Intended Audience
The Color Curtain Project is a series of culinary experiences and art book presentations that explore the multitudes of relationships shared between Africa and Asia. Inspired by the writer Richard Wright's reflections as an American attending the 1955 Bandung Conference of African and Asian nations, the project uses food, writing, and art as mediums for constructive dialogue around political and social justice challenges that entwine African and Asian experiences globally and interpersonally. In a special presentation to St. Mary's College, The Color Curtain Project will present new material that reflects on how we individually and collectively respond to catastrophe. Students and faculty of all backgrounds are invited to share in this dialogue. This project is presented by The Bombshelltoe Policy x Arts Collective, a creative organization pushing for an active exploration of arts, culture, and history to promote nuclear nonproliferation, arms control and disarmament for the next generation. Sponsors: Center for the Study of Democracy, Asian Studies, Art and History programs.
Speakers and Presenters:
Lovely Umayam
Lovely Umayam is the founder of Bombshelltoe, and is also a Non-Resident Fellow at the Stimson Center, Washington, DC conducting research on blockchain technology for nuclear security. Lovely has also served as a Program Manager at the Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control within the U.S. Department of Energy - National Nuclear Security Administration where she implemented nuclear safeguards engagement projects in Southeast Asia and Latin America. Southeast Asia.
Adriel Luis is the creative director of Bombshelltoe and also the Curator of Digital and Emerging Practice at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, where he advocates for equitable practices in museums and institutions.
Tammy Tammy Nguyen is a multimedia artist whose practice encompasses painting, drawing, printmaking, and book making. Nguyen received a BFA from Cooper Union in 2007 and a Fulbright scholarship to study lacquer painting in Vietnam in 2008. Since earning her MFA from Yale in 2013, Nguyen has received numerous awards and had work exhibited at MOMA PS1, Smack Mellon, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, MIT Library, and the MOMA Library, among many others. She is now a professor at Wesleyan University with representation by Lehmann Maupin.
Erik Bruner-Yang
Erik Bruner-Yang is a celebrated chef and restaurateur. He is a multi-James Beard finalist, and was named Starchefs’ Rising Star D.C. Restaurateur. The former Executive Chef with &pizza and newest Italian & Asian restaurant: ABC Pony in DC. Bruner-Yang’s restaurants are instinctual; contemporary yet habitual, including Maketto, a three-level Asian market and restaurant; and Brothers and Sisters at the LINE DC hotel. His restaurants have received numerous accolades, from Bon Appetit magazine’s 50 Best New Restaurants 2018; to Thrillist’s Best New Restaurants 2018 and RAMMY’s Best New Restaurant 2019 for Spoken English.