A Tale Of Two Ghettos

A Cultural and Boundary Crossing Art Installation

This multimedia, cultural and boundary crossing installation excavates the hidden history of Old Town and East Portland, and explores the layered history of displacement of Portland’s Japanese and Chinese communities in Old Town. A Tale of Two Ghettos proposes to connect Chinatown with the developing Jade District in East Portland via social media technology. At two selected locations, simultaneous real time videos of performance, audience and discussion are projected into the spaces in both districts (the Portland Chinatown History Foundation in Old Town, and Portland Community College's Southeast Campus Community Hall in the Jade District). The audience in the Jade District will be viewing a ghostly performance projected on a translucent scrim, and at the same time, the musicians in Old Town will be performing to a projected phantom audience. This one-night double public event features musical performance of Chinese and Japanese traditional instruments, drumming and singing followed by discussion and light refreshments at both sites. The events are timed to coincide with the celebration of Asian American Heritage Month, and will also coincide with PCC Southeast Campus's CulturesEast Festival.

A Tale of Two Ghettos is co-sponsored by the Portland Chinatwon History Foundation in Old Town/Chinatown, and the PCC SE Capmus Multicultural Center in the Jade District. This project is made possible by an artist project grant funded by the Regional Arts and Culture Council.