Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia
Check out local Asian American art and history exhibits
Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival Becoming Chinatown
ASIAN AVENUE - PRESIDENT’S NOTE
Annie Guo VanDan, President Asian Avenue magazine
Connect with us! hello@asianavemag.com @asianavemag
We have officially moved our office into the Social Fabric Hub, an Asian American cultural and community center, in Centennial! Come visit us and stay connected @socialfabrichub!
As we step into March, Asian Avenue magazine is proud to highlight the vibrancy of Asian arts, culture, and storytelling through the many exhibits and events taking place across Colorado. This month’s issue is filled with stories that capture the essence of our diverse experiences—both past and present— while celebrating our creative voices shaping our future.
The Colorado Dragon Film Festival, March 14-16, showcases the bold storytelling from Asian and Asian American filmmakers, bringing fresh perspectives to the screen. Meanwhile, the thought-provoking exhibits “Am I An American?” and Becoming Chinatown explore the Japanese American and Chinese American experiences, reminding us of the resilience and contributions of our communities throughout history.
From the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Angkor exhibit to the Lunar Phases: Korean Moon Jars at the Denver Art Museum and Confluence of Festivals at the Aurora History Museum, art and history intersect in powerful ways, allowing us to connect with our heritage and appreciate its evolving interpretations.
And of course, don’t forget one of the most delicious celebrations of the year—Mile High Asian Food Week (April 27 to May 3)! It is a time to indulge in the flavors that define our cultures, while supporting local Asian-owned restaurants. Whether going to a film screening, exploring an exhibit, or savoring a special meal, take a moment to appreciate all our community has to offer!
JENEVERRE SCHULTZ
ZHAO
Videographer
Web
NGUYEN
ZHANG Staff
JESSALYN LANGEVIN
on the cover
Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia exhibit opens at Denver Museum of Nature and Science, highlighting the rich history of Cambodia and its people.
Photo Credit: Jamie Pham
Asian Avenue magazine (ISSN 1932-1449) reserves all copyrights to this issue. No parts of this edition can be reproduced in any manner without written permission. The views expressed in articles are the authors’ and not necessarily those of Asian Avenue magazine
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Asian Avenue magazine is in association with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.
7 ANNOUNCEMENT: Calling all Asian American youth to submit art to the Yellow Dreams Contest
8 EVENT: Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival celebrates ten years with a fantastic lineup of films and events
10
11
BOOK PREVIEW: Learn about the New Wave Vietnamese scene of 1980s California through this book or its documentary at the film festival
EXHIBIT: “Am I An American?” exhibit explores Japanese-American resilience
12 FEATURE: Uncovering History: How Architecture Students Helped Tell Denver’s Chinatown Story
16 ART: “Confluence of Festivals” opens at Aurora History Museum
17 COVER STORY: Denver Museum of Nature & Science showcases Cambodian heritage through new exhibition 18 ART: Korean Moon Jars at Denver Art Museum 20 LEGAL COLUMN: Wills and Trusts 22 INSIDE STORY: Mile High Asian Food Week sneak peek of vendors
Yellow Dreams Art Contest Calling all Asian American youth!
The Mongolian Culture and Heritage Center of Colorado encourages young Asian Americans to embrace their identities and share their experiences growing up in Colorado’s diverse communities. In times of growing division, we continue to celebrate what brings us together—our culture, family, history, and dreams for a united future.
The Yellow Dreams Youth Art Contest invites students to express their pride, honor their heritage, and show the world how their dreams can help build a stronger, more connected community.
Theme of the Art Contest
This year’s theme is all about YOU—your dreams, your family, and your culture! Through your artwork, share the story of who you are, what inspires you, and how your heritage shapes your future.
Think about the dreams you have for yourself—what do you want to be when you grow up? How do your family, traditions, and culture influence your aspirations? Imagine your future while celebrating the values, customs, and history that make your identity unique.
Accepted Art Media
Participants may submit 2D artwork (8.5” x 11”) in the following forms: painting, colored pencil, pastel, chalk, mixed media, collage, digital drawings, etc. All artwork must be original.
Judging
A panel of AAPI artists will evaluate artwork based on the following criteria:
- Artistic Skill – Use of technique, detail, and effort appropriate for the artist’s grade level.
- Creativity & Originality – Unique perspective and imaginative approach to the theme.
- Connection to Theme – How well the artwork represents “My Future, My Dreams: An Asian American Story.”
- Personal & Cultural Expression – Storytelling and representation of heritage, family, and aspirations.
Judging Categories by Grade Level:
- Grades K-2
- Grades 3-5
- Grades 6-8
- Grades 9-12
Each grade group will be judged separately to ensure fairness.
How to Enter
Students in grades K-12 can participate by creating an original drawing or painting that represents: “My Future, My Dreams: An Asian American Story”
- Online Submission Deadline: April 1, 2025
- Submit a digital entry form and upload a clear photo of your artwork at YELLOWDREAMS (Online submission is required to enter the contest.)
- Artwork Drop-off/Mail-in Deadline: April 15, 2025
To be exhibited in the final show during Asian Heritage Month, the original artwork must be either dropped off or postmarked and mailed by this date. Both online and physical submissions are required for your entry to be complete.
