A Celebration of Hmong American Literature and Art

Overview

Partner Event

A Celebration of Hmong American Literature and Art

Friday, March 22

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. CDT

Northrop Auditorium Floor 4, Best Buy Theater, 84 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN

Join Pao Houa Her and Kao Kalia Yang in conversation with Mai Der Vang about their newly published works. Her will be discussing her debut monograph, My grandfather turned into a tiger … and other illusions (Aperture, 2024).

Pao Houa Her’s work draws inspiration from myriad sources: apocryphal family lore; portraits of the artist’s community and self; and reimagined landscapes, with Minnesota and Northern California standing in for Laos. The compelling and personal narratives are grounded in the traditions and contemporary metaphors of the Hmong diasporic community. My grandfather turned into a tiger brings together four of the artist’s major series, including the title work, which reimagines her family’s history before leaving Laos.

This program is free and open to the public. Advance registration is encouraged, but not required. Please register here.

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Pao Houa Her is a Hmong American visual artist, teacher, and author. Her new book, My grandfather turned into a tiger … and other illusions, reimagines her family’s history before leaving Laos, and explores the concepts of home, belonging, illusion, desire, and loss.

Kao Kalia Yang is a Hmong American teacher, speaker, and writer. Her new book, Where Rivers Part, tells the story of her mother’s perilous journey to safety. The Rock in My Throat explores young Hmong refugee children navigating their new lives in the United States.

Mai Der Vang is a Hmong American poet who has authored award-winning collections including Yellow Rain and Afterland. She will moderate an illuminating conversation with these two women as they discuss their lives, their inspirations, and their art.

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