Narciso Bulosan Caliva’s Postcards from Salinas

Where: Art & Culture Gallery at the National Steinbeck Center, #1 Main St., Salinas, CA

When: Open Oct. 1 to Nov. 30, 11:00 to 5:00 daily.

Reception: Tues., Oct. 2, Art & Culture gallery (inside the Steinbeck exhibit hall), 5:30 pm; join us for discussion and food (including lumpia!).

Asian Cultural Experience (ACE), the National Steinbeck Center (NSC), and the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) of the Monterey Bay Area are pleased to sponsor an exhibit, “Narciso Bulosan Caliva’s Postcards from Salinas.” Filipino American historian Alex Fabros is the curator of the exhibit, which will be open from Oct. 1, through Nov. 30, 2018 in the “Art & Cultural Gallery” of the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. The opening reception will take place at 5:30, Oct. 2, in the National Steinbeck Center Bookshop. Join us for discussion and food with Alex Fabros and ACE members.

Narciso Bulosan Caliva & Friends — Narcisco Bulosan Caliva & Friends outside his photo studio in Salinas Chinatown. Caliva family collection. 1930s.

This exhibit will feature historic photo postcards produced in the Caliva Photography Studio in Salinas, Chinatown during the 1930s and 1940s. Filipinos and their families, along with other residents of Chinatown, came to Caliva’s studio to be photographed and have their images reproduced on postcards they could mail to family and friends. Also featured will be commentary on the history of Filipinos in the Salinas Valley. Some of the people in the photos have not been identified; for the historical record, we encourage the public to visit our exhibit and help us name these people.

Last month, ACE members with Alex Fabros met at the National Steinbeck Center to select photos to use for the exhibit. Photo by Cathy Chavez-Miller.

For more information, contact:

Jean Vengua, okir2k@gmail.com, (831) 234-8799

Cathy Chavez-Miller, meankitty132@gmail.com, (831) 809-8310

Larry Hirahara, seedyguy@aol.com, (408) 968-9081