FEATURE: Colorado Asian Pacific United announces Hmong American artist for downtown mural

Artist Nayle Lor to depict Denver’s Historic Chinatown in mural project

Two years ago, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock signed a proclamation to recognize the 1880 Anti-Chinese race riot in Lower Downtown (LoDo). In celebration of the second anniversary of ‘Denver’s Chinatown Commemoration Day’, Colorado Asian Pacific United (CAPU) is pleased to announce its first mural project in Denver’s Historic Chinatown.

While present-day Denver may not have an official Chinatown, it’s home to generations of Chinese families and entrepreneurs that contributed to tremendous growth and diversity.

The mural project aims to depict the story of Denver’s Historic Chinatown told from the lens of the Chinese immigrant community. It is a story about the proud history of Chinese immigrant families who are hardworking, driven, and entrepreneurial. Although they faced discrimination, segregation, and incarceration, their lives were also filled with joy, ingenuity, and resilience. As a community, Denver’s Historic Chinatown was prosperous, thriving, and welcoming to everyone.

With funding from the Andrew Mellon Foundation, the mural will be created by Hmong American artist Nalye Lor. Born and raised in Colorado, Lor is known for her fun, lively artwork that transports viewers into a different space and time. She is a graphic designer and freelancer, creating vibrant, thoughtful artwork wherever she goes.

Her upcoming mural design of Denver’s Historic Chinatown was inspired by long-life noodles, symbolic of—and hope for—longevity.

“The endless noodle represents time and history weaving across the image and transforming from a railroad to food curling around chopsticks, Lor said. “Character silhouettes walk along the timeline, from miners and laundromat workers to modern-day citizens. It’s a visual storytelling of how far they’ve come and how far they will continue going.”

According to Lor, the artwork is a whimsical depiction of Denver’s Historic Chinatown, showing how the community flourished regardless of the Anti-Chinese riot in 1880.

This mural will be featured at the location of Denver Fire Station 4 (1890 Lawrence St, Denver, CO 80202). See Lor’s work at nananalis. com or follow her on Instagram at

@nananalistudio.

Chinese immigrants made a home in Denver a decade after the city’s founding and were instrumental in completing the transcontinental railroad. They survived in spite of racist policies that relegated them to a place and a station. So why doesn’t Denver have a Chinatown?

In Reclaiming Denver’s Chinatown, an #IAmDenver documentary from the Denver Office of Storytelling, their descendants recall with pride their ancestors’ contributions and reject the notion that one tragic day in 1880 defined their community. #IAmDenver’s Reclaiming Denver’s Chinatown premieres on Nov. 10 at the Denver Film Festival as one of the 200 films selected to participate in its 45th year. Learn more by e-mailing contact@coloradoasianpacificunited.org.