LATEST NEWS
A Festival in Flux: VC and its Film Festival 1999 - 2003
The years 1998 through 2003 were game-changing years for Visual Communications, as the organization shifted from a creation based organization to a talent incubator with a focus on developing programs like the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Take a look at some photos from the VC Archives that were selected by our 2020 Winter Quarter Program Associates from UCLA.
Join us for a VC Archives "Tagging Party"!
Sign up for one of Visual Communications’ “tagging parties" to help us add historical info to images in our VC Archives! If you have knowledge of some (or even many) of the people, places, and/or events that took place over VC's nearly 50-year history, we need your help.
Literary Artists Offer “Reflections/Refractions” In Little Tokyo Showcase
Our September 19th event “REFLECTIONS/REFRACTIONS: 10 Works Inspired by At First Light” brought together ten artists — and two musicians — who were invited to select an image from the current “At First Light” exhibit that inspired them to create an original written work to perform in front of a live audience. Read about how this event was a success!
"Spaces to Grow, Spaces to Protect" Set for Far East Lounge on Oct 8
On Tuesday, October 8, join Visual Communications and Sustainable Little Tokyo for “Spaces to Grow, Spaces to Protect: An Arts and Community Conversation with Place-Makers,” a special panel of arts educators, activists, and curators and their role in nurturing and supporting community artists as part of the new series “ART4FSN.”
At First Light Closing Event on Oct 17: “Dawn of a New Day”
On Thursday, October 17th, join Visual Communications and UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs for the closing program of At First Light: The Dawning of Asian Pacific America, “Dawn of a New Day: Asian American Women Who Are Changing Media.” The event consists of a panel of Asian American women in film/TV/media who promote social change with their work discussing how the Asian Pacific American movement has evolved and continues to change the face of media.
Alliance “At First Site”: A Night of Arts Activism and Solidarity
On Thursday August 15, 2019, Visual Communications and the Japanese American National Museum held AT FIRST SITE: Arts Activism on First Street North, Little Tokyo, in conjunction with AT FIRST LIGHT: The Dawning of Asian Pacific America. AT FIRST SITE consisted of an opening reception, two film screenings, a panel of arts activists, a spoken word performance, and a closing reception with opportunities to take art into action.
"Reflections/Refractions" at Tateuchi Democracy Forum on September 19
Join Visual Communications and Japanese American National Museum on Thursday September 19th for REFLECTIONS/REFRACTIONS: 10 WORKS INSPIRED BY “AT FIRST LIGHT,” a program presented in conjunction with At First Light: The Dawning of Asian Pacific America, on view at the Japanese American National Museum from May 25 through October 20, 2019.
"At First Site" at Tateuchi Democracy Forum on August 15th
On Thursday, August 15 at the Tateuchi Democracy Forum, Visual Communications will be hosting the program “At First Site”, opening with a reception at 6:00 PM and starting the program at 7:00 PM. Come witness the power of arts activism as we showcase artists who use their work to resist and organize.
Visual Communications Receives National Film Preservation Foundation Funding
Visual Communications is excited to announce that it has received one of 35 preservation grants from the San Francisco-based National Film Preservation Foundation (NFPF) to preserve and restore two of the organization’s signature film productions, WATARIDORI: BIRDS OF PASSAGE (1976) and HITO HATA: RAISE THE BANNER (1980).
Visual Communications Pulls Off "Centering the Masses" at 341 FSN
From April 5 through May 30, 2019, Visual Communications held a nine-week residency at 341FSN crammed with an eclectic assortment of programs called CENTERING THE MASSES, which celebrated the ideals of “community” as it pertains to Little Tokyo.
Building the Asian American Movement: Then and Now
Join us for the event Building the Asian American Movement: Then and Now on Friday, July 12, 2019 from 7:30pm - 9:30pm at the Tateuchi Democracy Forum, presented in conjunction with At First Light: The Dawning of Asian Pacific America, on view at the Japanese American National Museum through Oct 20, 2019.
At First Light Opening Day Discussion Panel
To commemorate the opening day of the exhibition At First Light: The Dawning of Asian Pacific America on May 25, 2019, the Japanese American National Museum hosted Visual Communications co-founders and exhibition curators Duane Kubo, Robert Nakamura, and Eddie Wong in a panel discussion about the history of VC and the creation of the exhibition.
At First Light Dawns at Japanese American National Museum
At First Light: The Dawning of Asian Pacific America, a multi-media exhibition that explores and celebrates the emergence of a politically defined Asian Pacific American consciousness and identity, will open at the Japanese American National Museum on May 25 and remain on view through October 20, 2019. The exhibition is a co-production of JANM and Visual Communications.
Visual Communications a Recipient of the California Civil Liberties Grant
Visual Communications is pleased to announce that we are a recipient of the California Civil Liberties Grant for two of our fiscally sponsored projects and a VC Archives project.
Visual Communications "Centers the Masses" in Little Tokyo's 341 FSN Storefront Starting April 5
Visual Communications, the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts organization, will embark on “Centering the Masses,” a unique nine-week pop-up series at the 341 FSN storefront space in the heart of Los Angeles Little Tokyo’s historic district beginning April 5 and running through May 30, 2019.
Visual Communications Announces Distribution Alliance with New Day Films
Visual Communications has announced an exciting new alliance with New Day Films to offer select titles from VC’s award-winning filmography for streaming licenses for schools, universities, and individuals.
An Online Exhibit: What Do We See?
As part of a final project for Winter Quarter, student interns from UCLA’s Asian American Studies 140SL and 185-1 Capstone classes were challenged to cast a cold eye on the Los Angeles Little Tokyo community outside the confines of Visual Communications’ home at the Union Center for the Arts.
Help Carry Our Founders' Spirit of Discovery Through Media
We have raised $50,000 to get At First Light: The Dawn of Asian Pacific America off the ground. Now, we need an additional $25,000 to develop installations that bring artists, performers, scholars, and presenters together for critical public engagement programs so that we can launch the exhibit in May 2019. Help our Founders carry their spirits forward!
“SPEAK OUT” CWRIC Testimonies Revisited Dec. 2 in Little Tokyo
Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress (NCRR) and Visual Communications (VC), in partnership with the Japanese American National Museum (JANM), will relaunch the 13-part video series “Speak Out for Justice” at a special program to be held on Saturday, December 2, 2017, 2:00 PM at the Tateuchi Democracy Forum at JANM.
Visual Communications Represents at the LA Archives Bazaar
Join Visual Communications at the L.A. Archives Bazaar on Saturday, October 21st and learn more about the rich cultures and heritages of Los Angeles through our collection of artifacts!