Community X Arts
Community X Arts is a vibrant initiative dedicated to bringing art and community together through a series of engaging workshops. By offering hands-on experiences in film, drawing, music, dance, drama, and photography, we aim to foster creativity, self-expression, and cultural connection among participants of all ages and backgrounds.
Project Goal:
Our goal is to create an inclusive space where art serves as a bridge to unite communities, encourage personal growth, and promote mental well-being. We believe that art has the power to inspire, heal, and strengthen social bonds, offering a creative outlet for stress relief and emotional expression.
Through these workshops, we strive to:
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Make art accessible to all, regardless of experience level
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Encourage cross-cultural exchange and appreciation
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Provide a safe space for self-expression and stress relief
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Empower individuals with artistic skills and emotional resilience
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Strengthen the community through shared creative and healing experiences
Artist in Residence
Abby Man-Yee Chan
Abby is a dance artist originally from Hong Kong, now based in Brooklyn, New York. A graduate of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, she began her professional career with the City Contemporary Dance Company. She is the founder of Chan-candance Theatre and co-artistic director of McMuiMui ansemble. A four-time recipient of the Hong Kong Dance Award, Abby was also honored with the Lee Hysan Foundation Fellowship by the Asian Cultural Council. Her horeographic and performance work has been presented internationally in cities including Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Taipei, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, Kyoto, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Auckland, São Paulo, Colorado, and New York. Abby has worked as a movement director and performer with notable companies such as O Theatre Workshop, Trinity Theatre, Reframe Theatre, and Dionysus Contemporary Theatre. Her recent projects include Kidult Ophelia, Cattle Runway, MMM: Re, The Next 20 Hins Live Concert, ÉLAN Lost Child Project HK, and Footsteps Reimagined. In addition to her performance work, Abby is dedicated to community engagement through dance. She develops creative movement and wellness programs for older adults in collaboration with various organizations. Currently, she is a cast member of Grand Pistachio, a puppetry theater company in New York, continuing to explore theintersections of dance, theatre, and storytelling.
Bonita Lei
Bonita is a seasoned photographer whose journey began during the era of analog photography, capturing art installations in museums and galleries. Her passion for documenting the world around her grew over time, expanding into a full-time pursuit. Starting with a Yashica Mat Twin Lens 2 1/4" film camera, Bonita evolved her craft with 35mm SLRs before transitioning to digital photography in 2010. Her portfolio spans a wide range of subjects, including industrial photography, fashion, events, and other assignments. Additionally, she spent time printing fiber-based gelatin silver prints for exhibiting photographers, further honing her technical skills. In recent years, Bonita’s work has focused on documenting New York City life during the pandemic. Since 2020, her subjects have included protests, demonstrations, and marches led by Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) against hate crimes, as well as the Hong Kongers' fight for freedom and democracy (NY4HK, Lion Rock Cafe events). She has also captured poignant moments of New York City's homeless population and abandoned public spaces. Bonita has compiled a three-volume book set, chronicling her experiences through these powerful images, and aims to share these encounters through an art exhibition of her work.