An online exhibition celebrating the Immigration Station’s historic poetry and poems submitted by the public.
Fifty years ago, Alexander Weiss found long-lost poems carved into the detention barracks walls. This discovery led to the Angel Island Immigration Station’s rebirth as a National Historic Landmark. To commemorate this golden jubilee, we present Voices of Resilience, an online exhibition celebrating poems from the site’s history as well as poems submitted by the public.
Historic Poetry / Voices from the Past
Featuring 22 poems written by former detainees, discover how the historic poetry of Angel Island has inspired advocates, scholars, musicians, and artists from 1970 to today.
100 YEARS OF HISTORY
Rediscovering the Poetry
KOREAN POETRY
Translated by Charles Egan
A READING OF THREE POEMS
Genny Lim
CHINESE POETRY
Words from the Barracks
JAPANESE POETRY
Translated by Charles Egan
MUSIC FROM POETRY
Chen Yi
A READING IN TOISANESE
Yui Poon Ng
LOST POETRY
Henry Wong
Eighty years have passed since the Immigration Station was closed on Angel Island. The poems left behind carry themes that have transcended time, gender, age, and ethnicity. Today, contemporary voices continue the tradition of writing poetry to express issues faced in our modern world.
Modern Poetry / Reflections from Our Time
During the first three weeks of April, AIISF solicited art and poetry from the public. Out of these digital submissions, 33 poets were selected to participate in a project focusing on the challenges of our time and the hope we have for better days to come.
COVID POETRY
Living Through a Pandemic
FIGHTING FEAR THROUGH POETRY
Xenophobia, Allies, and Identity
COLLABORATIVE POETRY
Dianne Feinstein Elementary
FAMILY TIES
Sato/Bukowski/Haechler Family
POETRY POTPOURRI
Perspectives
IMMIGRANT POETRY
Inspired by Angel Island
FULL OF FLOWERS
Xing Chu Wang
Voices of Resilience was recognized by AVA Digital for outstanding achievement in web-based production/creativity (web design) and was placed on the Gold Winner’s list for 2022.
Charles Egan, Henry Wong, Genny Lim, Felicia Lowe, Joanne Poon, Chen Yi, Judy Yung, Him Mark Lai, Xing Chu Wang, Family of Alexander Weiss, Yui Poon Ng, Ursula Kwong-Brown, Hak Hee Kang, Jikyung Hwang, Elaine Fong, Bruce Mui Ghent, Tammi Miller, Tamar Ashdot, Bob Dougherty, Brooke Laur, Andi Wong, Del Sol String Quartet, Alison Harrington, Rabea McCullough, Atria Rondone, Calvin Ong, Victoria Ong, Susie Oy Lum Fong, Victoria Fong, Chris Chan, Skyler Chin, Sonia Lake, Nellie Wong, Flo Oy Wong, Sabrina Haechler, Trevor Bukowski, Ken Sato, Marta Sato, Kristin Sato, Matthew Sato, Marjorie Sato-Bukowski, Ingrid Skog-Sato, Jessica Bukowski, Kelly Sato-Haechler, April Yee, Paige Brooks, and Grace Wing-Yuan Toy