Reflections on a Summer of Healing and Creativity: My Dancing With Peace Residency in San Francisco

Here I am on the steps of the Dancing with Peace Residency House

This summer, I had the immense privilege of immersing myself in my art during the Build Up's Dancing With Peace residency in the vibrant city of San Francisco and the Bay Area. The residency was an opportunity for me to delve deeper into my 1975: A Vietnamese Diaspora Healing Memorial Project, a personal and communal exploration of the Vietnamese diaspora experience following the events of 1975. In addition, I was seeking feedback from a variety of mentors and colleagues as well as funding to ensure the project's vision.

During the residency, I found myself living in a beautiful home on Potrero Hill in a city surrounded by a community of artists, healers, and do-ers, each contributing their unique perspectives and talents to the collective ecosystem of creativity and support. This environment was crucial in facilitating my exploration of the themes central to my project—identity, memory, and healing.

In California, I also had the invaluable opportunity to visit Orange County in Southern California, a hub of the Vietnamese diaspora community. While there, I delved deep into research on the Vietnamese memorials within the community, seeking to understand how they honor and preserve their history and experiences. My approach was hands-on and immersive—I engaged in conversations with local community members, visited memorials and monuments firsthand, and partook in shared experiences that allowed me to connect with the community on a personal level. These interactions gave me a profound insight into the myriad ways in which the events of 1975 continue to profoundly shape the lives of Vietnamese people and their descendants. This research was a crucial element in my project, as it ensured that my work accurately reflected the lived experiences of the Vietnamese diaspora, and that it resonated with those whose stories I aim to share.

The hills of San Francisco

In addition to community engagement, the residency provided me with the time and space to experiment with new artistic techniques and mediums. I found myself inspired by the city’s and West Coast arts scene overall, drawing on its energy to push the boundaries of my work. The result was a series of pieces that are both deeply personal and universally resonant, capturing the complexities of the Vietnamese diaspora experience.

The Vietnamese Boat People Memorial in Orange County, LA.

Looking back on my time in San Francisco, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to have been part of the Dancing With Peace residency home filled with an abundance of artistry and energies. It was a time of growth, both as an artist and as an individual, and I am excited to continue building on the work I began this summer. The 1975: A Vietnamese Diaspora Healing Memorial Project is, at its core, a testament to the resilience and strength of the Vietnamese people. It is my hope that it will serve as a source of healing and reflection for those who engage with it, contributing to a broader understanding of the Vietnamese diaspora experience and the complex interplay between history, identity, and memory.

My favorite space inside the residency house