KSW’s 45 Years of Art and Resistance celebrated the 45th Anniversary of the organization. The night included a dinner curated by Sita Bhaumik and a conversation between renowned novelist and playwright Jessica Hagedorn and award-winning journalist Bernice Yeung, plus a special performance by Bay Area rising star, rapper and poet, Ruby Ibarra. This unique evening event was hosted by the Chinese Culture Foundation 750 Kearny Street, just a block away from the International Hotel, where KSW started.

Participating Artists: Jessica Hagedorn, Bernice Young, Ruby Ibarra, Sita Kuratomi Bhaumik

A literary reading for the new century! KSW (SF), Kundiman (NYC), and the Twin Cities Ad-Hoc Ancestor Group presented a live interactive experience honoring two Asian American literary giants from each city.

Participating Artist: Shirley Ancheta, Jason Bayani, Jade Cho, Caitlyn Clark, Karl Evangelista, Leon Sun.

What lies in the space between colonial power and indigenous resistance, diaspora and homeland, us and them, here and there? Betweenscapes presented the work of 12 artists that visualizes the in-between as a site of criticality, addressing unresolved histories and posing questions about colonialism, migration, and transnational solidarity. Curated by Kathy Zarur and Roula Seikaly. An exhibition presented by API Cultural Center SF and co-presented by Kearny Street Workshop.

Participating Artists: Michael Arcega, Rea Lynn de Guzman, Sarah Farahat, Henry Francisco, Anahita Hekmat, Robin Lasser + Adrienne Pao, Means of Exchange, Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here, Bonny Nahmias, Eric Nodora, Susana Eslava Sáenz, Azin Seraj, Keyvan Shovir, Weston Teruya.

Kearny Street Workshop's Dumpling Wars involved teams of amateur chefs scrambling to serve up their best recipes to a panel of local foodie judges. Attendees had the opportunity to sample delicious food from local restaurateurs, enjoy live entertainment, and vote on their favorite dumpling! There can only be ONE winner in this pageant of honor, courage, and umami.

Kearny Street Workshop presented a new group show featuring transnational and immigrant Filipino-American artists MARCIUS NOCEDA, CARLO RICAFORT, MEL VERA CRUZ, and internationally renowned iconoclast painter MANUEL OCAMPO. Organized with assistance from TJ Basa, Dara Katrina Del Rosario, and Pamela Ybañez.

Participating Artists: Mel Vera Cruz, Carlo Ricafort, Marcius Noceda, Manuel Ocampo

Kearny Street Workshop Presents facilitated Means of Exchange, our collaborative art project that teamed Kala Art Institute Fellow, Weston Teruya, and Murphy Cadogan awardee, Kimberley Arteche with local venues to create a series of community-engaged artworks integrated into SOMA storefront businesses that highlight the history, knowledge, and trades of community members.

Participating Artists: Kimberley Arteche, Weston Teruya, Tony Robles, Claira Amable, Maryam Rostami.

On March 31, 2018, Richmond Area Multi-Services (RAMS), in partnership with Kearny Street Workshop (KSW) and Asian American Literary Review (AALR), presented an evening of readings, performances, and interactive stations centered around a collective exploration and discussion on mental health in our communities and the release of AALR’s Asian American Tarot, a new deck of tarot cards, featuring original art and text, revealing the hidden contours of our Asian American lives.

Participating Artists: Brandon Som, Mimi Khúc, Lawrence-Minh Bùi Davis, Chad Shomura, and Simi Kang.

The historic 7 Mile House hosted Kearny Street Workshop for a special fundraising event celebrating Women’s History Month. Featuring special performances by APAture 2018 standouts, Kin and Gala, along with a debut performance by youth singer-songwriter, Jaeya Bayani. We also premiered our limited edition RAD AZN WMN Coloring Book featuring illustrations by some of the most exciting local femme and non-binary illustrators and artists.

Participating Artists: Thi Bui, Jean Chen, Jeanette Lee, Jenifer Wofford, Deni Kwan, Vida Kuang, I. Nguyen-Hayama, Jess Wu, Kin, Gala, Jaeya Bayani

Rebel Legacy: Activist Art from South Asian California connected the century-long history of South Asian American activism with contemporary social movements, linking local and global struggles for equity and social justice. In their work, the seven featured California artists addressed themes of historical memory, cross-racial solidarities, feminist and LGBTQ organizing, anti-caste struggles, colorism, Islamophobia, and the U.S. war machine. Many of the pieces built on South Asian art styles, reflecting our communities’ hybrid and immigrant identities. Living in an age of unrestrained neoliberalism, post-racial delusions, climate change misinformation, and incessant surveillance and fear-mongering, it is of paramount importance to be clear — a century on, the struggle continues.

Featuring: Amman Desai, Khushboo Gulati, Poonam Whabi, Tanzila “Taz” Ahmed, Nisha Sembi, Nick Singh Randhawa, Design Action Collective