One of the most incredible art exhibitions to arrive in St. Pete in recent years is in its final days, offering locals one last chance to see the groundbreaking showcase. From Far East to West: The Chinese American Frontier is on display at The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art through Sunday, January 28. The museum is located at 150 Central Avenue, and tickets to the incredible exhibition (included with museum admission) are available here.
Having been on display at The James since the fall, the groundbreaking exhibition immerses visitors in a captivating journey through time, culture and identity, showcasing the remarkable history and contributions of early Chinese Americans in transforming the landscape and character of the American West.
The works were created by contemporary Chinese American artists, and they transport viewers back to the Frontier days, from the Gold Rush and the Transcontinental Railroad to the development of Chinatowns and Angel Island. All together, the exhibition is an immersive experience that unveils the oft-overlooked history of the Chinese immigrants who helped build the American frontier. Through these beautiful and emotion-evoking works, visitors will gain insight into the daily lives of these people and communities that shaped the fledgling years of the United States.
“From Far East to West: The Chinese American Frontier is an opportunity to expand on the works by Chinese American artists already in The James Museum collection and engage with Chinese American art and culture in a thought-provoking and visually captivating manner,” said exhibition curator Emily Kapes. “The exhibition underscores The James Museum’s commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of Western and American art and history.”
Some of the 20th and 21st century’s most prolific and impactful Chinese America artists take their rightful place in the stunning exhibit, such as Hung Liu (1948 – 2021), Mian Situ (born 1953), Jie Wei Zhou (born 1962), and Benjamin Wu (born 1961). An additional section of the exhibition spotlights artist Z.S. Liang, whose fascination with the history of his adopted country led him to a career painting Native American life.
Often drawing inspiration from their own (and of course, more recent) immigration stories, and using historical documentation as their guide, the artists’ paintings and artifacts featured in From Far East to West create what The James describes as a rich narrative tapestry that speaks to culture, identity and community, and how the past can impact the present.
Tickets to The James Museum can be found here, and general admission includes access to From Far East to West: The Chinese American Frontier. And for some further artistic experiences, The James Museum partnered with the 2023 SHINE Mural Festival and Chinese American artist Chenlin Cai to create a mural called The Path We Came inspired by the From Far East to West exhibition. The mural is now finished and can be seen on the Lantmännen Unibake building at 1927 4th Ave S.
ADVERTISEMENT
