May 2008

by Naomi Ishisaka

Naomi Ishisaka Editor

You may be wondering: “Why are there 35 people on the cover of this month’s issue?” We have never featured so many people on one single cover, yet the reasoning behind it speaks directly to the philosophy and mission of the subject matter.

For 42 years, the Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle has been the culmination of the vision, dedication and hard work of its many contributors. These contributors included the early founders, who believed in honoring the too-short life of City Councilmember Wing Luke with an Asian museum, to the activists in the 1970s who took the original concept and turned it into a 10,000-square-foot community-based space and model of pan-Asian historical preservation. This latter group was led by the modest yet visionary executive director Ron Chew, who believed that only through listening to the community could the museum truly reflect their needs. As the Wing Luke's leader for 17 years, Chew took the community-centered approach to new heights, with thoughtful exhibits that explored sensitive - and often painful - subjects with respect and dignity.

Using the feedback of the community as a guide, the museum’s community-driven exhibits included an examination of the Japanese-American internment; the struggle of garment workers; as well as look at Asian-American sports heroes. And throughout, the museum’s steady commitment to historical preservation has garnered a treasure trove of artifacts, photographs and artwork that serve as a historical record for the Asian-American community in the Pacific Northwest. Now, the museum is entering its third phase: a new, 60,000-square-foot facility that honors the pan-Asian, collaborative vision of the past 30 years and builds on it – with room to grow.

For the staff of the Wing Luke, this accomplishment – set to open May 31 – cannot be credited to just a handful of “leaders.” For them, nothing is possible without the collective contributions of everyone. In this time when so many leaders care most about getting credit for their work, this commitment to “we” versus “me” is refreshing. Here’s to Wing Luke’s next 40 years.

 

We love your letters! Send them to: Naomi Ishisaka naomii@colorsnw.com.