Awards
All entries will be showcased during Asian Heritage Month (May 2025) to celebrate the creativity and stories of each participant.
- Grand Prize – Best of Show Award: $250 cash prize
- First Place (each grade category): $75 cash prize
- Second Place (each grade category): $50 cash prize
- Third Place (each grade category): $25 cash prize
- Best Message Award: Meininger Gift Card & gift prize
- Honorable Mention: Art supply & gift prize
Winners will be selected by a panel of AAPI artists and recognized at the final exhibition.
Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival celebrates ten years of “honoring our past to guide our future”
The 2025 Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival returns March 14-16, 2025 at the Sie FilmCenter with the best AANHPI cinema! Mark your calendar for a weekend of films, eating delicious foods, and getting new gifts and treats from the Asian Marketplace.
OPENING NIGHT FILM & RECEPTION: FRIDAY, MARCH 14
NEW WAVE
Opening Night Reception starts at 6PM Film starts at 7PM Director Elizabeth Ai will attend in-person and participate in a Q&A following the screening Year: 2024, Runtime: 88 minutes, Language: English, Vietnamese, Country, United States
Denver Film and Colorado Dragon Boat will kick off the 10th annual Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival in the Sie FilmCenter lobby on Friday, March 14. Arrive early for the Opening Night Pre-Film Reception with light bites and drinks (event is included in the Opening Night Film screening ticket).
Filmmaker Elizabeth Ai embarks on a project to tell a story of joy and youthful defiance as she explores a musical phenomenon in the 1980s known to Vietnamese American teens as new wave. As she delves into the lives of
family members and icons of the new wave scene, she uncovers much more than just music and fashion. In the heart of Orange County, California, this counterculture movement takes the youth by storm, becoming a sanctuary for rebellious teens. The fun Euro-synth dance beats and punk/goth aesthetics mask deep traumas—broken dreams and unfulfilled expectations that have shaped her community.
The joyful memories of her uncles and aunts sneaking out to this underground scene clash with her own painful child-
hood, haunted by her mother’s abandonment. As the filmmaker digs deeper, the excavation becomes an emotional journey, unraveling mysteries that touch on cultural identity, generational trauma, and the Vietnam War’s lasting impact. The exploration transforms from a love letter to her community into a cathartic process for the filmmaker. By confronting these buried emotions, the film takes us on a soulful journey that binds wounds, celebrates resilience, and offers new beginnings.
2025 Colorado Dragon Boat All Access Pass Denver Film Members - $75 | Non-Members - $85 | www.cdfilm.org Access to all screenings, opening night reception, closing night reception, community conversations, and special events! Access to the Culinary Experience with Denver’s top AAPIs restaurants Member pricing on bar and concessions items, complimentary select drinks at the bar *Please note, you must use your pass to reserve an individual ticket to all desired events.
RECEPTION: SATURDAY, MARCH 15
CENTERPIECE: FLY ME TO THE MOON Begins at 7pm
Stay for a conversation and some lite bites after the film! Your ticket to Fly Me to the Moon includes a post-film reception. Centerpiece Reception sponsored by The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco will take place in the lobby after the film.
Eight-year-old Yuen moves from Hunan to Hong Kong with her mother to reunite with her father. Everything in the city is dazzling and new to her. However, the family faces poverty and a cultural barrier. Worse still, the father has a drug habit and has a difficult
relationship with the family. This certainly is not the dream home Yuen has been looking forward to. All she wants is that her younger sister could reunite with them as soon as possible.
Out of fear, the sisters try to appease their father in their younger years. As soon as they reach adolescence, they start to resist and escape from him. However, even after they grow up and move away from him, Yuen realizes all the people she loves and treasures resemble her father in her childhood memories.
Year: 2024, Runtime: 111 minutes
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin, Hunan Dialect, Japanese, Country: Hong Kong
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS & CULINARY EXPERIENCES
Community Conversations are free and open to the public (with a suggested donation) that will showcase a reenactment of Heart Mountain on Saturday and intergenerational insights and lessons on Sunday.
Experience the power of storytelling at the Local Short Film Showcase, featuring short films and documentaries from talented filmmakers across Colorado and the USA.
Enjoy the Asian Marketplace on Saturday from 11am to 7pm in the Sie FilmCenter Lobby. Featuring hand-
crafted chocolate, ceramics, art prints, desserts and more! Stop by to support local businesses, grab a bite, and catch a movie. Participating Vendors include: Colorado Cocoa Pod, Sweet Rice Flour, Koco Food Truck, Hkcoshop, Jini Kimchis Art, Kap Kap Co, Soap Charmers, Akemi Tsutsui-Kunitake Art, SASS Jewelry, Wandering Maven.
In partnership with Mile High Asian Food Week, a culinary event will take place on Sunday from 11am to noon, that features culinary tastings from over a dozen of Denver’s top AANHPI’s
chefs, restaurants, and food trucks! These will include: Kokoro, RiceBoxx Denver, Sweet Rice Flour, Die Die Must Try, Kids Table, Rocky Mountain Momo, Pho King Rapidos, and Spice Room. Additional movies and events will take place throughout the weekend. Check out the schedule and get tickets or passes at: cdfilm.org,
CLOSING NIGHT FILM & RECEPTION: SUNDAY, MARCH 16
TINĀ
Closing Night Film: 6:15PM, Closing Night Reception: Following Film
Celebrate the 10th Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival with the Closing Film TINĀ. Join us after the film for a post-reception with food provided by No Ke Aloha. Closing Night Reception starts after the film in the Sie FilmCenter Lobby.
