An ad man coined the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” in the 1920s to emphasize the power of graphics to compel the viewer to adopt an idea or buy a product. But a picture can also be the springboard for new interpretations and the reimagination of the physical object, people, or places depicted. In that spirit, we reached out to ten literary arts practitioners to visit the At First Light: The Dawning of Asian Pacific America exhibition and select one still or moving image sequence on display that resonates with them and sparks their creative juices. They were then asked to compose an original five-minute performance piece based on that image.

Musicians Dom Magwili and Tajii Miyagawa will provide the opening and closing for this special evening where the power of words, images, and performance meld into an experience of invention, reflection, and inspiration.

ARTISTS (to date): Teresa Mei Chuc, Naomi Hirahara, Miya Iwataki, traci kato-kiriyama, Kenji Liu, Koji Steven Sakai, Irene Soriano, Amy Uyematsu, Eric Wat, and Stan Yogi.

For updates about this program, please visit vcmedia.org. This program is presented in conjunction with At First Light: The Dawning of Asian Pacific America. It is free, but RSVPs are recommended using the form below.