"My project “Taste of Home” highlights the multicultural aspects of our community by engaging participants in a printmaking project about food memories and family recipes. Food is nourishment, food is a reminder of home, and food brings comfort. I am working with Chopsticks Alley Art as an organizational partner, and through the Creative Ambassador grant, we will provide art kits to the community who can tune into a live arts workshop (via zoom) where I'll show them how to make a styrofoam print. Participants can expect to learn about art, food, & culture, the history of printmaking, and share their food stories. This project encourages intergenerational conversations between community members as we reflect on meaningful ingredients and recipes. Their best print will be returned to us to be featured in an exhibition later this year at the Natalie and James Thompson Gallery, San Jose State University. The ambassadorship will run parallel to Community Table: Creative Approaches to Addressing Food Scarcity, a multidisciplinary project focused on SJSU student-made resources to change narratives and stigmas around food insecurity. The arts workshop will be recorded and accessible to the public following the event. By reflecting on stories from the community, my goal is to celebrate cultural diversity while raising awareness about food insecurity. This is an important issue that many students and community members may be experiencing especially during an unprecedented pandemic. Many food pantries typically offer items that are catered toward a nondiverse American diet, and the lack of ethnically diverse food from the pantries can make students and community members feel more ashamed of their situation. We plan on featuring local chefs who will cook dishes from ingredients commonly available from food pantries to show the audience how to make ethnic dishes with American ingredients while highlighting the lack of diversity in America's food banks. This project will present underrepresented voices from our community, and hopes to inspire change in future food donations so that food banks have items that reflect the communities that they serve."

"I'm involved with the wonderful offerings from SJSU like student art exhibitions and virtual art receptions; the Tuesday Night Lecture Series that brings acclaimed artists, designers, and critical theorists from around the world; and the new PLATFORM event series, a collaborative project by CSU Museums & Galleries. All of these events are open to the public free of charge. The nonprofit that I'm working with, Chopsticks Alley Art, also organizes fun cultural events to promote Southeast Asian arts and culture like Medi-Veggie, a weekly meditation and plant-based eating event every Wednesday afternoon. Attendees can sign up through EventBrite or watch the livestream on Facebook. "I'm also always looking to be galvanized by other creatives and enjoy other (virtual) programming like art workshops and social nights by the School of Visual Philosophy. Many artists are offering online workshops like Michelle Wilson's Gelatin Printing class, so it's been fun to participate and learn something new in an exclusive group setting. I'm also passionate about music events and love San Jose Jazz and SoFA Music Festival!"

"I'm grateful that technology allows for virtual participation in so many events and classes. I think it's also important to balance life behind a computer screen so I've been indulging in other activities: reading a book a week (or at least making the effort) and supporting one of San Jose's gems, the Recycle Bookstore; tending to a garden and learning about caring for different plants; enjoying long walks and looking at the architecture of homes around my neighborhood or around the Rosicrucian/Rose Garden area; and when I can't stand the idea of washing dishes, supporting local restaurants and trying new cuisines to mix things up. All of this to say that San Jose has an abundance of opportunities to engage with different aspects of cultures, or perspectives, especially through the lens of learning."

We'll be sharing events through Chopsticks Alley Art (Facebook/Instagram), San Jose State Art Galleries (Facebook/Instagram) and with the tag #tasteofhomeproject on social media. You can also find us on sjsu.edu/ThompsonGallery. Learn more about the Taste of Home project. Sign up for a free art kit and workshop.

Visit San Jose 2021