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From Chinatown, With Love

From Chinatown, With Love: Lunar New Year 2021

Year 1 of From Chinatown, With Love

Abrons Arts Center, the W.O.W. Project, and grassroots initiative Welcome to Chinatown came together to celebrate the Year of the Ox with the launch of the first edition of a Lunar New Year Calendar. Designed by photographer Mischelle Moy, this 12-month photo calendar featured products from 20 Chinatown businesses that evoke celebration of the new year and explore the deep meaning Manhattan’s Chinatown holds for so many in the Asian American community.  Building off of the free calendar giveaway tradition in the neighborhood, patrons who spent $20 or more at participating businesses received a free calendar. A limited run of calendars were also on sale at Wing on Wo & Co. and Abrons Arts Center. A percentage of proceeds from calendar sales were donated to the Welcome to Chinatown’s Longevity Fund, its small business relief fund supporting Chinatown’s small businesses.

Abrons艺术中心、永安和W.O.W.Project和草根组织Welcome to Chinatown为庆祝2021年农历辛丑(牛)年，将共同推出2021年日历。该日历由摄影师Mischelle Moy设计，以介绍纽约中国城的小商户和他们的产品为主要特色。来自20家纽约中国城商家的作品将唤起大家庆祝农历新年的热情，并鼓励人们探索中国城对亚裔社区的深远意义。本次活动亦会延续社区免费赠送日历的传统，参与的商家将获赠45本日历，以供商家提供给在店内消费满20美元的顾客。此外，永安和和Abrons艺术中心r也将出售少量的日历。日历销售收入的一定比例将捐给Welcome To Chinatown设立的长久金。该基金是支持纽约中国城小企业的小企业救助基金。 

2021 Year of the Metal Ox Calendar Spotlight

A person in a dark jacket holding an open colorful restaurant or food menu, pointing at an item inside.
Two people wearing masks stand inside a small shop, holding a colorful poster. The shop sells various household and toy items, with items like brooms, gardening tools, and toys visible.
A smiling woman wearing a face mask holding a picture of a meal and a calendar in a shopping cart on a city street with cars and buildings in the background.

2021 Participating Businesses

  • Bangkok Center Grocery

    104 Mosco St.

  • Bok Lei Trading

    63 Mott St.

  • Lucky King Bakery

    280 Grand St.

  • Golden Unicorn

    18 E Broadway

  • Manhattan Florist

    87B Bayard St.

  • Go Believe Bakery

    239 Grand St.

  • Mott Optical

    52 Mott St.

  • Grand Century Market Inc.

    281 Grand St.

  • New York Bo Ky

    94 Baxter St.

  • Grand Tea Imports

    298 Grand St.

  • KK Discount

    78 Mulberry St.

  • Hop Lee

    16 Mott St.

  • Po Wing Hong

    49 Elizabeth St.

  • Jungs Dried Beef

    58 Mulberry St.

  • Wing on Wo & Co.

    26 Mott St.

  • Kelly Hair Salon

    19 Pell St.

  • Ting's

    17 Pell St.

  • Oriental Culture Enterprises Co. Inc.

    13-17 Elizabeth St.

2021 FCWL Artist: Mischelle Moy

The project was very ambitious for its time: when Chinatown was still deserted and it was our second lockdown and indoor dining had been closed again. I believe it would have been quite difficult for anyone else to execute had it not been for Mei and both our hustle to coordinate, and our drive to bring awareness as well as impact to our community and beloved small businesses. That being said, my biggest takeaway is the relationships formed with these mom-and-pop shops. Listening to them be vulnerable about their situation then and compare it to how it was before brought an emotional element to this project that I tried to translate in the photos created. My goal with the photographs was to recreate and reminisce in fond memories with the items, products, and food that everyone (and I personally) would pick up or enjoy whilst in Chinatown, and show that they are all still there and need us. I love that every single aspect of creating this calendar was also local to the area. Navigating adaptable and accessible programming during the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 uprisings was challenging but also exciting and rewarding done in partnership with such a thoughtful and brilliant group. I feel a strengthened bond with the neighborhood and its community after photographing this project. From being able to speak and connect with the owners, founders, and members of the community, I now have a deeper appreciation for the neighborhood that I grew up in.

Reflections from Mischelle Moy

Colorful collection of household objects including a pink plastic stool, a wicker basket filled with bowls and kitchen items, a Chinese fan, small decorative figurines, a plastic duck, a lotus-shaped light, and various kitchen utensils and containers, set against a patterned background. 
2021 From Chinatown, With love EVENTS

On the day of the calendar promotion’s launch, The W.O.W. Project team alongside a team of lion dancers led by W.O.W. youth paraded around the neighborhood blessing each business with prosperity and good luck for the new year. The program concluded with a finale performance in front of the 26 Mott St. storefront with our confetti paper lion head celebrating the beginning of another abundant year for W.O.W. Project’s cultural organizing work. The project culminated with a free artmaking workshop hosted at Abrons Arts Center where the participating artists lead workshop participants through activities that bring the work they created for the calendar accessible to all ages.

People celebrating a cultural event on a city street during daytime, with one person wearing a traditional lion dance costume, others playing drums, and onlookers taking photos, colorful lanterns hanging overhead.
Woman wearing a face mask and casual clothes receives a lion dance mask from person in traditional costume during a festive street celebration.
Two people at a store celebrating with colorful confetti. One person in a black jacket and face mask is holding a phone, and another in a red hoodie is standing nearby. Various items are displayed on shelves behind them.
A group of people wearing red outfits celebrating a cultural event in front of a building decorated with hanging lanterns and traditional decor. Some are holding musical instruments, and a performer is dressed in a lion dance costume with a large pink and white lion head. Confetti is on the ground, and everyone is wearing face masks.