When ‘Gentrification’ Isn’t About Housing /  by An Huynh

“The poor are still gentrification’s victims, but in this new meaning, the harm is not rent increases and displacement — it’s something psychic, a theft of pride. Unlike housing, poverty is a potentially endless resource: Jeff Bezos could Hoover up all the wealth that exists in the world, then do nothing but drink rainwater collected from the roof of his ’79 Vanagon, and it wouldn’t stop the other seven billion of us from being poor. What this metaphorical gentrification points to instead is dishonesty, carelessness and cluelessness on the part of the privileged when they clomp into unfamiliar territory. When they actually profit from their “discovery” and repackaging of other people’s lifestyles, it’s a dispiriting re-enactment of long-running inequalities. ”
 
Photo illustration by Derek Brahney

Photo illustration by Derek Brahney

Enjoy your raw water, #vanlife, and $12 congee. Full article here.

DEAN - love /  by An Huynh

Let's take a minute to appreciate DEAN's voice and outfit and just the entire aesthetic of this video. 

Korean R&B singer DEAN delivers a blisteringly soulful and smooth performance of "love", his jazzy collaboration with The Internet's Syd. Follow DEAN: IG: bit.ly/2uqneXa Spotify: spoti.fi/2uqwCKL Headphones by Aiaiai: http://bit.ly/AIAIAIheadphones - Follow COLORS: ▶ Youtube: http://bit.ly/colorsxsubscribe ▶ Facebook: https://facebook.com/colorsxstudios ▶ Instagram: https://instagr.am/colorsxstudios ▶ Twitter: https://twitter.com/colorsxstudios

hyperurban /  by An Huynh

We're starting to plan our trip to East Asia for later this year, and these photos from Michael Wolf didn't help in curbing my excitement. I realized last year that even though the respite in nature and slowing down is always a good thing, I crave city life. After a while away on the road or in the mountains, I start to miss the shuffle and pace of life. That is why this year we decided to go to some of the most urbanized places we could think of: Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Seoul. I am ready for the density, food, and public transportation. 

Check out these photo studies from Michael Wolf. I like how his photos illustrate the size and density of hyper urban places while also being able to hone in on the experience of individuals. His photos are at times overwhelming, at times quirky, and I love them! My favorite studies are architecture of density, 100 x 100, and hong kong break.

http://photomichaelwolf.com/#architecture-of-densitiy/1

Home /  by An Huynh

Starting the year off with a little ode to my comfy place. 

Tai Tung: a reclamation of "Chop suey" /  by An Huynh

Today was a good day. It was a good day because after a year and a half of planning, Tai Tung finally got its sign. The two-sided neon blade sign is an almost exact replica of the original neon sign that once marked the entrance to the restaurant.

Tai Tung opened in 1935 and is the oldest operating Chinese restaurant in Seattle. It has remained a community anchor for this neighborhood ever since. The restaurant is owned by the Quan family and over the years has been passed down from father to son. Third-generation family members Harry Chan (pictured below) and Tommy Quan run the restaurant now, with many family members from the fourth generation helping out.

A black and white photograph of the original neon blade sign was used as inspiration for the modern replica. 

A black and white photograph of the original neon blade sign was used as inspiration for the modern replica. 

Harry has worked at the restaurant since 1968, and I met him in the summer of 2016 when I first started working at SCIDpda. One of the first projects I worked on was to coordinate the design and installation of this sign for Tai Tung. I still can't believe it's up now. I've been staring at renderings of this thing for so long that it feels surreal seeing it installed and lit up with my own eyes. 

An almost exact replica of the sign was installed today, December 11, 2017. Fuck yeah.

An almost exact replica of the sign was installed today, December 11, 2017. Fuck yeah.

Tai Tung hasn't changed much since it opened in 1935. From the bar, you can see handwritten menu items taped to the mirror. 

Tai Tung hasn't changed much since it opened in 1935. From the bar, you can see handwritten menu items taped to the mirror. 

This sign means a lot to me for many reasons. Seeing Tai Tung thrive reminds me of the importance of a community-oriented businesses and supporting small, immigrant-owned businesses in the CID and elsewhere. The sign reminds me that immigrant communities have faced many waves of xenophobic legislation designed to keep us away, confined, or out of the U.S. altogether. Despite these racist laws, immigrants and refugees have been able to start businesses, begin new lives, build communities, and create spaces for ourselves like the Chinatown International District.

This sign reminds me that context and ownership matters. One usage of "chop suey" can be very different from the next, depending on who is using it and for what reason. The fact that the sign says "chop suey" today is an act of taking back a term that was turned on its head by racists and xenophobes to fuel anti-Chinese sentiment and legislation. Tai Tung has been serving chop suey - a Chinese American dish born in San Francisco during the California gold rush - since the day it opened. And although chop suey began as a dish in the United States, it grew to name an entire Chinese American cuisine that was known for using what was found and using everything you have. The term in question was not denigrated at the beginning, and this was an opportunity for Tai Tung to begin to reclaim the term. 

Me and Harry Chan, the owner of Tai Tung, standing next to the sign before it was installed. I am holding a to-go box filled with chop suey.

Me and Harry Chan, the owner of Tai Tung, standing next to the sign before it was installed. I am holding a to-go box filled with chop suey.

All in all, this has been one whopper of a project to coordinate. I will be taking its lessons with me for many more projects to come. Thank you to everyone that helped us on this project. It truly took a village and I am forever grateful for this community's resilience, spirit, and support. 

BTS mania /  by An Huynh

I am so so late to the BTS fandom, but at last, here I am. These guys made a splash in the U.S. when they beat out some big names in Western pop music for the Top Social Artist award at the Billboard Music Awards this May. A Kpop group beating out people like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Selena Gomez? This was huge news, and some folks couldn't handle.  

I wasn't surprised to hear about the blatant racism and hate, but it was still sad to read about. It didn't seem to bother BTS though, because a few months later they came back and KILLED IT as the first Kpop group to perform at the American Music Awards. Are you crying yet? Because I am.

Something is happening in pop music, whether we like it or not. Granted, international collaborations have been happening for a while now, but lately it's been happening on much more of a mainstream level. BTS alone has already collaborated with Wale, The Chainsmokers, and Steve Aoki. What's to come?! Whatever it is, I can't wait :D :D :D.

Cover-worthy /  by An Huynh

With all that's going on, these two magazine covers make me so fucking happy. They aren't the first in history to stand up against injustice. Nor are they the first to push through an industry, a world that's not made for them. But for me, these are the people in my lifetime that are making noise for all the right reasons, and that's what keeps me going.

Colin Kaepernick - 1217 Cover3.jpg
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Crazy Rich Asians stars featured on Entertainment Weekly's cover. THE FIRST ALL-ASIAN COVER OF ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY EVER. Seriously.