Artists seek input for Chinatown Gate panels

Emily Chu and Halie Finney have been selected to create artwork for the north panels of Edmonton's new Chinatown Gate. "We recognize this very unique opportunity to contribute local art to a cultural gate — it allows us to tell the story of our Chinatown on this land, on Treaty 6 territory, where our communities practiced their traditions, harvested sustenance and medicines, and are lucky to have called this our home," the artists posted. "As a Chinese and Métis artist duo, we aim to express a unified message of commemorating friendship, community care, and offer a warm welcome on the entrance into a community of peoples and histories we care deeply about."

The new Chinatown Gate, expected to be completed by 2027, will replace the one that was removed in 2017 to accommodate Valley Line LRT construction. The original gate was named for Harbin, China, one of Edmonton's sister cities. Gates such as these carry cultural significance that extends beyond the aesthetic. "Chinatown gates are not decorative façades. They are symbolic structures traditionally built with materials that convey permanence, respect, and cultural integrity — such as stone, brick, wood, glazed tile, or cast concrete," Joanna Wong from the Chinatown Transformation Collaborative told Postmedia after the city cut costs on materials as the budget grew to $8.7 million. The city set aside $30,000 for the artwork.

Chinatown and the communities invested in it are not a monolith, indicates an open letter in support of the gate, released after the Chinatown Benevolent Association withdrew its support in June. The collaboration between Chu, whose works include the Chinatown Stories Map, and Finney, a core member of the Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective, is an example of how different experiences and perspectives can coexist and catalyze. To incorporate the voices of the Chinatown community into their work, they are asking community members to register for engagement sessions by July 15.