Tinā is an inspiring drama, a light-hearted rhythmic tear-jerker, and the story of Samoan teacher Mareta Percival. Struggling after the death
of her daughter in the Christchurch earthquakes, Mareta reluctantly takes on the role of substitute teacher at an elite, wealthy private school and is surprised to find children crying out for guidance, inspiration, and love.
Using the symphony of her culture to empower her students, she forms a choir, bringing them together while unexpectedly rediscovering her passion again for being a teacher and mother.
Year: 2025, Runtime: 124 minutes
Language: English, Samoan Country: New Zealand
Read the book or watch the documentary:
New Wave: Rebellion and Reinvention in the Vietnamese Diaspora
By Elizabeth Ai with essays by Thuy Dinh, Thur Vo Dang, Thao Ha, Lan Duong, Eric Nguyen, Carolyn Huynh, Julia Huynh, Thuy Tran, Paul Quoc, and Trace Le
New Wave: Rebellion and Reinvention in the Vietnamese
Diaspora is a story of joy and youthful defiance, showing how young Vietnamese refugees reinvented themselves in the West through music, fashion, and community.
Mile-high hair. Synthesized sounds. Teenage rebellion. As Vietnamese refugees began new lives in the West in the wake of the US/Vietnam war, a generation of youth struggles to adjust on foreign soil. Many of these young people found a community and a new identity in New Wave music, a type of synth-pop called Euro Disco, that became enormously popular throughout the community.
The book celebrates the rebellion, reinvention, and rebirth of joy in this young generation in cultural limbo. Featuring essays from prominent Vietnamese scholars, critics and stars, the book is a love letter to the first generation of Vietnamese punks and rebels who came of age in the 1980s.
As the 50th anniversary of the fall of the Saigon approaches in April 2025, it is more important than ever to highlight the voices of Vietnamese people.
The music of this generation, fea-
turing artists such as Lynda Trang Dai, Trizzie Phuong Trinh, and Thai Tai, was a symbol of resistance against both mainstream American culture and traditional Vietnamese expectations for the “1.5 Generation,” refugees who were born in Vietnam but largely raised in the US. New Wave became more than just a genre or a style; “it was a powerful statement of identity and a catalyst of a creative counterculture for Vietnamese youth, who were grappling with the profound impact of the war while trying to establish their new lives and make their mark around the world.
Featuring rare archival images from New Wave artists, community members, fans, and record labels, the book is a much-needed record of photographs and ephemera that were nearly lost to time. The author worked with the community to unearth materials that had been hidden away in shoeboxes, scrapbooks, and family archives, and brought them to light in this gorgeous book that is also a visual treasury, a community archives, and an act of historic preservations. The book pulls these elements together in a bold, innovative design and layout by My Linh Trieu Nguyen, an
Elizabeth Ai Director/Producer
award-winning, second-generation Chinese Vietnamese American designer, who is the founder and creative director of Studio LHOOQ.
Author Elizabeth AI, winner of the Tribeca Fil Festival Special Jury Award for Best New Documentary Director, is a remarkable storyteller, offering a powerful and moving counter-narrative of the Vietnam war, which is largely portrayed through the eyes of white men. The book tells the story that traces the peripheries of the war through the refugee community but highlights the full lives of those in the diaspora --- the trauma, but also the spirit, the rebellion, the resistance, and the joy.
On March 14, the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Fest will showcase the documentary, New Wave as the opening night reception, starting at 6pm and the film screening at 7pm. The book will come alive through the documentary, also directed by author Elizabeth Ai.
To purchase tickets to see the documentary, visit cdfilm.org.
photos, circa 1980s. Quoc Sĩ And The Magic Credit: QuocSĩ
Photo Credit: Yudi Echevarria
Community
“AM I AN AMERICAN OR AM I NOT?” Now thru - March 15, 2025
Dunning Gallery, Loveland Museum
The Korematsu Institute is proud to bring - for the first time to Colorado - the exhibit, “Am I An American or Am I Not?”
The exhibition’s title comes from Fred Korematsu, who famously challenged the mass imprisonment of over 125,000 Japanese Americans during WWII. When faced with criminal charges for not following the military orders to leave his home without due process, the U.S. born citizen remembered his Constitutional rights and asked, “Am I an American or am I not?”
Featuring photographs from Dorothea Lange, Clem Albers, and other WWII-era and contemporary photographers, this exhibition bridges past and present, and highlights stories of connection.
This installation is sponsored by the Fred T. Korematsu Institute, AGH Arts Strategies, and Exhibit Envoy, with funding from the National Park Service Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) and the JA Community Foundation.
Exhibit Title: Am I An American Or Am I Not?
Exhibit Dates: Now - March 15, 2025
Exhibit Location: Loveland Museum, 503 N Lincoln Ave, Loveland, CO 80537
Fred T. Korematsu
Fred T. Korematsu, one of 125,000 law-abiding immigrants and American citizens unjustly incarcerated during WWII, is famous for his 1944 U.S. Supreme Court case challenging the constitutionality of President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066.
