Art Bites 
Chinatown Art Block Party

Co-presented by the CCC of San Francisco and Edge on the Square, "Art Bites" is a series of pop-up art stations at the lively Chinatown Night Market. This celebration of Chinatown's creativity, community spirit, and joy will take place on Friday, June 14th along the iconic Grant Avenue (between Clay and Washington streets).

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Transforming the neighborhood into “bite-sized” art experiences, this block party promises an eclectic fusion of music, dance, and contemporary art activation. Come see the heart of Chinatown come to life and enjoy these delightful art bites!
 

Art Pop-up: "When their home is gone, where do the pigeons go?" by artist Bijun Liang

Free Pigeon is an interactive free-roaming installation in which inflatable pigeons act as the carrier connecting people within and outside the exhibit. Pigeons are flown out of their nest based within the Chinese Culture Center, while visitors are asked to guide our traveling pigeons home. Pigeons have long been associated with the delivery of messages, as homing pigeons during wartime and as the key postal system in Chinese mythology. In recent times, pigeons are also one of the top populations impacted by the upcoming renovation of the nearby Portsmouth Square Park, a gathering place for many in Chinatown today.

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The Public Opinion Pigeon Organization (THE POPO) extends this project, releasing 'opinionated pigeons' into the public sphere during the “Art Bites” Chinatown Art Block Party. Festival-goers will engage with the pigeons, sharing their thoughts and opinions on various issues, shaping a collective voice.The pigeons roam free, sparking conversations and gathering diverse perspectives. This project gathers the individual voices that shape our shared reality, offering a unique snapshot of Chinatown's thoughts, hopes, and concerns.

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About Bijun Liang:

Bijun Liang is a Chinese-American artist based in San Francisco, CA. Her practice encompasses interactive installations and public art. Using a unique blend of playfulness, humor, and crowdsourcing, Liang puts the voices of the community at the forefront of the art she creates. In recent years, Liang exhibited her works at The Headlands Center for the Arts, Chinatown Media & Arts Collaborative, the Chinese Culture Center, and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Her recent accomplishments include creating murals like "Fufufufufu" and "Welcome to Chilltown," as well as community-based installations such as "Facepalm" and "Omens in Chinatown." Liang has been recognized in art collections on SuperRare and LACMA. 

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Music: Dance Floor by Microtone

Microtone has been sharing her musical discoveries for a decade at KALX 90.7 FM in Berkeley, California. Microtone makes mixes to share musical discoveries old and new, to connect with kindred listeners and extraterrestrials, and to journey through time, space, and mood.

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About Microtone:

Menghsin Horng, known on air as Microtone, has been curating musical playlists for decades -- on cassette tape, CDR, radio, and for the occasional live event. Freeform radio taught her to embrace an experimental and exploratory approach to mixmaking. You can catch her live on KALX 90.7 FM Berkeley, currently on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 AM to noon.

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Performance: “TICA on Tour - Toolbox Voyage” by Toolbox Percussion

TICA on Tour - Toolbox Voyage, a collaborative sound and music performance by collective Toolbox Percussion with students and faculty of Education University of Hong Kong. The performance includes a multimedia musical compilation of snare drums by Austin Yip, percussion quintet playing Canto-pop medley, and an iPad E-Orchestra. 

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About Toolbox Percussion:

Toolbox Percussion has been driving percussive arts programming in Hong Kong since 2012, curating ambitious music projects in innovative ways. Toolbox Percussion, as a creative incubator, works to make new music happen by commissioning, collaborating, professional training, performing, recording and touring contemporary performances. ​Believing in the beautiful concerted efforts of every young talent we involve. Toolbox continues to empower audiences to discover versatility in daily soundscapes by anchoring our work closely to the here and now of Hong Kong. Over the past seasons, Toolbox Percussion toured to Asia Culture Center at Gwangju in South Korea and made its US debut at the San Francisco International Arts Festival.

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About CCC of San Francisco

For over 50 years, CCC has uplifted Chinatown through the arts, as both a vibrant neighborhood and a powerful metaphor for the immigrant experience. In recent years, the CCC has continued to evolve, through its thought-provoking international exhibitions and educational programs, the organization spotlights the most pressing and often complex issues of our time, sparking crucial dialogues that unite diverse perspectives and inspire meaningful actions toward a more inclusive and equitable society. Some of its iconic programming includes “Chinatown History and Art Walking Tour,” “XianRui: Artist in Excellence Series,” “41 Ross: Artist-in-Residence,” and the new “Hungry Ghost Festival.” www.cccsf.us

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About Edge on the Square 
Located at the heart of San Francisco Chinatown and the first project envisioned by Chinatown Media & Arts Collaborative (CMAC), Edge on the Square is a year-round contemporary art hub that produces artistic programs with civic engagement to shape the cultural, social, and historical fabric of our lives. We believe in the emancipatory power of art and its ability to catalyze community-building, cross-cultural solidarity and collective arising. Edge is free and open to public at 800 Grant Avenue, San Francisco Chinatown.

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In partnership with Chinatown Night Market by BeChinatown
 

Supported by:
San Francisco Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development 

San Francisco Arts Commission

Additional Artist Support by:
California Arts Council
Hong Kong Arts Development Council