Sign Language: Understanding Neighborhood Change in Chinatown through Storefront Aesthetics

While most tours of Chinatown focus exclusively on its history, this one examines its present condition. Through a curated tour of architectural signage and the spaces they advertise, this tour will reveal and question the often unspoken dynamics of neighborhood change in Chinatown.

For example, what messages do Japanese storefronts in Chinatown communicate about contemporary Asian-American culture? How is historical Chinese signage used to market to both European tourists and the NYC art elite alike? How do American-born Chinese express their identity in Chinatown? What exactly is Dimes Square, and what do its aesthetics say about the current cultural moment? Who is Chinatown for? Can Chinatown be for everybody?

This tour is presented as part of the Municipal Arts Society Jane’s Walk festival.