Above image by Field Studio Photography.
All images by Bob Perkoski unless noted.
FOR THOSE WHO CALL HERE HOME Transforming AsiaTown with an Outdoor Community Space
Payne Avenue and East 33rd Street, Cleveland, OH [map]
Through robust partnerships and thoughtful community engagement, FOR THOSE WHO CALL HERE HOME transforms an under-utilized parking lot into a unique outdoor community space in Cleveland’s AsiaTown for residents, families, and visitors.
This new vibrant space at the intersection of Payne Avenue and East 33rd Street seamlessly blends art and creativity with design and utility, and is dedicated to fostering community gatherings, elevating neighborhood safety and experience, celebrating the rich culture, ethnicity, and history of its residents, and inspiring the next generation of Asian American artists.
FOR THOSE WHO CALL HERE HOME is an artist-driven initiative that envisions a thriving AsiaTown where its residents, families, and visitors have access to spaces that enable them to:
• Celebrate each other through cultural performances and art.
• Honor the history of Chinese immigrants who courageously built the foundation for today’s AsiaTown community.
• Partake in outdoor recreation (e.g. Chinese square dancing, Tai Chi, ping pong, etc.).
• Organize community pop-up events (e.g. maker markets, mahjong tournaments, etc.).
• Enjoy a safe, well-lit neighborhood, a place to live where families can take after-dinner evening walks with no concerns.
Funding for this project was made possible by Mayor Justin Bibb and Cleveland City Council via The American Rescue Plan Act – passed by Congress in 2021.
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The Creative Team
– Photo © Bob Perkoski, www.Perkoski.com
JORDAN WONG | Lead Artist
Jordan Wong (WONGFACE) is an artist native to Pittsburgh and currently based out of Cleveland. As a Chinese American whose childhood was filled with anime, manga, and video games, Jordan creates drawings, characters, and icons to contemplate the hero’s journey, the game theory of leveling up throughout actual life, and the Ultimate Self. He has exhibited at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh (2024 and 2020), Massillon Museum (2023), and Akron Art Museum (2021 – 2022). Jordan has work in the collections of Meta (the parent company of Facebook), Cleveland Public Library, University Hospitals, Laura and Fred Bidwell (founder of FRONT Triennial), and other private collectors.
Marika Shioiri-Clark
MARIKA SHIOIRI-CLARK | Collaborator
Marika Shioiri-Clark is a seasoned design strategist, environments designer, and leader in the field of design for the public good. She trained as an architect and urban designer and co-founded the architectural nonprofit MASS Design Group during graduate school at Harvard Design School.
THE SCULPTURE CENTER Institutional Partner
Founded in 1989, The Sculpture Center is one of the only 501(c)(3) cultural institutions providing critical resources to sculptors along their journey. TSC Spotlight series engages an artist to collaborate with diverse Cleveland communities in a two-part exhibition both in the gallery and at an outdoor site. The narratives that occur between art and site contribute to national conversations on today’s social issues affecting our lives and communities.
Exhibition Partners:
