The gentrification strips away some of Chinatown’s very original work. For example, the “Wall of Respect for Chinese Workers” was a mural painted in 1978 to help curb gang violence in Chinatown. However, it was torn down in 2006 as the old theater it was painted on was demolished for new buildings along Bowery Street. This particular mural was the last of six art projects constructed against violence in Chinatown.
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Street art is extremely popular within Chinatown and located on Mulberry Street near Little Italy is a mural of a four-story tall green baby. The name of this green being is Temper Tot. It was created by Ron English, a local street artist, in 2012 for the New York Comedy Festival. Ron English is an American contemporary artist famous for using superheroes and prominent figures and mashing them up with a pop art style.
Through the recent years of gentrification, the topic portrayed in street art has changed as well. It now incorporates more American mainstream themes, as with the example of comic book hero Temper Tot, instead of the traditional Chinese styled ones like the use of dragons.
Located in Sara D. Roosevelt Park on Chrystie Street is a dragon made up of recycled paper, bags and bottles. Hester Street Collaborative worked with the YMCA and students from M.S. 131, totaling 150 students, to weave together this dragon to celebrate the Year of the Dragon for Lunar New Year in 2012.
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As a positive effect of gentrification, many new buildings and museums have been built to help appreciate Chinese culture in Chinatown. It traces the history of Chinese immigrants into America. One of which is the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA). It was founded in 1980 and used to be located on 211 Centre Street. However, after being expanded and renovated, it moved 215 Centre Street. This is one of the more renowned museums among the few that Chinatown has to offer.
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The Asian American Arts Centre is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and preserve the “creative vitality of Asian American cultural growth through the arts” and its “historical and aesthetic linkage to other communities.” Many of the exhibitions are inspired by filial familial roles, community cooperation, tradition and folklore, which are the backbone of Asian culture.
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