San Francisco Celebrates the Remarkable Life of a Chinese American Icon

Various pictures of Lee training with actual wooden training tool pictured in photo. Photo by Eric Bean/The Guardsman

By Eric Bean

dbean6@mail.ccsf.edu

 

We Are Bruce Lee is an exhibit featuring contemporary art and historical artifacts that celebrate the remarkable life of a Chinese American icon, who transcended race, geography, and culture through uncanny strength and resilience. 

Bruce Lee Double consciousness mural also downstairs at the exhibit. Photo by Eric Bean/The Guardsman.

 

On March 11th, 2022 the Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA) announced the long-awaited return of Chinatown’s native son: The We Are Bruce Lee: Under the Sky, One Family exhibition. It’s an incredible multimedia collaboration between top collectors of Bruce Lee memorabilia, the Bruce Lee Foundation, and a team of artists. 

Various pictures of Lee training with actual wooden training tool pictured in photo. Photo by Eric Bean/The Guardsman

 

Bruce Lee is widely known for his unrivaled success as a martial arts master and movie star. However, he also fought vigorously against racial and social injustice. This exhibit highlights all those areas of his life, which unfortunately ended way too early, at the age of 32. 

Famous Bruce Lee quote: Be water. Mural painted on a wall in the downstairs area of the exhibit. Photo by Eric Bean/The Guardsman

 

This exhibit comes to us at a most opportune time because Bruce Lee was a uniter of people. As America seems to be in the midst of racial and cultural division the We Are Bruce Lee exhibit stands to remind us that we are indeed one family. This state-of-the-art exhibit will not only magnify the vision and values of a Chinese American icon, it can simultaneously unite and inspire people from all races and cultures to be the best versions of themselves. 

Never forget the common man mural at bottom of stairs with various paintings on the walls lining the stairwell. Photo by Eric Bean/The Guardsman

 

The exhibit will be here for the next three to five years and is a work in progress as they plan to regularly add to the exhibit. Plan to spend an hour or two but be aware that parking can be challenging so plan ahead so you can take your time and enjoy all this exhibit has to offer.

Various personal belongings and items on display downstairs. Photo by Eric Bean/The Guardsman

 

Located at the CHSA Museum in Chinatown,

965 Clay Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

Hours, Mon – Tue: Closed, Wed – Sun: 11 A.M. – 4 PM.

https://www.wearebrucelee.org/