Call and Response: Illustration in Uncertain Times at Pao Arts Center
On view March 24 - June 30, 2023

Over the centuries, artists have created images and illustrations in response to the world around them, to tell stories or to amplify messages of protest and solidarity, especially during times of widespread crisis and upheaval. This has been especially true for AAPI artists today, as our community continues to navigate multi-pandemics, including COVID-19 and its reverberations, and the rise of anti-Asian discrimination and violence. Like other illustrators over the years, local Boston AAPI artists have responded to these tragedies with images and words of resistance and of comfort.  

Call and Response: Illustration in Uncertain Times features illustrations and graphic designs by seven local AAPI artists who have used their craft to speak to this complicated moment. As with other kinds of labor, these artistic gestures offer critical support to the community by giving voice to different experiences and encouraging care.  

Curated by: Leslie Anne Condon

Participating Artists: Deborah Johnson, payal kumar, Lillian Lee, Shaina Lu, Yuko Okabe, Sanika Phawde, Wen-ti Tsen 

As part of Call and Response, we have invited Boston-area artists to submit zine artwork in response to the themes of the show, curated by Pao Arts Center Spring 2023 interns, Rachel Liang, Christina Yang, and Steven Zhu. Please see the list of selected works below!

Pampi Amdas + Ebbie Russell for the Neighborhood Grow Plan | Spirited Global Resistance Ninnauwaet/Pópon* (Fall/Winter* in Nipmuc language) last of 4 seasonal zines to mark seasonal changes in light | 2022 | Collage and Digital Art | 17 x 11

Asian American Resource Workshop’s Environmental Justice Working Group | Rice Water | 2021 | Mixed media | 8.5 x 11

Asian Students in Alliance’s Lunchbox Magazine | Fall 2021 | 2021 | Glossy paper | 8.5 x 5.5

Maya Beach + Asian Coalition Massachusetts | summer workshop zine | 2022 | Digital Collage | 8.5 x 11

Jennifer Duan | Lessons in Internalizing Self-Love | 2023 | Digital Print | 3 x 4.5

Maria Fong | Sorting Through | 2020 | 40 page zine, 5.5 x 8.5

Anne Hu | This I Hope | 2023 | traditional ink stone and bush (mo and mao bi) | 2.75 x 4.25

Katelyn Lipton | We are Tigers | 2023 | pen on paper | 9 x 12 unfolded

Untangle BU | SWEET/BITTER | 2022 | satin printing and soft touch lamination | 5 x 8

Keith Khanh Truong | Mẹ: a story told by her son | Risograph printed with Yellow, Fluorescent Pink, Cornflower Blue, and Flat Gold on French Paper. Coil bound | 5 x 7

To learn more, go to:
https://www.paoartscenter.org/events/2023/call-and-response-illustration-in-uncertain-times

Exhibition image credit: Mel Taing Photography

Call and Response
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