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Artist Rene Yung, who has been collaborating with the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (and fiscal sponsor Intersection for the Arts) announces three exciting public programs that are part of Chinese Whispers, Bay Chroniclesexploring the forgotten history of Chinese shrimp fishing in San Francisco Bay:

  • On Saturday, September 6, 10:30-5:00 p.m., the project kicks off at Craneway Pavilion in Richmond.
  • On Saturday, September 13, 12:30-3:30 p.m., the artist and her project partners invite the public to gather at the EcoCenter at Heron’s Head Park in Hunters Point, San Francisco
  • On Sunday, September 14, 2:00-5:00 p.m. Chinese Whispers celebrates at China Camp in San Rafael.

Project content is being gathered through sailings on the Grace Quan, a 43-foot replica of a 19th century Chinese shrimp junk, to former Chinese shrimping sites around the Bay. Rene Yung will chronicle the sails, along with historical ecologists from the San Francisco Estuary Institute, and John C. Muir, archaeologist and Curator of Small Craft at the San Francisco, who will skipper the Grace Quan. The project will culminate in a transmedia art installation at the Maritime Park in 2015.

At the Craneway Pavilion event, visitors will be able to tour the Grace Quan, catch the sights and surround-sound from the first day’s sail, and hear presentations by renowned historian Philip Choy, Melinda McCrary–from the Richmond Museum of History, and skipper John Muir on the building of the authentic replica junk, as well as the historical ecologists from the San Francisco Estuary Institute.

The Hunters Point gathering will feature Bayview Historical Society President Daniel Dodt, marine biologist Andrew Cohen, and long-time Bayview residents’ memories of the former Chinese shrimp fishing community–Oscar James and Dorris Vincent. Visitors can admire the Grace Quan and her crew’s sailing maneuvers and enjoy a lunch of local specialties hosted by the Bayview Historical Society.

The concluding celebration at China Camp will feature lion dancers from the Marin Chinese Cultural Association, expedition stories, a pop-up installation, and tours of and a ceremonial walk through China Camp.