Efforts to honor the memory of the Chinese community at Lone Fir Cemetery are gaining momentum, as funding has been approved for two distinct art projects within its historic Chinese section.
These projects, while differing in focus, share a common objective: to pay tribute to those who once rested in a part of the cemetery known as “Block 14.” Historical research reveals that over 2,800 individuals of Chinese descent were interred at Lone Fir from the 1880s until the early 1900s. This continued until Multnomah County acquired the cemetery and began efforts to clear the Chinese section of graves.
The funding for these artistic endeavors arises from Metro’s Percent for Art program, an initiative mandated by Oregon law that allocates 1 percent of public construction budgets to the creation of public art.
In line with the established guidelines, Metro sought an art advisor to spearhead the recruitment of artists. Suenn Ho, an artist and urban designer, was selected to guide the process. In July 2024, Metro opened the call for art proposals based on Ho’s insights and recommendations.
An art advisory committee was formed to assist in the selection of artists. This committee comprises Ho, Metro project staff, historian Dr. Jennifer Fang, lead memorial designer Mike Yun from Knot Studio, and memorial architect Thea Von Geldern from Allied Works.
Applications were evaluated against a set of established criteria, which included artistic qualifications, project approach, an understanding of Chinese and Chinese American history, and prior experience with historical, archaeological, or cemetery specific topics. Moreover, the committee considered representation from the Portland metropolitan area and the inclusion of opportunities for emerging artists.
Additional challenges included navigating the logistical and legal hurdles associated with erecting art within a cemetery while adhering to the budgetary constraints.
In late 2024, Metro announced its intent to award $180,000 to Lead Pencil Studio for an art installation at the cemetery memorial.
Alongside this, the selection committee recommended granting approximately $20,000 to emerging artists Qi You and Sophia Xiao-fan Austrins to collaborate with community members on creating ideas for the memorial altar, as well as fostering connections between the living and their ancestors.
Lead Pencil Studio, comprising artists Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo, was chosen as the established artist for this project. Based in Seattle, the duo has developed a notable portfolio of public art installations throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Having once met during their architecture studies at the University of Oregon, Han and Mihalyo have previously crafted significant public artworks in Oregon, including “Inversion: Plus Minus” within Portland’s Central Eastside and a memorial at the Oregon State Hospital.
Their proposed piece, “Passage,” employs a unique method termed “filigree,” involving the welding of durable metal wire to form intricate designs that transition between clear edges and delicate outlines. The design envisions an arched gateway at the eastern entrance of the memorial, which gradually becomes more transparent, symbolizing an invitation for visitors to enter a culturally significant and sacred space.
According to the artists’ statement, “The rendering of the sculpture is such that it is completely transparent and will be neither fragile nor imposing. It will be an invitation to enter or exit through this portal as a transition to prepare visitors of all backgrounds for a culturally specific and sacred environment.”
Lead Pencil Studio engaged with community members at a presentation held in May at the Oregon Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, and plans for a second engagement event are tentatively scheduled for late summer or early fall.
In contrast, the project by Qi You and Sophia Xiao-fan Austrins aims to create a collaborative and interactive experience. Their proposal, titled “Imprints of Our Times,” involves inviting community members to bring or craft objects to be included on an ancestral altar within the memorial.
The artists propose that select items could later be cast in bronze and permanently embedded into the altar at the pavilion. Other contributions might be used to create impressions in the stone, symbolizing the loss experienced when the cemetery area was cleared for a county maintenance facility.
Having engaged the community through events in October 2024 and April 2025, Austrins and You are planning a third event scheduled for July 26 at the Oregon Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association.
These artistic projects, representing both established and emerging voices in Portland’s art scene, reflect a collective commitment to preserving the history and honor of the Chinese community that once thrived in the area.
image source from：oregonmetro
