JANUARY 21, 2023
“National Angel Island Day with The Last Hoisan Poets” @ the de Young Museum
Saturday, January 21, 2023, Free Saturdays at the de Young Museum
SCHEDULE
- 11 am – 3 pm, Family art making activity, Kimball Education Gallery
- 11 am – 3 pm, History of Angel Island exhibition pop-up, Wilsey Court
- 12:30 – 1:30 pm, The Last Hoisan Poets with the Del Sol Quartet, Koret Auditorium
https://www.famsf.org/events/national-angel-island-day-last-hoisan-poets-del-sol-quartet
Presented in partnership with the de Young Museum, Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, UC Berkeley’s Future Histories Lab, The Last Hoisan Poets commemorated the 113th anniversary of the Angel Island Immigration Station’s opening with a special poetry program in recognition of National Angel Island Day, featuring musical performances by the Del Sol Quartet.
In 2010, President Barack Obama proclaimed January 21 as National Angel Island Day, calling upon the people of the United States to “learn more about the history of Angel Island and to observe this anniversary with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” This special program included Cantonese readings of the Angel Island poems by poet Victor Yan, in addition to The Last Hoisan Poets readings of their own works which incorporate Hoisan-wa, the predominant dialect spoken by the first wave of immigrants who traveled to America from China in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
A special pop up exhibition in Wilsey Court and art-making activities in the Kimball Education Gallery inspired by Angel Island’s historic immigration station, further illustrated the site’s continuing importance to understanding current events and envisioning better futures.
Presented in partnership with Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation and UC Berkeley’s A Year on Angel Island.