October 12, 2007: Volume 71, Number 6

"Who are You?" exhibit explores multiracial identity

The Hapa Project: Portraits by Kip Fulbeck, one of the seminal artists exploring multiraciality, will open Friday, Oct. 19 in the Mandeville Gallery during Art Night Schenectady, with a reception featuring live jazz, 6-8 p.m.

The Hapa Project is an exhibition of photographs of people whose mixed racial heritage includes Asian or Pacific Island descent. Each subject was also asked to write an answer to the question, “What are you?” The exhibition will feature 30 color portraits, each paired with the subject’s handwritten response to that question.

The word hapa is slang for a person of such mixed ancestry, from the Hawaiian: hapa haole, or half white. Originally a derogatory term, hapa has come to embrace the beauty of a multiracial identity.

Fulbeck is a professor and chair of art at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who uses his own Cantonese, English, Irish, and Welsh background as a springboard to exploring identity through photography, film, writing, monologues and multimedia performances. His works have been exhibited worldwide, and his award-winning videos have aired on PBS.

Fulbeck traveled the country photographing more than 1,000 hapas of all ages and from all walks of life, including construction workers, comic book artists, rock stars, porn stars, engineers and teachers. His book, Part Asian, 100% Hapa (Chronicle Books, 2006), contains 116 of the photographs from his project.

The Hapa Project runs through Feb. 3, with a lecture and reception at the Nott set for Jan. 31. 

Also on view during Art Night Schenectady are two other College exhibits: “Aristophanes, The Birds,” which runs through Dec. 9 at the Wikoff Student Gallery in the Nott Memorial; and “Nepal 1975-2005, Photographs by Kevin Bubriski,” through Nov. 13 in the Atrium Gallery, Visual Arts Building.

“Aristophanes, The Birds” features costume pieces used in last spring’s production of “The Birds,” produced by the Department of Theater and Dance and directed by Professor William A. Finlay. Each headdress represents a different world culture in the guise of a “bird.” They were designed by Department Costumer Lloyd Waiwaiole and built by theater students.

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