In a heartwarming effort to breathe new life into Atlanta’s Chinatown, Taiwanese American artist Andrew Blooms has curated a series of pop-up markets that aim to rejuvenate the cultural hub.
The next markets are scheduled for Saturday and May 17, reflecting Blooms’ commitment to enriching the community he holds dear.
“I’ve heard from a lot of the community here, ‘Man, we need to do something with this place,‘” Blooms explains.
“This is a lot of our personal history. I have a lot of memories of having that connection to my culture just through this one place.
So I think it’s important for a lot of the Asian community to keep it alive and to take care of it.”
Atlanta’s Chinatown, built in 1988 as a small mall featuring a food court, courtyard, and community center, stands apart from larger Chinatowns in other U.S. cities.
Located amid the pan-Asian sprawl along Buford Highway, the site temporarily closed during COVID before being sold to a new owner, who is currently renovating it.
Fellow artist Perlizbeth De Leon praised Blooms’ efforts as she painted onstage at one of the markets in March, saying, “The kids say people have aura; you can have good aura, bad aura, lots of aura points.
To me, Andrew has a lot of aura. Not just him as a person; you can feel it radiating from his work.”
On the same stage, DJ Susie Kim added to the vibrant atmosphere with electronic dance music, highlighting the transformation Blooms is bringing to the area.
“It’s cool to see how Andrew is pulling people toward the area, to get new life there,” Kim said.
Vasti Pichardo, assistant property manager of Chinatown Mall, emphasized the importance of supporting small businesses in the community, stating, “We have a lot of mom and pop stores, and we want them to thrive.
Andrew wants to bridge the multicultural and multigenerational so the community can have connections.”
Blooms, who manages numerous detailed aspects of the market, finds it challenging to sell his own art amidst the busy atmosphere, which features roughly 20 other vendors alongside his offerings.
His artwork leans towards what he calls “neotraditional Asian art,” drawing inspiration from classic Japanese tattoo motifs.
At 32 years old, Blooms was born in Marietta to Taiwanese American parents who both attended Georgia State University.
Originally named Andrew Huang, he adopted the stage name Blooms after discovering a more prominent YouTube musician with his birth name during his pursuit of a career in music and art.
The name Blooms aligns perfectly with the bold floral depictions that characterize his work.
“These things just grow,” he explains.
“And they don’t worry about the outcome.”
Music has always been a significant part of his life.
As is common in Asian families, he was encouraged from a young age to learn musical instruments, including piano, violin, cello, and clarinet, before his passion drifted towards rock music.
Later, he became interested in graphic art during his time at the University of Georgia, where he majored in graphic design and music.
After working as a music producer in Athens, he returned to Atlanta in 2020, where he further explored his artistic passions.
A pivotal moment occurred at UGA when he discovered a library book about Japanese tattoo art that captivated him deeply.
“It was like something just illuminated in my life,” he recalls, admitting he took the book out multiple times, accumulating late fees due to his eagerness to emulate the drawings.
Blooms delved into the histories of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean tattooing, eventually using his own body as a canvas for his experimentation with tattoos, remarking, “I can’t count how many tattoos I have because they are done individually and then link up.
Everything melts together, am I right?”
In addition to creating art, Blooms also shares his techniques with aspiring artists.
He recently opened Blooms Emporium, a small store on the upper floor of Ponce City Market, offering his artwork and hosting classes from 1-3 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m.-noon on Sundays.
“The first market was a huge learning experience for me,” Blooms reflects on his early efforts at Chinatown Mall.
“I’m trying to serve the community, and I don’t want anyone to fall through the cracks.
We need to make sure we have all these pieces set in place so that everyone feels like this was done with integrity, because that’s the only way it’s going to survive.”
image source from：https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/an-atlanta-artist-works-to-ensure-that-chinatown-mall-flowers-again/NZUQENHSQBAABNBQIG6RA4MKME/
