You are invited to the unveiling of We Should Talk: The Greatest Poem on November 8, 2023 from 6 pm – 8 pm ET at the Gallery Y at Anthony Bowen YMCA, 1325 W Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

Artist Thu Anh Nguyen and cultural strategist Philippa Pham Hughes are spearheading the creation of an art installation that includes a 15-foot flower garden mural incorporating expressions of identity from hundreds of AAPI women. A recording of Philippa’s short animated film “The Greatest Poem” will be playing alongside the mural. We hope you will join us for this very special evening.

“The Greatest Poem” is inspired by one of America’s greatest poets Walt Whitman, who said, “The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem.” 

Whitman’s claim stemmed from a belief that both poetry and democracy derive their power from their ability to create a unified whole out of disparate parts. Those who’ve descended from Asian immigrants comprise one of those disparate parts. However, there is no singular Asian American identity because the Asian American identity is also made of distinct parts. The Greatest Poem explores this complexity through poetry, film, and a 15-foot flower garden mural created by artist Thu Anh Nguyen. The mural will integrate expressions of Asian American identity from hundreds of AAPI women.