Through my piece, Tseng Kwong Chi, 'San Francisco, California,' 1979, I explore the Chinese-American experience in relation to locations of Providence’s forgotten Chinatowns. 

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          The title references Chi’s photo series, East Meets West, where he explores his relationship as a gay Chinese man with his American surroundings, and showcases the ways clothing can become a symbol for identity. 

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          By reusing Chi's title, I link San Francisco to Providence and highlight the beginning and end of Harp Lee’s journey. Lee is the Chinese-American immigrant who invented the laundry business, creating a new industry because he would not settle for the working conditions under racist white employers. Circles and knots in the garment utilize these references to visually and conceptually connect important Chinese-American moments, recontextualizing Providence's predominantly white landscape through Chinese-American history.