Growing up Asian American, I had a difficult time formulating my identity. Products of the Vietnam War, my parents immigrated from Vietnam through the Amerasian Act, leaving behind loved ones and most of their belongings. With a hazy familial history, much of my lineage was undocumented. Having only memories and sentimental objects as relics of lost kin, in this temporal space, I found that objects are what tie us together in a line that is so often severed. Objects can be totems and mementos that actively shape the stories that connect us to those who came before. Through objects, I have come to understand that my heritage is not just a collection of fragmented memories, but a living, growing narrative––in these objects, I find pieces of my identity.

As a Fort Worth native, I have witnessed first-hand the strength of the community when we come together in collective action toward enriching the experience of culture and history through the celebration of art. Just as my family’s history has been passed down through cherished objects and their stories, I believe that art has the power to preserve cultural heritage and promote cross-cultural understanding.