TEN THOUSAND THINGS
March 7, 2025 through Spring 2027
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Etsuko Ichikawa
Uranium Glass Orbs (Detail)
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT
Ten Thousand Things
March 7, 2025 through Spring 2027
Curated by award-winning public radio podcast host and poet Shin Yu Pai, Ten Thousand Things is an exploration of the objects that shape our identities, histories, and cultural narratives. Inspired by her experience cataloging artifacts at the Wing Luke Museum as a Museology graduate student, Pai has long been fascinated by the way objects function as vessels of memory, meaning, and storytelling.
This exhibition expands upon her acclaimed public radio podcast Ten Thousand Things. Through three seasons of storytelling, Pai has explored the intimate connections people have with everyday and extraordinary items—objects that hold deep personal significance, evoke generational ties, or serve as cultural touchstones.
Visitors will encounter a curated selection of objects featured in the podcast, alongside newly collected artifacts and stories from local communities. From hand-crafted kapa cloth to a cherished abacus, from a well-worn walis tingting broom to a vibrant red chador, each item on display carries its own narrative of belonging, resilience, and transformation.
Shin Yu Pai, Mask. Photo courtesy of Sung Park.
Ten Thousand Things was originally commissioned by KUOW Public Radio at the University of Washington.
As of 2025, the podcast is independently produced and distributed by Wonder Media Network.
Visitors are invited to reflect on their own treasured belongings and the hidden stories they carry. Through this immersive experience, Ten Thousand Things seeks to illuminate the infinite ways in which objects connect us—to our pasts, to one another, and to the ever-evolving fabric of Asian American experiences.
Tiffany Ran, Tatung Steam Cooker
ARTIST LIST
Shin Yu Pai
Anida Yoeu Ali
Etsuko Ichikawa
Susie Kozawa
Tiffany Ran
Serena Chopra
Tomo Nakayama
Stewart Wong
Jim Labayen
Johnathan Diego
Sharon Maeda
Paul Miyahara
Kalei’okalani Matsui
Kamna Shastri
EXHIBITION EVENTS
OPENING RECEPTION
March 6, 2025
Members & Special Guests Only
RSVP for the opening night reception for a first look at the new exhibition.
MEMBERS GET FIRST LOOK
Becoming a Wing Luke Museum member grants you access to special member-only receptions, free admission, and early exhibition looks.
CHECK OUT OUR FULL EVENTS CALENDAR
Plan your year with us and check out more exciting community events, parties, programs, and more!
SPONSORS
EXHIBITION SPONSOR
Guendolen Carkeek Plestcheeff Fund for the Decorative and Design Arts