Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage with Chicago Public Library by exploring this year’s theme of Represent! Throughout the month, attend our many events, visit a branch exhibit featuring AANHPI creators, join a book discussion and check out our reading recommendations. We also encourage you to continue your own journey of representation beyond the month of May.
Events
Explore all Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Month events, including cultural events, film screenings, book discussions and family events.
Opening Keynote
Join our keynote event, Music of Cambodia, at Harold Washington Library Center in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium on Saturday, May 4 at 2 p.m. This special performance presented by the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial will feature traditional Cambodian sounds and instruments. Musicians will perform, demonstrate and share the history of this ancient music.
Event Highlights
Chicago's Underrepresented Asian Cultures: A Celebration
11 a.m. Saturday, May 4 at Uptown Branch
Hula is Life
2 p.m. Saturday, May 11 at Avalon Branch
Dragon Wreath With Annie Chu
5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14 at Northtown Branch
Origami With Ty Yamamoto
4 p.m. Wednesday, May 15 at West Lawn Branch
Get to Know AANHPI Communities
6 p.m. Thursday, May 16 at Lozano Branch
Internment of Japanese and Japanese Americans
1 p.m. Saturday, May 18 at Independence Branch
Chinese Zither Music
2 p.m. Saturday, May 18 at Lincoln Park Branch
Ribbon Stitchery Art at Your Fingertips
4 p.m. Monday, May 20 at Sulzer Regional Library
View all Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Month events.
Exhibits
Visit one of our exhibits across the city featuring AANHPI creators during the month of May:
Artist: Danbee Kim (She/Her)
Sulzer Regional Library
Danbee Kim uses digital illustration to show what's possible when we move together as a collective ecosystem. She partners with community-based organizations building alternatives to carceral systems and fighting against corporate interests to usher in a world where collective flourishing is not limited to just a few but for all. She firmly adheres to the idea that the greatest contribution we can leave to future generations is the culture we create here today.
Artist: Geraldine Martinez-Benz
Harold Washington Library Center/Popular Library
Geraldine Martinez-Benz is a children’s book designer, fine artist, graphic designer, wife and mother. She is a Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate with a major in Painting from the University of the Philippines-Cebu. She has shared her love for the visual arts through several summer art workshops in the Philippines and with filipino-american kids at the Philippine Consulate in Chicago. A native of Ormoc City, she has also taught street and indigent children through a partnership with the local DSWD and World Vision chapters, rooted in the belief that art should be made accessible to all. For her day job she has worked as a graphic designer in Manila, Cebu, Shenzhen and Chicago. As a visual artist, she has exhibited in the Philippines, Chicago and Evanston. Two years ago she founded Sinag, now a 60 member strong art collective of Filipino-American Artists in the Chicago area. With Sinag, she hopes to connect filipino-american artists and help build a strong presence in the art world of Chicago.
Artist: Lee Nah
North Pulaski Branch
Lee Nah is a junior at Kenyon College where she studies Studio Art, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Psychology. In her art practice, she explores themes of Korean-American affect from a socially engaged feminist praxis. She works in a variety of mediums including printmaking, painting, and photography. Originally from Chicago, she served on the Mayor’s Youth Commission where she collaborated with City of Chicago leadership to propose and implement solutions to advance mental health equity and Chicago Police Department (CPD) reform. She previously worked with the Chicago Department of Public Health to expand the Trauma-Informed Centers of Care (TICC) Network, a city-wide clinical network of community organizations that provide trauma-informed behavioral health services. Passionate about arts equity, Lee Nah previously served on the Teen Advisory Council of Urban Gateways, an organization that engages young people in arts experiences to inspire creativity and impact social change. As an Obama-Chesky Voyager, she seeks to create informed and innovative entry points for receiving arts-based healthcare by working at the intersection of healthcare access, public safety reform, and the arts.
Artist: Xing Yi Tan
Sulzer Regional Library
My (Xing Yi) drawings and paintings are influenced by life and nature. I am a calm and accurate person, so I always put my eyes on the details that I have seen and put my feelings on the motions that I have experienced. In my artist exploration, I am going to focus on marking down the moments which are remarkable and unforgettable. Currently, I am doing the project of Chinese Heritage. I have been traveling to different cities in China in the past summers, and I felt like Chinese people have changed their lives and lifestyle in the last ten years. Overall, I like that the audiences can enjoy my works. I hope they can feel and engage after seeing my pieces. The purpose of my work is to express myself and let others enjoy and understand our life.
Artist: Susie Xiong
Little Village Branch
InsomniaBird immigrated from Chengdu, China in early childhood to join her parents in Bridgeport. She draws from a background in art education and experience in hospitality, tech, and non-profit settings to shape her artistic vision, aiming to make her work accessible to people of diverse ages and backgrounds. Her art primarily utilizes acrylic and ink on both traditional and reclaimed surfaces, featuring large-eyed animals as recurring motifs. Themes of nature, life cycles, and resilience permeate her pieces, reflecting her perspective on adapting to change and overcoming obstacles. Her Instagram handle is @InsomniabirdArt.
Coloring Page
Print our Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Month coloring sheet or visit your favorite CPL location for a coloring sheet while supplies last.
Recommended Reading
Represent: Books for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Month 2024
Represent: Books for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Month for Teens 2024
Represent: Books for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Month for Kids 2024
