Asian Arts Initiative presents its Spring Exhibition, Crescendo: How Art Makes Movements (1981-1999)

Crescendo: How Art Makes Movements (1981-1999) will be on view at Asian Arts Initiative (AAI) from March 1 – June 28, 2025. Crescendo: How Art Makes Movements 1981-1999 is a historical survey of multidisciplinary art projects created between 1981 and 1999, intersecting with Asian American social movements. Largely inspired by Jazz and improvised music that were central to the Black Arts Movement, the artists featured in the exhibition used music as a vehicle to build solidarity beyond races and ethnicities. Crescendo, the exhibition’s title, is used as a metaphor to capture a growing socio-political activism during this time that coincided with an artistic and cultural renaissance within the Asian American community that has been reflected in major achievements in music, poetry, dance, theater, and opera through collaborations.
This Multimedia exhibition is divided into three sections that trace different collective projects: Asian Improv aRts/Records, The Afro Asian Music Ensemble, and The East Side Band. The Main Gallery space will provide a wide range of archives including memorabilia, personal ephemera, video/audio documentations, and publications that illustrate collaborative explorations specifically intended to redefine the presence of Asian American and broaden their aesthetic horizon beyond the politics of representation. The parallel Storefront Gallery showcases a library where viewers are encouraged to browse and engage. The curated selection includes catalogs, artist monographs, interview scripts, and related scholarly texts–some of them are written by the participating artists of Crescendo. It will provide deeper historical context and understanding of the archives and artworks on display, inviting them to explore further beyond.
Designed by Artist Stephanie Lee, the bookshelf is composed of four modular segments that can be easily interchanged and reconfigured to fit different event needs, is designed specifically for this exhibition to create an interactive experience for visitors and inspired by the logo and purple color from Asian Improv Records/aRts. Alongside the books, Asian Arts Initiative is presenting two artistic projects by Philadelphia-based artists. The first is a collaboration piece between Theodore Harris and Amiri Baraka, proclaimed leader of the Black Arts Movement. Amiri Baraka responds to Theodore Harris’ collage pieces in poetry. Together, they examine the politics of Black aesthetics. On the other side, there are five sets of Annotated Readers (2021) by FORTUNE, an artist collective consisting of Andra Palchick, Heidi Ratanavanich, and Connie Yu. Focusing on specific themes including queer movements, affordable housing, and civil rights, the work comprises a collection of queer Asian archival materials from 1971-2003 with annotations added by writers from the community.
Through the lens of the exhibition, AAI will continue to invite diverse voices to come together to reflect on the dynamic connection between culture and politics in imagining our collective future. The Opening Reception and Concert on February 28, 2025 from 6pm – 8pm, features Multidisciplinary Artist Salim Washington. Well known as a Jazz Musician, political activist, and community leader, Washington will present an evening of music, poetry, and a panel on his experiences in both political activism and the arts. Salim’s insights will serve as a catalyst for dialogue, reconnecting with local Philadelphia musicians and community members to reflect on and discuss the ways in which art and activism intersect in the contemporary context. Please plan to join us for The Opening Reception of Crescendo: How Art Makes Movements 1981-1999 and additional exhibition programming through June.