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s a i y a r e 🧿 سیاره

@_saikick_

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sai (“sigh” like the sad audible release of breath) ya (rhymes with “jah”) re (“ray” as in X, manta and sun beams)

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🐦‍⬛New Art Under Empire with @_saikick_ is live!
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“As long as empires have existed there have been artists, poets, story tellers, and people resisting. We can be our own journalists and historians. We can educate each other and ensure that the next generation does not forget the mistakes of the past. We all have our ways we can contribute to a society we want to see, even if it’s not in our lifetime. Start local and with others. It’s not easy work, but it can be more regenerative and sustaining work if it’s done together.” - Saiyare Refaei
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Link in bio!

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Three years of genocide, a lifetime of resistance. All of these graphics are available for free download at high resolution in our many Palestine Solidarity packages on our graphics page. From the River to the Sea.

Artists are tagged!

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Sunday’s mural unveiling in the Art Alley celebrated the history behind McMinnville’s newest public artwork, A Gathering Place by McMinnville-raised artist Saiyare Refaei (@_saikick_ ).

The mural honors the historic Chinese community whose labor helped shape McMinnville, recognizing the workers who contributed to the city’s early growth and the traditions and celebrations that continue to bring people together today.

Created in consultation with the Asian Heritage Association, the mural is also a reflection of Saiyare’s own connection to McMinnville and the Chinese heritage represented in the piece.

The unveiling brought the community together with live music from @catchandreleasemac , noodles from @annamvlpdx , tea from @velvetmonkeyteashop , kimchi from @calicokimchi , and mooncakes from @asianheritageassoc .

Thank you to the Asian Heritage Association and everyone who helped bring the mural and Sunday’s celebration together. A Gathering Place is now part of McMinnville’s Art Alley!

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Thank you for the powerful reminder @_saikick_

It goes with me everywhere 🙏🏽

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Join us Sunday, September 27th 4-7! Live music from @catchandreleasemac. Celebrate the amazing mural by @_saikick_ that honors Chinese history in McMinnville.

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Such a highlight to have had so many talented artists fill the walls over the past 18+ years and to be a place for the community to gather. Current artist Kirsten @turnofthecenturies and next artist Saiyare @_saikick_ pose for a quick photo.

Kirsten showing through December 2026 and Saiyare showing January through mid April 2027.

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Our next Intro to Linocut Printing class with @_saikick_ is coming up Saturday, September 26, 12:30-3:30 pm. This introductory level class will cover tool safety, making a one-color print, and registering a two-color print. We will be dreaming up a liberated future we want to see. Register at community-print.org/classes/… link in bio! #linocutprinting #communityprintshop

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Thanks for visit mrsvernon.and Miss shae from singapura

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Our Newest Art Alley Mural Celebrates McMinnville’s Historic Chinese Community:

William Newby, McMinnville' s founder, brought in 300 Chinese workers, thought to be from the Toisan county in the Chinese province of Guangdong, to dig a four mile trench to bring water from Star Mills to Baker Creek Road. By the 1870s they were laundry owners, railroad workers, picked potatoes for five cents a bag, worked hop fields, harvested and packed berries. Their skilled labor vastly benefited Oregon’s local economy.

These men were not allowed to bring their wives and family, yet they found a gathering place in McMinnville to celebrate the Lunar New Year each year. Though they routinely faced bigotry, especially after the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, several prominent Chinese businessmen still chose to return to town. Quong Hop and Sam Yick are two men whose names show up several times in historic newspapers. Quong Hop owned several businesses including the noodle shop in McMinnville. Sam Yick owned a laundry business and gave out Chinese lilies during the Lunar New Year celebrations.

This mural was created in consultation with the Asian Heritage Association (AHA) and recognizes their annual multicultural Lunar New Year event that has made McMinnville a gathering place for celebration once again.

Artist Saiyare Refaei syas: "I was born and raised in McMinnville and my maternal great-grandfather is from the same province in China that many of the workers who were brought to McMinnville in the 1800s are from. To my knowledge there is not a public marker honoring the immense labor of these men who contributed so much the local economy of our town. I hope the mural can be a point of pause and celebration of what they have left behind and the celebrations that continue today. This mural would not have been possible without the assistance of my parents. This is the first mural I have painted in McMinnville and the first one they have helped me paint from start to finish. So this process has felt extra special."

For more information about Saiyare, visit justseeds.org/artist/saiyarerefaei, or on instagram @_saikick_ on Instagram, or visit: mcminnvilleartalley.com

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Come take a deeper look at our (almost) full alphabet of raffle prizes in descending order: prizes Q-N. Note: @_saikick_’s art book offerings were motivated by Youngmi’s love of gardening and cooking. Such thoughtful art donations from incredible artists all around. 🙏🏽🙏🏽
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100% of proceeds fund the legal defense of Youngmi, a Korean immigrant domestic violence survivor currently jailed in Pierce County, WA, and facing murder charges for acting in self-defense. She heads to trial in August.

Over $3,000 worth of prizes to win, including ceramics, prints, art, classes, services, gift certificates, and more! Free shipping in the continental U.S. for all shippable items.
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How to Enter

Donate via the link in bio (tinyurl.com/freeyoungmi)
$10 = 1 entry
Select your prizes at checkout. Share an email address where we can contact you if you win!
Donating more? Round up to these tiers for bonus entries:
$10 → 1 entry
$25 → 3 entries
$50 → 6 entries
$100 → 15 entries
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Raffle closes on August 3rd, 8pm Pacific.
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#Freedom4Youngmi #FreeYoungmi

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💛 Youngmi is a Korean immigrant and domestic violence survivor. After enduring years of abuse and control, she defended herself on the night her husband’s violence escalated to its worst. She is now facing second degree murder charges for self-defense. She heads to trial in August (2026).

@freeyoungmi is a volunteer group of local domestic violence survivor advocates and Korean community members who came together in January 2025 to extend care and support to Youngmi.

🤲 Please consider donating to and sharing the @freeyoungmi page as the group fundraises for Youngmi’s trial fees and basic needs. They have fundraised $11,741 of the $35,000 needed so far.

🔗 Donate + share: tinyurl.com/freeyoungmi

🎨 Illustration courtesy of @_saikick_

#FreeYoungmi #SurvivedAndPunished #DomesticViolenceAwareness #AAPI #survivor

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