Five years ago a handful of artists established the Asian American Women Artist Alliance (AAWAA). The founding members believed Asian women artists desperately needed a platform of their own. This was at a time when Asians were considered the “model minority,” and many of our members resisted the pressure to conform and to become their parents’ (and society’s) idea of “success.” These bold mavericks paved the way for future generations of artists. As a result, many of our younger members have found it easier to pursue careers in art. Over the years, this group of artists, through their own initiatives and efforts, has successfully established itself in the fine art community, staking their claim to a piece of the action. However, these developments are still shrouded by stereotypes and racial assumptions. “Globalization” has been seeping into almost every corner of the world, we can see the rest of the world through our television screens, and through the power of the Internet we can refer to art and ideas from across the globe. And yet, despite the shrinking distances between cultures, there remains an exoticism attached to Asian peoples, especially Asian women. In fact, here in the United States the perception endures that Asian-American women are demure, delicate beings that exist to please others. Does that create a bias towards the artwork we make? Does the viewer see the ethnicity of the artist before seeing the work? Can we get to a point where the art exists on its own? Or, on the other hand, is our ethnicity (and gender) an asset? Many of us tackle these and other issues as we continue to evolve and create, and AAWAA provides a forum for this constant, ever-expanding dialogue. AAWAA’s mission continues to involve cultivating an appreciation and understanding for the work of artists from different backgrounds; creating a support network where artists can seek assistance, information, and encouragement; providing opportunities for artists to achieve professional growth; and fostering multicultural exchanges and contact with other artist groups. Members of all ethnic backgrounds, encourage, develop, and promote each other’s individual and group efforts to gain recognition in the greater artistic community. Our members are at various stages of their careers. While many have achieved recognition, many more continue to find it difficult to cross into the mainstream gallery system. There has been a proliferation of new alternative galleries in recent years, especially in New York City, however there seems to be evermore eager, freshly-minted artists. AAWAA recognizes that its members benefit from having exposure to the art public, as an end itself or as a stepping stone to a mainstream gallery. To that end, AAWAA maintains a serious commitment to organizing two to four exhibitions a year, providing its artists with the opportunity to show their work in New York City galleries. Each summer AAWAA curates an exhibition of members’ works. Members are invited to submit artwork and selection is based on their artistic merits. At the end of each year, AAWAA presents Eat Art, a cross-cultural event of art and food. This exhibition has become an AAWAA trademark and is always alive with humor, visual delight, taste, metaphor, and surprise. AAWAA also sponsors ethnic-specific performances displaying diverse cultural backgrounds. In addition to the exhibition program, AAWAA occasionally holds workshops and seminars on issues concerning artists and their work; publishes an exhibition catalog to document each year’s achievement and to provide a literary forum for Asian-American writers; offers space on its website for individual members’ web pages; and releases Cairn, a quarterly newsletter. AAWAA operates entirely through volunteer efforts. We rely on membership dues from artists, and are supported by corporate and individual contributions, sponsorships such as free exhibition space, and grants from organizations like the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Brooklyn Arts Council, and the JP Morgan Chase Foundation. In short, AAWAA is an organization run by artists for artists. We are proud of our members and their “accumulative efforts” over these past years. We anticipate welcoming new artists into our alliance, not only for their fresh perspectives, but also to ensure the continuation of our mission to create, converse, and connect with our community. We hope you enjoy the works of our members in this exhibition, and look forward to your continued support. Jacie Lee Almira