day to explore the cultural art that San Francisco has to offer. With its vibrant Chinatown and renowned Asian Art Museum, San Francisco remains home to many Asian and Pacific Islander populations, and is the perfect place to celebrate this month.

Chinatown Murals:

Packed with bustling markets, lost tourists and fragrant restaurants, the walls lining the streets of San Francisco’s Chinatown are splashed with colorful murals summoning onlookers to study the stories they portray. Established in 1848, Chinatown has served as an enclave of Chinese culture, bringing Chinese food, dance and art to the Bay Area. As Asian American heritage is celebrated this month of April, Chinatown offers a distinct view into both Asian culture and art in the form of murals. 

Rather than reading text, the murals in Chinatown offer multiple ways of interpretation making the viewer able to connect emotionally. These murals make viewers question the meaning behind certain symbols and figures simultaneously inviting analysis of their significance. 

Beyond Bollywood and Asian Art Museum: Celebrating 2000 Years of Dance in Art: A new exhibit at the Asian Art Museum showcases the rich history of dance in art throughout the history of Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian religions and cultures. As tickets extend through May, this exhibit is a perfect way to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month. The exhibitions highlight religious themes of divinity and power in addition to topics like gender and sexuality. The exhibit also highlights five ways dance can be observed, including the themes of destruction and creation, devotion, subjugation, glorification and celebration. The exhibit is organized into these five categories, allowing museum-goers a greater understanding of each art piece. 

Asian Art Museum:

In addition to this exhibit, the Asian Art Museum’s regular exhibits are also a great way to experience Asian art. From mid-century modern paintings to classic weaving and tapestry from China’s dynasties, the Asian Art Museum’s exhibits don’t disappoint. To better the museum goer’s experience, each exhibit also displays a paragraph of context specifying the exact time, place of origin and artist. These elements bring the exhibits to life, allowing people to appreciate their cultural and historical significance. 

If you are looking for a way to locally celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month, San Francisco’s art world is ideal. Both the Asian Art Museum and Chinatowns murals provide students with the opportunity to appreciate and explore the rich heritage of these cultures.