Lanterns represent light and guide the way forward, illuminating surrounding darkness.  From the humble beginnings as a candle flame surrounded by bamboo, silk or paper, the lantern has become an integral part of celebrations that foster hope and pave the way to a brighter future.

Lantern Stories celebrates Boston Chinatown’s vibrant community. Thirty lanterns were created for this public art installation to illuminate the district’s history of immigration, its culture and resiliency. The images on the lanterns relate the long and fraught history of Chinese immigration in the United States. From early arrivals during the California Goldrush in the 1850’s to this current unprecedented moment, new immigrants and native born Asian Americans have confronted inequities on multiple levels. Other lantern images celebrate culture – art, calligraphy, music and performance, as well as the community’s strong commitment to education, entrepreneurship, and social justice. The colors used throughout are central in Asian culture: red, which symbolizes happiness and good fortune, and gold, symbolizing prosperity.

燈籠代表著光明，指引著前進的道路，照亮周圍的黑暗。從燭光被竹、絲綢或紙包圍這個微不足道的開端起，燈籠已成為慶祝活動不可或缺的一部分。這些慶祝活動寄予希望，並為更美好的未來鋪平道路。

“燈籠故事”慶祝波士頓唐人街充滿活力的社區。藝術家為該公共藝術裝置創作了30盞燈籠，以闡明該地區的移民歷史、文化和韌性。燈籠上的圖案反映了中國移民在美國漫長而艱辛的歷史。從十九世紀五十年代加州淘金熱時期的早期移民，到這個前所未有的時刻，新移民和本地出生的亞裔美國人對抗著多個層面上的不平等。其他燈籠圖案則慶祝文化-藝術、書法、音樂和表演，以及社區對教育、企業家精神和社會正義的堅定承諾。主體顏色在亞洲文化中至關重要：代表幸福和吉祥的紅色和代表繁榮的金色。

An interdisciplinary artist, Yu-Wen Wu’s work lies at the intersection of art, science and politics, encompassing many social and cultural issues. Her artworks include site-specific video installations, large scale drawings, sculpture and public art, frequently engaging the community.

Wu has worked with Boston’s Chinatown community on two previous public art projects: With/Out Water (2018) and Leavings/Belongings (2018-20). Born in Taiwan, Wu lives and works in Boston.

吳育雯是跨學科藝術家，其作品位於藝術、科學與政治的交匯處，涉及許多社會和文化問題。她的作品包括特定地點的視頻裝置、大型繪畫、雕塑和公共藝術，經常吸引社區的參與。吳此前與波士頓唐人街社區合作，創作了兩個公共藝術項目：With/Out Water（2018年）和Leavings/Belongings（2018-20年）。吳出生於台灣，在波士頓生活和工作。

Yu-Wen Wu was selected through an open Request For Qualifications issued by the Greenway Conservancy, and chosen by a community jury of Chinatown residents and leaders that include the Josiah Quincy Elementary School, Pao Arts Center / Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Coalition, AVOYCE / Asian Community Development Corporation, Chinatown Main Street, City of Boston Arts Commission, and the Greenway Public Art Advisory Group. Throughout 2020, Yu-Wen Wu and the Greenway Conservancy collaborated with Jaywalk Studio to design, build, and install Lantern Stories.

Thank you to those who joined our October 29, 2020 live virtual event, Lighting the Way: Exploring ‘Lantern Stories’ in Boston’s Chinatown, featuring a conversation between Artist Yu-Wen Wu and Greenway Conservancy Director and Curator of Public Art, Lucas Cowan. Lantern Stories consists of 31 lanterns suspended over the central plaza of Chin Park that portray Chinatown’s history of immigration, culture, and resiliency. Focusing on each individual lantern created for this exhibit, the artist guided us through her vision and creative process. 

Speakers: 

• Yu-Wen Wu, Artist
• Lucas Cowan, Director and Curator of Public Art, Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy 

Thank you to those who joined our July 21, 2020 live virtual event, a conversation on Lantern Stories, the public art project for Boston’s Chinatown by artist Yu-Wen Wu. Greenway Conservancy Public Art Project Manager Sheila Novak moderated a lively conversation engaging Chinatown leaders, community members, and artist Yu-Wen Wu.

The Conservancy received a number of questions and feedback from the community during this virtual event; find a collection of these questions, with answers from our panelists on our blog.