Chinese Historical Society of America Announces the Opening of the “We Are Bruce Lee” Exhibit in February 2022

SAN FRANCISCO, August 27, 2021—The Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA) is proud to announce the return of San Francisco Chinatown’s native son with the upcoming exhibit We Are Bruce Lee: Under the Sky, One Family. In close collaboration with the Bruce Lee Foundation, top collectors of Bruce Lee memorabilia and a team of artistic innovators, this exhibition provides state-of-the-art immersive projection art environments, interactive engagement activities and showcases the vision and values of the Chinese American icon who transcended race, geography, and culture through uncanny strength and resilience. We Are Bruce Lee will make its debut in our CHSA museum space on February 5, 2022.

For San Francisco, this exhibit is a heartwarming homecoming for a legendary figure who was born in Chinatown’s own Chinese Hospital in 1940 and grew into an international superstar. Visitors of all ages will discover unique perspectives of Bruce beyond martial arts and acting—as a visionary, athlete, thinker, and unifier who fought discrimination with profound engagement with a multicultural society. They will learn about his evolution from a visionary to a pioneering entrepreneur and his immortal influence on fans and followers across generations, backgrounds, and all walks of life. Along with the generous contributions of collectors Jeffery Chinn and Perry Lee, this trove of rarely seen artifacts, historic photos, memorabilia, video, film, artwork, graphical displays, and multimedia technology, reveal Bruce’s personal philosophies on life and society—which offer relevant lessons in present day, a time that is currently fraught with xenophobia, racism, and social injustice.

As part of the exciting lead up to the February launch, CHSA will be presenting supplementary events and programs that harmonize with the We Are Bruce Lee exhibition and its contents. This September, the complementary Bruce Lee interactive mural “Under the Sky” will be completed in our museum’s Yick Gallery by Bay Area art collectives Macro Waves and Twin Walls Mural Company. This expansive art piece offers a one-of-a-kind immersive experience, utilizing artworks and custom-made animated projections by artists and creators from different cultural communities, along with a custom soundscape and playlist created by local African American musicians Mike Dinkins and De’Ahna Turner.

In conjunction, on September 4, 2021, at 1pm, CHSA will be hosting an exclusive conversation with artists and muralists from Macro Waves and Twin Walls. With us, they will discuss their creative inspirations; their creative journeys as artists of color; and their artistic interpretations of Bruce Lee. CHSA welcomes this introspective opportunity to explore creativity, culture, and community through the lenses of these empowering local artists.

Also, on September 15, 2021, CHSA is delighted to be a part of a San Francisco Giants tradition, as a co-sponsor of the team’s popular Bruce Lee Tribute Night—a celebration of Bruce and recognition of his vast contributions to martial arts and pop culture. Special Event ticket include an exclusive Giants-themed Bruce Lee Tribute FigPin, signed by Shannon Lee and access to an exclusive pregame Q&A with Shannon as she discusses all things Bruce Lee, the Bruce Lee Foundation, and the many upcoming projects the family and organization have lined up for 2021 and beyond.

Lastly, throughout our journey that culminates with this historic February exhibition, CHSA and the We Are Bruce Lee team will be sharing updates and content through our social media channels and communications platforms. Please stay connected for more information surrounding this momentous exhibition and surrounding programming. Special thanks to the generosity of our donors, including Grants for the Arts, the San Francisco Arts Commission, the Rose Pak Community Fund, the Red Husky Foundation, Ken Hao, the Lui Foundation, the Robert Joseph Louie Memorial Fund, Jerry and Charlene Lee, and Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang.

The Chinese Historical Society of America in San Francisco is the oldest organization in the country dedicated to the presentation of Chinese American history. Since 1963, CHSA has strived to be a responsible steward of the remarkable narrative of the Chinese American community through education, programming. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and at chsa.org.

The Bruce Lee Foundation was founded in 2002 by Linda Lee Cadwell and Shannon Lee, with a vision to share the art and philosophy of Bruce Lee with the world for generations to come. Today, the vision has grown to actively inspire confidence, motivate action, bridge cultures and champion humanity. We believe that the life of Bruce Lee and the actions of the Bruce Lee Foundation can ignite positivity in the world and inspire people to embrace their uniqueness, discover their limitless potential and help one another thrive.

Macro Waves is an Oakland-based art collective and creative studio composed of multidisciplinary artists and designers of color who specialize in immersive experiences through conceptual art, new media, and design. It engages in collaboration, skill sharing, and affordable services with a social justice design approach to strengthen and support underrepresented creatives working with technology.

Twin Walls Mural Company was founded in 2013 by San Francisco natives Elaine Chu and Marina Perez-Wong, who met at the School of the Arts in 1997. They began painting murals with Precita Eyes Muralists Association under the guidance of Susan Cervantes. Since forming Twin Walls, Chu and Perez-Wong have designed and painted over 30 murals in the Bay Area and New York City.

Download the press release here.

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