On Telling a Complex Story

In October 2024, Asian Arts Initiative announced the Fred Ho Fellowship named for the late artist Fred Ho (b.1957, d.2014), who would also be the subject of our Spring 2025 Exhibition. The fellowship was established in honor of an artist who incorporated social activism into his artistic practice. Shortly after our fellowship was announced, we received a phone call from an anonymous person who pointed us in the direction of an article written against a Chinese American saxophonist/activist for sexual abuse. The article, published on the Asian American Writers Workshop website in 2021, details the sexual assault and harassment of the author by an artist and activist, with whom she both collaborated with and dated for a brief time, but chose not to name.

Upon learning of this article, nearly one full year into our research, we immediately notified our staff to discuss how to move forward. We acknowledged our shock, and after careful reflection, we committed to moving forward in a way that was survivor centered and trauma informed. We chose to expand the focus of our exhibition, shifting away from any “hero” narrative, and instead celebrating the broader field of activism and art we intended to highlight. We decided to continue honoring the work of the Afro Asian Music Ensemble, which Fred Ho created and led, as it was a collaborative effort involving many community members who were unaware of the article's contents. In November 2024, we relaunched the fellowship as the Artist/Activist Fellowship and the exhibition was expanded to recognize the field of musicians working at the intersection of activism/art between 1981-1999, an era of tremendous growth in Asian American organizing. This decision underscored that the ideas and movements we are celebrating were never the work of one individual. Thanks to the anonymous caller, we were given the opportunity to correct the simplicity of our storytelling, in favor of a nuanced story– one that uplifts the diverse coalitions needed in community activism and celebrates the collaborative nature of creative work.

Alongside our expanded exhibition, we will host well-being workshops with Mango Tree Counseling and the Bartol Foundation, two local organizations focused on survivor-centered and trauma-informed practices, to facilitate conversations around survivor's experiences in gender-based violence and abusive power. Additionally, AAI docents will also receive training on providing resources for individuals facing gender-based violence.

These conversations have been challenging, but we are proud of our staff for navigating these difficult discussions with care and thoughtfulness. We are committed to examining complex legacies, and the process has strengthened our values and commitment to healing and community-building through art. We are honored to present this exhibition and invite you to join us in reflecting on this layered, complex story.

- Programs Team at Asian Arts Initiative