When faced with federal criminal charges for not obeying the military orders to leave his home without due process, the 23-yearold U.S. citizen remembered his Constitutional rights and asked, “am I an American or am I not?”
Decades later, in 1998, President Bill Clinton awarded Korematsu the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, for his courage in defying the government’s orders and fighting for justice.
Fred T. Korematsu
Uncovering History: How Architecture Students Helped Tell Denver’s Chinatown Story
Denver’s Chinatown, once a vibrant community in the late 19th century, has largely faded from public memory. However, thanks to the collaborative efforts of architecture professor Leyuan Li and his students, its history is now on display at History Colorado in the exhibit Where is Denver’s Chinatown? Li’s passion for architecture, history, and social justice helped bring this exhibit to life, highlighting an overlooked chapter of Colorado’s past.
Li, an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Colorado Denver, arrived in Denver in 2023. Coming from Houston, where multiple Chinatowns exist, he was struck by the absence of an identifiable Asian community in Denver. “When I moved here, I was concerned, to be honest,” he admitted.
His involvement with Denver’s forgotten Chinatown began after watching Reclaiming Denver’s Chinatown, a documentary by the City of Denver’s Office of Storytelling. Encouraged by dean Nan Ellin and chair Marc Swackhamer, he connected with the filmmakers and Colorado Asian Pacific United (CAPU). What started as a research interest soon became a teaching opportunity when he moved to Denver for his new role.
Li decided to integrate Denver’s Chinatown into his undergraduate studio class, encouraging students to explore and document the past while reimagining possible futures for the community in the former Chinatown neighborhood..
Most of Li’s students were unaware that Denver even had a Chinatown.
By Annie Guo VanDan
However, after watching the documentary, their enthusiasm grew. Without a systematic way to access historical information, students conducted archival research at the Denver Public Library and History Colorado, piecing together the area’s lost history.
Realizing the potential for a broader audience, Li sought out key figures to bring the project to a larger stage by reaching out to Dr. William Wei, state historian at History Colorado and professor of History at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Jason Hanson, chief creative officer at History Colorado. Inviting Hanson, CAPU’s Executive Director Joie Ha, and multiple curators including Samathan Martin, Josie Chang-Order, and Kim Kennedy White, to his students’ final presentations proved to be a turning point.
Photo Credit: Brandon Wunder
Leyuan Li is a Chinese architect, educator, and researcher whose professional and academic work focuses on the agency of the architectural interior in the articulation of spaces and societies. He has practiced architecture internationally at OMA, SOM, and Affordable Housing Lab. He is the founder of Office for Roundtable, a design collective exploring different forms and events of sharing. Recent built projects have been featured on ArchDaily, Designboom, The Architect’s Newspaper, Gooood, and KoozArch, among others.
Li is an assistant professor of architecture at the University of Colorado Denver. He was a visiting assistant professor of architecture with an emphasis on issues of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the same institution, and has taught at Rice University’s School of Architecture and the University of Houston.
“That’s when we realized there were multiple voices that could make an exhibition happen, which is what convinced all of us to move forward,” Li explained.
The result was an exhibit that seamlessly wove together historical research of the erased Chinatown, architectural imagination of a future Chinatown, and community engagement. Senior students worked on five design projects that reconsidered the development of a city block located between 15th and 16th Streets and Blake and Wazee Streets—the heart of Denver’s former Chinatown. They produced two models that are currently on view at the exhibition.
One of them represented their design proposals of redeveloping the former Chinatown neighborhood; another one reconstructed the urban fabric of the neighborhood, showing the scale and layout of lost buildings without speculative additions. “These two models were our most successful contributions to the History Colorado exhibit, in my opinion,” Li noted.
In addition to the exhibit, Li and his students created a booklet that frames the history of Denver’s Chinatown, which was provided to History Colorado as an preliminary research resource. The exhibit has garnered national and international attention, with scholars and visitors from around the
world praising the collaborative effort.
Looking ahead, Li and his partners are organizing a series of events called Becoming Chinatown to further the conversation.
“All of the things intertwined were extremely collaborative,” he reflected. “I was amazed by how fast things moved—I had only been in Denver for two years. I would have never thought I’d be able to do an exhibit at History Colorado in that short time.”
Through Li’s leadership and his students’ dedication, Where is Denver’s Chinatown? ensures that the city’s lost history is not forgotten. The exhibit is on display at History Colorado thru August 9, 2025.
Where is Denver’s Chinatown? Stories Remembered, Reclaimed, Reimagined invites visitors to uncover the history of the neighborhood, discover what happened to it, and help imagine what it might become. See the exhibit created in collaboration with Colorado Asian Pacific United and the University of Colorado Denver’s College of Architecture and Planning, at History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway in Denver. Learn more at www.historycolorado.org/exhibit/denvers-chinatown.
