心 by Shuhua (Liz) Xiong (Pre-Order)
11"x14" giclee print
Illustration by Liz Xiong (New York, NY)
Proceeds from the print will directly support Good Good Eatz and their initiatives within the Oakland communities.
Orders are estimated to ship around mid-September.
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Liz's piece illustrates a memory submitted by Sarah.
"In my heart, I have a soft spot for this little underground mall in Chinatown on Elizabeth Street. Visions of my childhood are colored by the vibrant scenery of Mott and Bayard leading up to Elizabeth—where my family would fill our bellies with congee and wontons, bring home boxes stuffed with egg custards, and carry bags overflowing with dragon-fruit and lychee.
After Chinese New Year, my sister and I would skip carelessly down those confetti-covered streets, clutching our lucky red envelopes, towards the underground mall. It was comprised of dozens of small toy and stationery shops, and we’d spend hours wandering through whimsical stores crammed with Hello-Kitty and robots and trinkets. Then, after careful deliberation, we’d trade in our lucky money for a beloved treasure. My favorite is a pink solar-powered friend that remains on my desk until this very day, though the shop no longer exists."
From the artist:
I resonated with the story because I've been in New York for nearly 9yrs now. Even though there are many new "trendy" Chinese or fusion restaurants in Manhattan, Chinatown is still the only place I think that has authentic food, by the authentic generation, cooking with heart. I know exactly the place Sarah is referring to lol! And I love congee and egg custards. I'm bad at cooking so I always go to Chinatown for quick bites bring back a dozen of egg custards, sometimes sponge cakes, for the rest of the week. Dates are also more fun in Chinatown restaurants. Usually I complain how crowded it is, but now It saddens me to see empty Manhattan Chinatown during Covid.
Another thing is that I have loved toy shops and stationary shops since I was a kid! I do wonder if Sarah has a photo of her pink toy? Is it a head nodding one? l would love to capture that. But also, Sarah's story gave me a strong nostalgic image in my head, which was why I chose it.