Exhibit highlights local Pan-Asian community

A decade ago, a group of Rochesterians of Asian and Pacific Islander descent got together and decided to highlight the APA population here.

The group members felt there needed to be more representation, so the Asian/Pacific Islander/America History Project of Greater Rochester was born. The project grew into the Asian Pacific-Islander American Association of Greater Rochester, which has continued the oral history project and also holds film festivals, music and dance series and documentary production.

"We remember and try to hold onto the culture of our home countries," says Mimi W. Lee, the organization's president-elect, who was born in China and immigrated to the United States in 1963. "But we also try to shed light on those raised here in this country because they often have a different experience."

This month at the Rochester City Hall Link Gallery, the 10 years of work is on display. "See Us Now ... Greater Rochester's Asian-American Community" is a visual and audio trove of information about the past, present and future of the area's Pan-Asian population.

APAA began its oral history project under the guidance of Greta Niu, at the time a professor at The College at Brockport, and has continued its oral history work in recent years with Nevan Fisher, a professor at Nazareth College. APAA was awarded a grant from the state Department of Education Documentary Heritage Program to survey documents in 2004 in collaboration with the University of Rochester.

That same year, APAA launched its first arts project with a grant from the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester. APAA visited more than 50 locations with the help of 17 volunteer photographers led by renowned New York photojournalist Corky Lee for the "Daily Lives of Asian Americans in Greater Rochester" photography project, which was displayed at several Rochester-area venues.

The City Hall exhibit, on display through Jan. 27, showcases 40 photographs of Rochester's Pan-Asian community taken over the past decade. These photos — titled Tai Chi Grandma, India Market, Laotian Commotion, Korean Fan Dance and more — tell the stories visually, but also include an audio component. "In the 26-year history of the Link Gallery, we are the first exhibiting group to marry technology with our exhibit," Lee says. "We had a vision to do something really special and interesting for our 10th anniversary, and I think we accomplished that."

Each photo's caption bears a QR code that visitors can scan with a smartphone to hear more detailed information about the people and places captured on camera. Visitors may also dial a phone number to listen to the audio or go online.

"The audio tour brings another dimension ... to the exhibit," says Marilyn Ajavananda, co-chair of the exhibit project with Lee. Ajavananda, a copy editor for the Democrat and Chronicle, wrote most of the text for photo captions and audio tour. The OnCell audio tour is narrated by local voice actor Jack LoCastro.

The exhibit also honors and tells the life stories of five Asian-Pacific Americans who have made significant contributions as "pioneers, innovators and entrepreneurs" in Rochester. These five area Rochesterians won the group's P.I.E. recognition this year: Ruben M. Garcia, a retired Monroe County support magistrate and professional boxing judge; Dr. Brijen K. Gupta, co-founder of the India Community Center; Hkadin Lahtaw Lee, a refugee activist at Lake Avenue Baptist Church and Mary's Place; Masanori Seto, an entomologist, Taiko drummer and artist; and the late Edline Chun, a former adjunct professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology and community advocate.

Lee says APAA is the only Pan-Asian nonprofit in western New York that is inclusive of all South Asian ethnic groups, and is always looking for more members. "We are made up of all volunteers," says Lily Lee, secretary of the group. "Our focus is on the social capital of our community and on giving back."

Many of the programs APAA has developed have been supported through grants from the Arts & Cultural Council and other financial support and have included a concert series; the production of the documentary Identities Through Art: Six Rochester Asian American Artists, which included workshops and tours with artists such as glass artist Nancy Gong as part of its debut.

Putnam is a Brockport-based freelance writer.

If you go

What: "See Us Now ... Greater Rochester's Asian-American Community" by the Asian Pacific Islanders American Association of Greater Rochester.

When: Through Jan. 27 during normal gallery hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday).

Where: Rochester City Hall's Link Gallery, 30 Church St.

Admission: Free.

Note: The exhibit is also available online with audio narration anytime through Jan. 27 at myoncell.mobi/apaa. For more information, go to apaaroc.org.