Photo Credit: Brandon Wunder
Part Two: (Un)settling Chinatown
Thursday, March 13, 2025, 3 - 6 p.m., CU Denver Building, 2nd Floor Gallery (1250 14th St, Denver, CO 80202)
This panel brings together three art and architectural historians to recast Chinatown and its physical realities into a larger conceptual framework. From a Chinese folk art museum in Chicago in the face of multiple forms of displacement threats, to the material and knowledge circulations mediated by both Chinese labor and iron roads, this panel contributes to the talk and performance series by putting Chinatown into historical perspective, while probing perceived binaries including those of high and low, subject and object. It invites reflection on the possibilities for reimagining Chinatowns as dynamic spaces of cultural resilience and future potential.
Panelists:
• Tairan An (Princeton University School of Architecture)
• Zhiyan Yang (University of Chicago Department of Art History)
• Chenchen Yan (Princeton University School of Architecture)
Moderator: Sarah Hearne (University of Colorado Denver)
Artifact Table sponsored by History Colorado
Becoming Chinatown: Talks and Performances on Possible Futures
Students, artists, architects, designers, urbanists, community organizers, and the public are invited to rethink and reimagine the future of Chinatowns in the contemporary built environment.
Organized in collaboration with Colorado Asian Pacific United and History Colorado, a series of performances, workshops, and roundtable discussions are hosted at the University of Colorado Denver that interrogates ideals and realities of Chinatowns in the United States.
Formats of design outcomes and conversations will be displayed in the 2nd Floor Gallery at CU Denver as the Talks and Performances continue.
Part One of the series was held last month on February 27.
Part Three: (Re)imagining Chinatown
Thursday, April 10, 2025, 3 - 6 p.m., CU Denver 2nd Floor Gallery (1250 14th St, Denver, CO 80202)
This panel brings together three designer-educators to reimagine Chinatowns through design and storytelling endeavors. It aims to foreground design tools as active agencies contributing to the reimagination of social and spatial contexts of Chinatowns. It asks: how can we reconstruct a spatial narrative that encapsulates the silenced stories of the displaced communities? How can we cultivate a shared repository of design knowledge and expertise to repair cultural identity and reshape the collective milieu for these communities?
Panelists:
• Lily Wong (University of Miami School of Architecture)
• Xiaoxi Chen (Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation)
• Linda Zhang (University of Waterloo School of Architecture)
Moderator: Leyuan Li (University of Colorado Denver
“Confluence of Festivals: Temple Town to the World” at the Aurora History Museum
The Aurora History Museum is thrilled to present the new photography exhibition “Confluence of Festivals: Temple Town to the World,” open to the public through June 15, showcasing the vibrant traditions, history and artistic expressions of Nepal’s cultural capitals: Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and Kathmandu.
This captivating exhibition features the stunning festivals celebrated in the cities of Nepal captured by Youbesh Dhaubhadel. Hailing from Bhaktapur, Nepal, Dhaubhadel is a multidisciplinary artist focusing on visual creation through photography, an avid traveler, and a blogger known as @firantayy meaning unbounded free-spirited.
“My journey as a photographer is deeply rooted in a quest to delve into the intricacies of human emotion and the beauty that emerges from the
collective experience of triumph, unity and the celebration of existence,” shared artist Youbesh Dhaubhadel.
“My art explores the dynamics of connection in cultural harmony seeking to bridge the visible with the invisible and inviting observers to engage with the ethereal qualities of my subjects, fostering a universal resonance that transcends cultural divides.”
“Confluence of Festivals: Temple Town to the World” continues the museum’s year-long celebration of Aurora’s Nepali community in the Mosaic of Cultures series. With support from the Aurora-based Colorado Nepalese Community, this exhibition celebrates diversity and unity through the lens of visual storytelling.
Dhaubhadel described his desire to bring people together through his art, “I am particularly drawn to the power of storytelling within the realm of
inclusion. Each image is a narrative, telling tales of acceptance, understanding and the inherent dignity that comes with acknowledging the worth of every individual from all backgrounds to come together and celebrate the differences.”
Visit the Aurora History Museum to experience “Confluence of Festivals: Temple Town to the World” and explore the essence of Nepal’s most celebrated festivals while fostering a dialogue of community and culture that transcends borders. Join Youbesh Dhaubhadel for a special gallery tour and talk about his art at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 9.
The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the Aurora History Museum is always free. For more information, call 303.739.6660 or visit AuroraMuseum.org.
Cambodia’s Legacy Lives: Angkor Exhibition Opens to Public Acclaim
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science opened its newest exhibition, “Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia,” last month.
Featuring more than 100 exquisite carvings, sacred sculptures, and ancient relics—many of which are being displayed outside Cambodia for the first time—this exhibition sheds light on the awe-inspiring achievements of Angkor.
“I felt excitement and a sense of pride being a Cambodian American,” said Tony Oum, executive vice president of FirstBank’s Multicultural Banking Center and a leader in Denver’s Cambodian community.
“Many people in the community are excited to share a piece of our culture and heritage with Denverites, Coloradans, and all people that visit the museum. This is an opportunity to showcase our history and encourage people to connect with Cambodians in the community and hopefully visit Cambodia someday.”
From the iconic Angkor Wat temple complex to the innovative engineering feats that sustained a vast empire, visitors will uncover the mysteries of how this vibrant civilization rose to prominence and later disappeared into the Southeast Asian jungle.
