Presented in partnership with the Mott Street Girls and Asian American Arts Alliance, DRAWN TOGETHER: STORIES OF RESILIENCE AND RENEWAL IN NYC CHINATOWN by graphic designer and illustrator Sammy Yuen is an array of exquisitely detailed line drawings depicting historic New York City Chinatown businesses, landmarks, and community organizations.
These neighborhood fixtures, from the oldest (Transfiguration Church, first established in 1801) to the newest (Yu & Me Books, opened in 2021), run parallel to the history of Manhattan’s Chinatown — from its establishment in the 1870s as Chinese immigrants, facing discrimination elsewhere, clustered on a handful of streets, to rising in a world redefined by a pandemic and renewed economic hardship, xenophobia, racism, and violence.
To Mr. Yuen, the name “Drawn Together” has great significance. “Although these are my pieces, I couldn’t have done the show without the Mott Street Girls, Asian American Arts Alliance, and Pearl River Mart,” he said. “It’s really about all of us working together to heal and make a brighter future.”
“This exhibit exceeded our expectations, especially our collaboration with Pearl River Mart,” said cofounder of Mott Street Girls, Anna Huang. “[Cofounder] Chloe [Chan] and I are super excited to join forces with Sammy to help the Chinatown community in a different way.”
“We’ve long admired the Mott Street Girls and the work they do to support, grow, and energize Chinatown,” said Pearl River Mart President, Joanne Kwong. “So when they approached us with this exhibition idea, and we recognized Sammy’s beautiful illustrations of some of our favorite Chinatown businesses, it seemed like the perfect fit. It’s also a wonderful way to give back to the community, especially during the upcoming holiday season.”
A portion of the proceeds from this exhibition goes back to these Chinatown businesses and to the Chinatown Mural Project, a not-for-profit dedicated to bringing culturally appropriate large-scale murals to the NYC Chinatown area and beyond.
“Drawn Together” is on view in the Pearl River Mart Gallery through Dec. 28.
Sammy Yuen is an artist, illustrator, designer, writer, and self-defense instructor, who has recently merged his personal and professional lives to empower the AAPI community. With over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, he creates book covers (including over 35 New York Times bestsellers), marketing and advertising material, animated videos, and social media assets. He is currently developing a bilingual board book series. A lifelong martial artist, he teaches self-defense classes all over New York City, from Flushing Queens to Washington Heights in Manhattan.
Anna Huang and Chloe Chan founded Mott Street Girls to make Chinese American history and culture more accessible to the public. They do so by hosting Chinatown walking tours, creating educational social medial content, and partnering with community organizations.
Celebrating its 51st anniversary, Pearl River Mart was founded as a “friendship store” in 1971. The iconic Asian emporium has locations in New York City’s SoHo district, the esteemed Museum of Chinese in America, and the popular Chelsea Market with both a retail outlet and Pearl River Mart Foods. From home furnishings to fashion to snacks and everything in between, the store features one-of-a-kind items imported from Asia, as well as innovative merchandise designed and created by Asian Americans. A beloved destination for people from all over the globe, Pearl River has become symbolic of the uniqueness, authenticity, and multiculturalism of New York City.