We moved in to our new office/gallery space at Moon Gate Plaza! There will be a few more moving days. Thanks to Union Bank (Prunedale) for the furniture donation! And thanks to all who came to help out, including Michael Miller who is not in these pics. Shown in the photos below: Cathy Chavez-Miller, Larry Hirahara, Jason Galinato Agapaoa, Henry Gong, Charlotte Hirahara, and Larry White. Photos: Jean Vengua
There’s still a lot of work to do, and we’ll be calling on volunteers to help out. More recently, we held our first programming meeting. Coming up on July 28/29 is our Virtual Asian Festival. Among other things, we’ll be serving up sweet & sour chicken, Republic Cafe style, lumpia, teriyaki kabobs, rice, and more for take-out. Check out our ACE Facebook page for updates.
ACE will also resume our pop-up exhibits this year. We’re looking forward to meeting you and sharing stories of Chinatown.
ACE members check out the old ACE banner.
ACE members temporarily hang up the “new” ACE banner.
ACE is looking forward to Spring (or early Summer) when we will be occupying our new office/exhibit/gallery/library/meeting space in Suite A on the corner of Soledad and Lake Sts. (Moon Gate Plaza) in Salinas Chinatown! We can’t wait to start new projects. Exhibits? Workshops and classes? Art? Movement? Discussion groups? Films and lectures? Contact us if you have ideas… We are also thinking of a sculpture or memorial to place on that empty plinth in front of our entrance.
We would love to be open during the Asian Festival (last Saturday in April), but we are not sure if the space will be ready by then. Regardless, stop by during the Festival for a look, or if open, drop in and say Hi!
The Third Annual Chinatown Block Party is coming soon, on Saturday, Nov. 9. This event celebrates the beginning of the revitalization of Chinatown, and assists people experiencing homelessness to take steps to get into housing; 30 to 40 booths from a wide variety of service organizations will distribute free, necessary items like food, warm clothing, and information on affordable housing and health care. Live music by 9-10 performers will play from a stage on the corner of Soledad & Market Way. ACE and CSUMB VPA students will have a pop-up event at the Republic Cafe on 37 Soledad St.
Food will be prepared for all at the Japanese Buddhist Temple kitchen on California St., where kids will also have their own party with Frisbee painting, jump house, crafts, and other activities. An Open House featuring the Final Draft of the Chinatown Revitalization Plan will be available for viewing on this day (for the duration of the event) at Japanese Buddhist Temple, before it is presented to City Council. You will also be able to join tours of the new Moon Gate Plaza, which is now in the final phases of completion.
There will be plenty of parking (see maps and parking info below). We look forward to seeing you there on Saturday!
Today we attended the groundbreaking ceremonies for Moon Gate Plaza, developed by MidPen Housing. This project was a long time coming, and ACE members are very happy that this day has finally arrived. As most of the speakers explained, along with MidPen, it took a community and the City of Salinas to make this all happen — a network of cooperation between individuals, organizations, and the City. We look forward to a development that will feature 90 units of affordable and transitional housing, with space for retail and services, as well as an art and events gallery and work spaces for artists.
One thing that many people may not know is that long-time resident and historian Wellington Lee came up with the name “Moon Gate Plaza.” As I sat next to Wellington in the audience, he remarked that it was both “a happy day, and a sad day.” He was very happy to see the area finally undergo development. But he was also a little sad, because the corner lot that he considers “sacred ground” will be covered over; a corner of the site was once occupied by the old joss house, mentioned by John Steinbeck in East of Eden. Nevertheless, Wellington also felt that the ancestor gods would be pleased to see what is being done with the area.
Below are some photos from the event:
Prior to the ceremonies, a partial view of the construction site. Photo: Jean Vengua.
Prior to ceremonies: the staff prepared some care packages for those who lived on the streets in Chinatown. Photo: J. Vengua.
ACE Board member Richard Villegas with Luna. Seated behind him: Wellington Lee & Jean Vengua. Photo: Cathy Chavez-Miller.
Congressman Panetta speaks. Bing Gong Tong building in background. Photo: Cathy Chavez-Miller.
Mayor Gunter and Council member De La Rosa speak. Photo: Cathy Chavez-Miller.
L to R, ACE members Larry Hirahara, Dom Siababa, and Henry Gong. Photo: Cathy Chavez-Miller.
County Supervisor Luis Alejo speaks. Photo: Cathy Chavez-Miller.
Joshua Kristianto (standing) of KION News listens attentively. He later interviewed ACE Board Member Larry Hirahara. Photo: Jean Vengua.
Elizabeth Betsy Wilson, MidPen Director of the Moon Gate Project. Photo: Jean Vengua.
Richard Villegas with ACE Co-chair Cathy Chavez-Miller, and Luna.
Mona Ortiz introduces herself to Wellington Lee (her parents used to work for his parents). Photo: Cathy Chavez-Miller.
Tents set up for the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo: Jean Vengua.
Recently, Betsy Elizabeth Wilson of MidPen informed us that MidPen is now soliciting designs for the Sun and Moon Gate gates that will eventually be placed on the two Soledad St. entrances to Moon Gate Plaza. Finalists will receive a $1000 design fee to create a proposal for the two gates. Selected artist/s will receive a $5000 commission to develop their design.
We thought you might like to take a look at the Design contest information. Here’s the link: https://www.midpen-housing.org/moon-gate-plaza-entry-gates-design-contest/ Scroll down the page and click on the Cultural Heritage Components and Building Design link for a pdf that will give you a closer look at proposed design elements for the building, including railings, mural areas, garage screens, etc. If you know anyone who would be interested in submitting a gate design for this project, please forward this information to them.
Below are a few partial screenshots from the pdf:
Moon Gate entry
Sun Gate Entry
Corner of Soledad & Lake Sts., Moon Gate Plaza, Salinas Chinatown
Moon Gate Plaza, Salinas Chinatown: Mural Panels
Moon Gate Plaza, Salinas Chinatown. Soledad St. view.
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