“We are honored to bring the story of Angkor to Denver,” said Dr. Michele Koons, director of Anthropology and curator of Archaeology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. “This exhibition offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for guests to connect with one of the world’s most extraordinary ancient civilizations and to marvel at its stunning artistic, cultural and architectural legacy.”
Details and highlights:
Real Artifacts from Cambodia: The exhibition showcases genuine Khmer artifacts, including sculptures, tools and religious items that provide insight into the empire’s history and spirituality.
By Mary J. Schultz
Interactive Lidar Mapping Display: Guests can explore Angkor’s hidden temples and city structures through an engaging interactive floor projection, uncovering how modern technology has revolutionized our understanding of the Khmer Empire.
Hands-On Musical Experience: On occasion, guests will be able to pluck a kse diev, the oldest traditional Khmer musical instrument, to connect with the ancient sounds of the Khmer people.
Bayon Wall Scanner: This interactive feature lets guests investigate intricate bas-reliefs, revealing captivating scenes of daily life, work and worship in Angkor.
“The exhibit does a wonderful job of representing Cambodian culture and history; and I cannot emphasize the respect the exhibit and museum staffers have shown for our culture,” said Oum.
“This is a great opportunity to educate people about Khmer and Cambo-
dian history as many people are generally aware about Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese culture, but Cambodian is relatively hidden and is one of the oldest civilizations in the world.”
Alongside government representatives traveling from Cambodia, the Museum has collaborated closely with the local Cambodian community to open “Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia” in Denver.
“The exhibition has something for everyone, from curious children to history enthusiasts and archaeology buffs,” said Kelsi Cowan, program coordinator for the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
We’re excited for people from across the Rocky Mountain region to connect and engage with living Cambodian art, culture and heritage.”
is the first step. Next step is being involved with local community by supporting local Khmer-owned businesses and temples,” Oum said.
“The Museum aims to deepen guests’ appreciation for Angkor’s enduring influence and to inspire curiosity about this remarkable civilization.
It begins with education, then a better understanding, a message conveyed by community leaders during the initial opening last February.
“I think awareness and education about Khmer and Cambodian culture
“Hopefully, visitors will appreciate our heritage and culture that they would visit our beautiful country someday to support the businesses in Cambodia, so they thrive. The more we know about each other, the better we can support and work together to create a better world!”
The top three US cities that have the largest Cambodian communities include: Long Beach, Calif; Lowell, Mass., and Fresno, Calif. Denver’s Cambodian population is estimated at 2,400 and growing, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Visit the Denver Museum of Nature & Science at www.dmns.org for more information.
Photo Credit: Jamie Pham
Tony Oum (far left) participates in the opening of Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia. Photography by Kiddest Metaferia / 303 Magazine
The Denver Art Museum Hosts South Korean National Treasures in Lunar Phases: Korean Moon Jars
Three-year partnership with the National Museum of Korea marks the presentation of iconic South Korean artworks and national treasures.
The Denver Art Museum (DAM) continues its collaboration with the National Museum of Korea (NMK) and other institutions in Korea, inviting visitors to explore an important art form of Korean culture in the new exhibition Lunar Phases: Korean Moon Jars, on view from March 2 to June 8, 2025. The exhibition features 21 objects, including 12 moon jars.
This show will be in the Charles P. and Diane Gallagher Family Gallery on the first level of the museum’s Hamilton Building and is included with general admission.
Perfectly Imperfect: Korean Buncheong Ceramics, co-organized with the National Museum of Korea (NMK), was the first in this series of planned exhibitions and programs focused on Korean art. It opened at the DAM in December 2023 and will be on view through December 7, 2025.
Curated by Hyonjeong Kim Han, Joseph de Heer Curator of Arts of Asia, and Ji Young Park, National Museum of Korea Fellow of Korean Art at the Denver Art Museum, along with curators at NMK, Perfectly Imperfect inaugurated meaningful programs, exhibitions, and collaborations between NMK and DAM. Lunar Phases continues the DAM’s focus on Korean art, serving as the second in a series of planned exhibitions, thanks to a grant of more than $900,000 from the National Museum of Korea under its Overseas Korean Galleries Support Program.
This exhibition is curated by Hyonjeong Kim Han and Ji Young Park.
“Continuing to showcase the breadth and beauty of Korea’s art and culture remains a priority for the DAM,” said Christoph Heinrich, Frederick and Jan Mayer Director of the
DAM. “With the generosity of the National Museum of Korea and the expert knowledge of our curator and fellow, we are proud to contribute to a new appreciation of Korean art.”
Lunar Phases welcomes visitors to explore how the moon jar from Korea’s Joseon dynasty (1392–1897) has evolved into a national artistic icon of Korea and how contemporary artists, both within and beyond Korea, reflect on the moon jar.
Moon jars are elegant white globular jars that flourished in Korea during the 17th and 18th centuries, when naturalism and spontaneity became the desired aesthetic. The simplicity of their shapes, as well as the unique ceramic hues, have been esteemed in Korea and across the world. Traditional moon jars received their name in the mid-20th century due to their unique shape and milk-like color, reminiscent of the moon—an important symbol in Korean culture.
Artisans crafted these jars in halves, shaping and forming each side using large wheels before carefully joining them in the middle. The jars were then glazed and fired in a kiln.
