Our workshops came to an end in July and each team proposal was finalized in early August. During that time, our ResLab teams began meeting on their own in order to fine tune their projects. I was invited to continue Mandarin interpretation support for two of our ResLab teams while Leslie provided prototyping and installation support for the last team. Through this role, I increasingly became more involved with the teams’ design and co-creation process.

Caption: Yuko, Kathy, Elaine, and Amy decided to install free-standing garden planters in the park. Amy and Elaine’s anecdotes about living in Chinatown with their children inspired 

these colorful and playful mural designs. They reflected workshop conversations about the importance of fostering collective imagination and community care for children, with plenty of fresh air to breath and wide space to play around.

Caption: To start off their co-creation brainstorming, Kathy, Yuko, Elaine, and Amy workshopped an art activity in Mary Soo Hoo Park. Drawing and snacking on Hello Panda chocolate cookies together, they discussed important issues they wanted to represent for their installation, including air pollution awareness and family-friendly spaces.

Caption: For Cass and Sheila, it was important to create intentional seating space for families and children visiting Mary Soo Hoo Park. Cass, who has had experience with paper construction and origami, spearheaded a vision for a golden dragon to wrap around the table, painted in the style of Chinese paper-cut design. 

Caption: Kneeling on the grounds at Mary Soo Hoo Park together, Sheila and Cass looked up images of paper-cut dragons for inspiration. They decided on painting colors-- Cass emphasized the importance of gold in Chinese culture and incorporating bright multicolored benches on the side-- and how to position the long picnic table in order to activate underutilized park space.

When Brian, Clare, and Itasha first started imagining how to activate Mary Soo Hoo Park, they instantly thought about how to transform the space to feel more like a block party. Inspired by Brian’s background as a break dancer, the team eventually decided to guide visitors through the park through a series of painted footprints, much like the instructions to a dance.

Caption: Brian, Itasha, and Clare discussed the different footprints that they could include in their project. 

The team also discussed adding affirmations along the path translated into the five most spoken languages of the areas, in order to increase a sense of belonging in the park.