Familiarly Foreign is a participatory art project; on March 14, 2020, Daniel Shieh, a visiting artist from Taiwan, will engage local residents in a story-gathering process at The Welcome Project. He will ask people what kind of “Asian” objects they have in their homes and the story behind them. Participants are then invited to join in a week-long experience: keep their “Asian” objects at Welcome Project as part of an exhibition featuring these objects and their stories. During this period, participants might sense a noticeable lack in their homes where these objects once sat. Familiarly Foreign raises the question: What are the functions of “Asian” objects in non-Asian households? By gathering a multitude of these objects together, the exhibition reveals a more intimate relationship to Asian culture than previously imagined in a country where “Asian” is often equated with “non-American.

UPDATE: Due to concerns with the coronavirus and COVID-19, we are forgoing our traditional opening reception and introducing COVIDeo: Wave Pool TV. Wave Pool Gallery and The Welcome Project will be open from 12-9 for anyone who would like to come, meet the artists, and see their work. If you prefer to stay home, please follow our YouTube channel and other social media for video updates from these events.