Lunar Phases traces the artistic evolution of the moon jar with twelve exquisite ceramics spanning from the 18th century to the present, each representing a month of the lunar calendar. With 21 objects in total, this exhibition also features five paintings, two photographs, one video work, and one installation, in addition to a mindfulness zone with a touchable moon jar created by master ceramicist Lee Dong Sik (b. 1969). This interactive space invites visitors to slow down and physically interact with a moon jar.
For more information, visit denverartmuseum.org or call 720-865-5000.
Colorado legislature honors veterans of the “forgotten war”
For at least 30 years, state lawmakers have celebrated Military Appreciation Day at the Colorado State Capitol to honor the service and sacrifice of Colorado’s 340,000 veterans and 47,000 active-duty members of the military.
They’ve brought resolutions commemorating World War II, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War, along with Latino, Native American and African American veterans. But until now, there has never been a resolution to honor those who served in the Korean War, which is often called the forgotten war.
“It’s been 75 years and it’s about time,” said State Rep. Rebecca Keltie.
Keltie and State Rep. Matthew Martinez, both veterans themselves, sponsored the first Colorado resolution to honor Korean War veterans, along with State Sen. Lisa Frizell and State Sen. Lisa Cutter.
The sacrifices made were tremendous and the pain and loss endured by the families across this nation cannot be measured,” said Martinez.
Martinez, who served in Korea, noted that 36,000 American lives were lost, thousands more were wounded, and more than 1.7 million military members served in the conflict. And the conflict is ongoing, Martinez said; there’s only a ceasefire.
Keltie’s dad, Leon Ross, was among those who sacrificed and “was one of the greatest men I’ve ever known.”
The ceremony on February 7 in the House chambers included two special guests: Richard “Dick” Robinson, now 92, and Wayne Tobey, who enlisted at the age of 19 and who will be 90 this year.
The resolution stated that the General Assembly honors and recognizes the Korean War veterans for their service, “acknowledging that while the war was once “forgotten, their sacrifice will never be forgotten again.”
Tobey was a radio operator credited with saving a fellow airman’s life. He joined the United States Air Force in 1953 and served as an airman from 1953 to 1954 in Korea.
Robinson was an infantryman who received the silver star, bronze star, and purple heart. He is a fourth generation Denverite, who graduated from Denver East High School and Colorado State University. He went on to become the founder and CEO of Robinson Dairy, and served 13 months in Korea from 1952 to 1953. He was the commander of a 105 field artillery battery part of the 7th Infantry division.
He said: “I’m still a lifetime board member of Regis University, Mountain States Employers Council, and the Boy Scouts.”
From left: Wayne Tobey of Loveland, State Rep. Rebecca Keltie, Minsoo Song (City of Aurora), and Richard Robinson of Denver
Wayne Tobey and Richard Robinson, both Korean War veterans, joined the General Assembly on Feb. 7 for a resolution recognizing the service of Korean War veterans during Military Appreciation Day.
Gate to Kagoshima
By Poppy Kuroki
www.instagram.com/kurokibooks
The history and culture of Japan’s Samurai era resonated this year at the Golden Globes, when the acclaimed TV series “Shogun” won 4 awards. Readers, who want to experience the same sense of history and escapism, can pick up the latest read, authored by Poppy Kuroki’s THE GATE TO KAGOSHIMA which published last January. It features a young woman who is magically transported to Japan’s last Samurai era – The Hurricane Wars, The Time Traveler’s Wife, plus Shogun, meets Outlander
The book stands as an immersive, historically grounded, and compulsively readable fiction.
While in Japan researching the life of her third-great-grandfather, Hisakichi Kuroki, a vicious typhoon magically transports Kuroki’s present day heroine Isla MacKenzie to the Satsuma rebellion of 1877 where the samurai made a final, dramatic stand against the modernization of Japan. There, she encounters historical figures like Saigō Takamori, the leader of the Satsuma rebellion, and Hisa Kirino, who was the head of the female auxiliary troops in the rebellion. Isla meets these figures, her ancestors, and even finds an unexpected romance with a charismatic young samurai, Kei. With the failed rebellion looming, and Kei’s fate on the line, Isla must make a difficult decision: Should she attempt to change history or somehow make her way back to the life she’d had before?
Author’s Note and About Poppy Kuroki
With a new passport and finally with money of my own, I first came to Japan in 2011 at eighteen years old. I cried when it was time to leave, and just a few months later I was back in Tokyo as a study-abroad student at Toyo University.
I came back after graduation and have lived here ever since, first in Nagano, then in Tokyo, and now near Enoshima Island in Kanagawa. I’m so glad I could combine my love for this wonderful country with my hopes of becoming a writer. Japan entered a state of sakoku, or isolation, in 1603 and didn’t reopen to foreign trade until the arrival of the Americans in the 1850s. During this period of isolation, no foreigner could enter the country and no Japanese person could leave, making it one of the most self-sufficient and uniquely developed countries in the world.
You understand, then, that, wanting to write about a romance between a European woman and a Japanese samurai, my options were somewhat limited.
I’ve always been fascinated with Japanese history. It’s one of the major reasons I had wanted to move to Japan since I was a kid. I had tremendous fun researching the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877, named after the Satsuma province (now Kagoshima Prefecture), where the samurai made a final, dramatic stand against imperial soldiers intent on crushing the old way of life forever in favor of the Japan we know today.
