Silk Road to San Francisco: FREE guided art workshop series and exhibition celebrating the diverse intersection of Asian American/ Pacific Islander im(migration) stories

Press Release for a collaborative project I'm excited to be working on

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Today I wanted to share with you a press release I wrote for a collaborative project that I’m honored to be working on with Badri Valian, a social practitioner and multidisciplinary artist that I met last fall and have really enjoyed developing creative ideas with.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

San Francisco, CA

Local interdisciplinary social practice artist Badri Valian will host three free workshops and an art exhibition on the theme of “Silk Road to San Francisco” as part of the 27th Annual United States of Asian American Festival (USAAF) hosted by The Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center of San Francisco. This multicultural event invites participants from diverse backgrounds to engage in a guided exploration of the relationship of their contemporary (im)migration stories to the traditional history of the Silk Road, a vital ancient cultural trade route connecting East to West.

The workshops, co-facilitated with craft-as-therapy artist-writer-researcher Kathryn Vercillo, will include storytelling, mapmaking, textile art, and shared cultural foods. These creative activities connect individuals to what "Be(long)ing Here,” (which is this year’s festival theme) means to them, celebrating the resilience of these rich histories that have intersected here in the Bay Area.

Following the workshops is a one-day exhibition, uniting participants from all sessions with the public, showcasing their art and stories, fostering cultural exchange, and cultivating connections across Asian-American communities. By emphasizing the complexities of Asian-American journeys to find a sense of "Be(long)ing Here," it also raises critical awareness for American-born residents in order to increase understanding of the multifaceted journeys and stories of San Francisco’s Asian-American and Pacific Islander community.

Key Dates

• Workshop, Saturday, May 4th, 12 noon - 3 pm at ARTogether in Oakland (Free with RSVP)

• Workshop, Friday May 10th 6pm - 9 pm at Chinese Culture Center, Kearney Street, San Francisco (Free with RSVP)

• Workshop, 3rd weekend in May, location and date TBA

• Public art exhibit location and date TBA (last weekend of May)

Workshop space is limited but there are still a few openings to join in. Workshops are free and no previous art experience is required. Each participant only needs to attend one of the available workshops. Preference is given to people who identify as part of the AAPI community; however all are welcome. For more information visit this page.

Follow the project on Instagram: #silkroadtosanfrancisco

Producing Artist Bio: Badri Valian

Badri Valian (she/they) is a social practice artist who facilitates participatory workshops exploring themes of identity, displacement, trauma, and resilience. Born and raised in the mountainous central region of Iran, where the historic Silk Road intersected, her childhood was profoundly influenced by the interconnectedness of East and West. badrivalian.com, IG: @badrivalian 

Participating Artist Bio: Kathryn Vercillo

Assistant facilitator Kathryn Vercillo is a San Francisco writer/artist who researches the complex relationship between art and mental health. She holds a Masters Degree in Psychological Studies from California Institute of Integral Studies and has 10+ years experience leading workshops in trauma-informed craft as therapy. Note: she is not a licensed therapist and doesn’t perform therapy. She approaches this work from lived experience and ongoing education. https://createmefree.substack.com, IG: @createmefree