Sanctuary, an interactive drawing installation featuring a 20-foot-long wheat paste tiger, cherry blossoms, and chalkboard easels, was part of the 2022 Residence Lab exhibition at Tufts Community Common (186 Harrison Ave) in Boston’s Chinatown. ResLab is an innovative residency by Pao Arts Center and the Asian Community Development Corporation that empowers residents and artists to collectively preserve Chinatown through creative activation of underutilized sites in the neighborhood.

Dreamt up by residents Yanna Chen and Xingyao He and artist Amanda Beard Garcia, Sanctuary was prompted by our own memories of belonging: fresh air, relaxation, safety, freedom, and creativity. We were amused by the children’s chalk drawings found on nearly every reachable surface in the space — the brick walls, the sidewalk, even the trees — and wanted to inspire more creative expression from visitors of all ages.

The larger-than-life tiger was a symbol of 2022 and our collective community’s resilience, strength, and protection. The cherry blossoms represented grace and renewal during challenging moments. The chalkboard easels encouraged more drawing onto otherwise un-writable surfaces. Visitors were welcome to contribute their own ephemeral chalk flowers, messages, or drawings onto the brick wall and easels. These sharings faded and layered over time to inspire and make room for more. We hope that our project cultivated feelings of comfort, creativity, and joy to anyone who entered this park.