We extend our best wishes for a joyful Lunar New Year and Ramadan to all who observe these occasions. May this year bring peace, health, and prosperity to everyone. We also hope it will be a year where artists can thrive financially from their creations, despots are toppled, justice is served to traffickers and their partners, art is no longer a mere investment vehicle, and biased art critiques funded by billionaires disappear. Enjoy the read! —Hakim Bishara, editor-in-chief
Chinatown Comes Alive with Fire Horse Celebrations
Yesterday, Manhattan’s Chinatown celebrated the Lunar New Year with vibrant dragon dancers, swirling confetti, and sparkling lights along Mott Street. Artist Sarula Bao’s striking embroidered puppet, made in tribute to the Year of the Fire Horse, captivated onlookers as it danced above the crowd. This creation is part of the annual Lantern Residency by the nonprofit Think!Chinatown. Bao shared, “I aimed to incorporate traditional Chinese New Year symbols linked with luck and prosperity, like mandarins, fish, coins, and the yuanbao, a historical form of currency.”