It is a sad history, one that became the setting for Isla and Keiichirō’s story. Though Keiichirō Maeda is fictional, there were many young samurai just like him embroiled in the rebellion who gave their lives for their beloved leader. Real historical figures, such as Toshiaki and Hisa Kirino, Shinpachi Murata, and Shinsuke Beppu, also make appearances in the story, and are portrayed as close to real life as possible.
Author Poppy Kuroki, who was born in Scotland and grew up in England, has been living in Japan in the Kanagawa prefecture since 2016 where she works as a writer and freelance editor, and lives with her son. She conducted extensive historical research while writing the novel, interviewing historians, tour guides, and even a descendent of Saigō Takamori. The book includes maps, family trees, character lists, timelines, and a glossary of terms for readers to immerse themselves fully in the period. The samurai setting is steeped in atmosphere and offers a fresh hook for readers looking for immersive stories featuring star-crossed lovers.
Wild Taco
KOCO Street Food
Mile High Asian Food Week Returns for Third Year
April 27-May 3, 2025
Organizers are proud to announce the participating food and beverage vendors for the third annual Mile High Asian Food Week which occurs on April 27-May 3, 2025. Now under the the umbrella of Colorado Asian Culture & Education Network (CACEN), the weeklong celebration allows foodies to experience different cuisines and receive insider perks such as special discounts, secret menu items, and specialty menus at participating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI)-owned businesses.
New this year, AANHPI chefs and owners can showcase any cuisine of their choosing.
“Mile High Asian Food Week is a homegrown effort that started from a desire to create something special for our AANHPI culinary community,” says MHAFW Founder Joanne Liu.
“We’re thrilled to see new vendors participate, including restaurants from Loveland to Colorado Springs, as well as several James Beard
Foundation semifinalists.”
The week-long celebration will take place at 50 participating locations across the state from Loveland to Colorado Springs, with more to come, and includes the following vendors, four of which are 2024 James Beard Restaurant and Chef semifinalists.
2025 Mile High Asian Food Week Vendors so far:
3456tea (Centennial)
ADOBO Restaurant & Bar (Denver)
Baon Supper Club
Cakeheads Bakery (Centennial)
Canton Palace & Osaka
Hibachi Japanese Steak (Loveland)
CÀ PHÊ, Vietnamese Coffee and Banh Mi (Thornton)
Carbon Coffee (Aurora)
Chaatwala
Chi Lin Asian Eatery (Denver)
Coffee Sarap (Denver)
Colorado Cocoa Pod
Comrade Brewing Co. (Denver)
CôNu’s Corner (Denver)
GetRight’s (Wheat Ridge)
Hearth and Seoul Herbal Shop (Denver)
Honey Bee Asian Bistro & Sushi (Aurora)
Hop Alley (Denver - James Beard Semifinalist, Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program)
Kids Table
Koco Street Food (Food Truck)
Kokoro Restaurant (Arvada and Denver)
Kuluka Boba + Sweets (Westminster)
Lilac Coffee (Denver)
Magna Kainan (Denver)
MAKfam (Denver - James Beard Semifinalist, Chef Kenneth Wan, Best Chef Mountain Region)
Mukja (Food Truck)
Ninja Ramen Mobile (Food Truck)
Olive & Finch (Cherry Creek, Union Station and Denver Center for the Performing Arts)
Onto Coffee (Denver)
Pho King Rapidos Pokeworks (Greenwood Village)
R & B Tacos (Food Truck)
Rising Tiger
Roll It Up Sushi Truck (Food Truck)
sắp sửa (Denver - James Beard Semifinalist, Anna
and Ni Nguyen, Emerging Chef)
Sweet Daruma
Taeko-san Takeout
Teahee (Denver)
Tea Street (Denver and Parker)
The Passenger Restaurant (Longmont)
Tí Cafe (Denver)
Tum Yumz (Food Truck)
Wild Taco (Denver)
WongWayVeg (Food Truck)
Yong Gung (Aurora)
Yuan Wonton (DenverJames Beard Semifinalist, Chef Penelope Wong, Best Chef Mountain Region)
The full list of participating 2025 Mile High Asian Food Week vendors will be announced next month.
Mile High Asian Food Week would like to thank Asian Avenue Magazine, Visit Denver, 5280, Comrade Brewing Co., Asian Girls Ignite, Colorado Dragon Boat, Denver Botanic Gardens, and Indie Creative Co. for their support. For the full list of sponsors, please visit: milehighafw.com. Follow on Instagram @milehighafw.
Other benefits to join the Social Fabric Family:
• Reserve offices (175-205 sq feet) or shared desks monthly, weekly, or daily, which include a mailing address, utilities, internet, and other benefits
• Check out books from the community library featuring AANHPI books and authors, and join a book club
• Sign up for wellness activities (tai chi, yoga, martial arts), or ride bicycles that help power the bui lding
• Join as a member to enjoy access to solo pods (for meetings/calls) and conference rooms, discounts to local restaurants/vendors, discounted Social Fabric events and space rentals, and giveaways ($50/month)
• Book event space for gatherings of all sizes such as meetings, conferences, and markets/festivals
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