Poster House New York began an artist-in-residence program to support the development of contemporary practice and production. The residency was born out of its relationship with Welcome to Chinatown and Grace Young, which started in 2019 during the pandemic and has grown into a strong and enduring partnership. “The program selects one artist from a nomination-based application process and invites them to develop a poster campaign that serves the Chinatown community,” says Salvador Muñoz, director of public programs. Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya was the inaugural artist-in-residence, and Christina C. Young is the second to participate in the program.
I spoke to Young about the goal and outcome of this special relationship with New York’s only poster museum.
How did you become the second Poster House artist-in-residence?
Salvador reached out to me in June 2024, letting me know I was one of five artists nominated by Welcome to Chinatown and Grace Young to apply for Poster House’s artist-in-residence program. The application consisted of two short essays explaining my campaign concept and my involvement in the community, as well as a portfolio of past work. I wrote about my idea for a poster highlighting the many small businesses in Chinatown and a series of itineraries for people to follow that would encourage them to explore and support this vibrant neighborhood. I also talked about being a small business owner myself and how I’ve used my brand to create events and opportunities for other small businesses in the Chinatown community. By the end of the month, I heard back with the offer for the role and began working on my project, Let’s Make Memories in Chinatown.
What was the basic inspiration for your posters?
The inspiration came from my memories of visiting Chinatown, watching it evolve, and wanting to encourage others to reminisce, explore and rediscover Chinatown in this post-pandemic era. The businesses included in the poster consist of my own personal favorites as well as results from a survey I conducted asking Chinatown locals their go-to places to eat, drink, shop and hang out in Chinatown.
Has the community become more or less tight-knit over the years?
It’s amazing to see the community grow stronger and more tight-knit, especially in the last few years following the pandemic. We saw organizations like Welcome to Chinatown, Send Chinatown Love, Think!Chinatown and so many others bring people together from all over to help support NYC’s Chinatown.
Do you believe, as I do, that the posters serve as a magnet for the community?
I believe the posters have brought more people together in support of our Chinatown community, sharing their appreciation for the hardworking small business owners who keep our neighborhood alive and running. They serve as a reminder of how special our community is and how there is so much to experience here in Chinatown, whether you’ve lived here your whole life or are a first-time visitor.
How have the posters been received?
The posters have been received with lots of excitement! In addition to the poster we also did a walking tour with Mott Street Girls, which was a big hit, and we’re working on bringing it back in the spring. I also organized a scavenger hunt that gave collectible badges to eight of the locations featured in the poster, and encouraged people to really explore Chinatown and interact with and support the businesses. The locations ran out of badges very quickly as people rushed to participate.
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