In 2019, I initiated and proposed Textures of Remembrance: Vietnamese Artists and Writers Reflect on the Vietnamese Diaspora because I deeply believed in the necessity of more representation and diasporic narratives in reflections on the Vietnam War. Growing up as the daughter of immigrants and refugees, I felt the weight of untold stories—especially my father’s. His history reached me in fragments, discovered in old photos hidden away in albums, through brief mentions during family conversations, and, more profoundly, during a U.S. Navy reunion we attended together as a family when I was in college. That was when I learned the full story: how my father had escaped Vietnam by boat, nearly lost his life jumping into the ocean to save his nephew, spent eight months in a refugee camp in Japan, and was finally sponsored by the Catholic Church to start anew in America. These were pieces of my family’s history I hadn’t fully grasped until then, and the more I learned, the more I realized how much of our past was missing from mainstream narratives.
In school, I was taught a singular story about the Vietnam War—one that focused on America’s role, its eventual withdrawal, and a white savior narrative that framed Vietnamese people as secondary characters in their history. Nowhere in these retellings did I see my father’s struggle, my mother’s resilience, or the countless stories of those who fled and rebuilt their lives in foreign lands. The silence reinforced a sense of erasure that I couldn’t ignore.
Through college and graduate studies, I met others whose families carried similar histories—stories of loss, survival, and reinvention. Many of us had grown up piecing together our family’s past through photos, letters, and whispered recollections. These narratives deserved to be acknowledged, and Textures of Remembrance was born from this realization. It was a natural fit to pitch the project to the Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network (DVAN), an organization dedicated to fostering Vietnamese diasporic creative expression. Together, we created a space for these stories to be seen and heard.
The Partnership and Vision
As a Museum Studies professional, I knew the importance of ensuring that Textures of Remembrance reached the communities it was meant to serve. I proposed a partnership with DVAN and Exhibit Envoy, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, to create a traveling exhibition to bring these narratives to Vietnamese American communities, historical societies, libraries, and cultural institutions nationwide.
The exhibition was the result of a collaborative effort. We formed a planning committee that included DVAN content advisors, community members, and exhibition specialists. We sought submissions and utilized the diaCRITICS archive from the inaugural 2019 (Re—)membering April 30th: a submissions call, which inspired Textures of Remembrance. This significant undertaking successfully garnered funding from California Humanities and the California Arts Council. What started as a passion project transformed into an initiative encouraging conversations, connections, and community engagement.
DVAN took on the role of content developer, curating works by Vietnamese artists and writers who captured the complexities of the diaspora. Exhibit Envoy managed the logistics, ensuring the exhibit could travel smoothly to different venues. Our goal was to create a dynamic exhibition that captured the depth and diversity of our community’s experiences—one that would inspire thoughtful discussion and challenge prevailing narratives about the war and its aftermath.
Personal Reflections
One of my most heartfelt contributions to the exhibition is my piece, “Textures of My Father.” This digital mosaic goes beyond an artistic arrangement; it is a personal tribute to my father and his enduring legacy. I used his army photo, a poem I wrote for him, and scanned family pictures to create a layered visual narrative that embodies resilience, memory, and survival. Crafting this artwork enabled me to process my inherited fragmented history, understand the sacrifices my parents made, and honor the journey that shaped my existence.
I vividly recall discovering my father’s old photographs during elementary school—faded black and white photographs of him in uniform with fellow soldiers, smiling beside an army Jeep despite the burdens of war. At that time, their significance escaped me. It wasn’t until years later when my family attended a reunion hosted by the U.S. naval ship that rescued my father, my half-siblings, my aunt and her sons, and my uncle’s family, that I began to understand the magnitude of his experiences. He jumped into the mighty ocean current to save his nephew, who fell overboard, endured near starvation at sea, and lived as a refugee before he was able to rebuild his life. And he did just that. He learned English and studied to be an electrician, established a career as an electrical maintenance worker for the D.C. Metro, met my mother, and planted new roots to secure a future for our family.
This piece is a personal reflection and symbolizes the diverse elements that define me and my identity. As the daughter of immigrants who escaped war, a professional in museums and nonprofits, an advocate for arts, culture, and history, and a community connector, this work embodies the different aspects of my life and passions. It is also a gift for my daughter—a way to ensure our family’s history is remembered, felt, understood, and carried forward. I want her to see herself in these stories, recognize the sacrifices and resilience that have shaped our lineage, and know she is part of something far greater than herself. Through this piece, I hope to ignite intergenerational conversations that bridge the past and present, allowing her to honor where she comes from while finding strength, pride, and purpose in the legacy my father built.
Textures of Remembrance aims to honor the broader Vietnamese diasporic experience. It weaves together cultural identity, family ties, and historical consciousness—stories that linger in the margins, cherished by those who have lived them. Various artworks from several contributors in the exhibition reflect our mission to reclaim and showcase the Vietnamese diasporic experience. The exhibition features photographs, drawings, paintings, 3D works, participatory artwork, numerous short videos, and panels of poetry and prose accompanied by artist statements.
Community Impact and Response
Since its launch in Spring 2022, Textures of Remembrance has resonated deeply with visitors. Vietnamese Americans who attended the exhibit often shared that it was the first time they had seen their histories reflected in a museum or cultural space. It became a place of recognition and validation, sparking intergenerational conversations and moments of healing. One visitor wrote in a survey, “For so long, I thought my family’s story was just ours, but seeing these artworks made me realize we are not alone.” Another said the exhibit “moved me to tears” because it honored their family’s struggles in a way they had never seen before.
For non-Vietnamese audiences, the exhibit served as an opportunity to learn beyond the conventional war narratives. After a panel talk, a visitor once told me, “Thank you for sharing these stories. It completely changed how I understand the Vietnam War and its aftermath.” These reactions affirmed the necessity of this work and reminded me why representation matters.
The exhibit has encouraged people to share their narratives through interactive components like oral history stations, storytelling workshops, and artist talks. We have traveled to venues such as the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, the Kaddatz Galleries in Minnesota, the Global Museum at San Francisco State University, and the Chandler Museum in Arizona, with our final installation planned for Fall 2025 at the San Francisco Public Library.
The Importance of Textures of Remembrance
This exhibition is more than a collection of artwork and literature—it is a necessary intervention in historical memory. It reclaims space for stories that have long been sidelined, ensuring that the Vietnamese diasporic experience is recognized, honored, and preserved. Textures of Remembrance challenges dominant perspectives and expands the discourse surrounding the Vietnam War by centering narratives of survival, loss, resilience, and identity.
This exhibit asserts the power of self-representation at a time when refugees and immigrants continue to face dehumanization and misrepresentation. I often think about how much of my father’s story could have been lost if I hadn’t asked questions, stumbled upon those old photos, or hadn’t attended that naval reunion. There are countless stories like his waiting to be told. Textures of Remembrance is my way of making sure they are not forgotten. Through this project, we are remembering the past and shaping the future of how these histories are told and understood.
Ultimately, Textures of Remembrance affirms: We are here, we endured, and our stories matter.
Terri Le has spent over a decade building a career in nonprofit development, focusing on arts, culture, and social impact. With a background in museum studies and an MBA from John F. Kennedy University, she has dedicated her work to supporting organizations that strengthen communities and amplify underrepresented voices. Currently serving as the Major Gifts Manager at Stop AAPI Hate, Terri brings her expertise in fundraising and communications to advance meaningful change.
Her career has taken her through various roles in museums, cultural institutions, and social justice organizations, deepening her commitment to fostering creative and equitable spaces. Whether working with grassroots organizations or larger institutions, she believes in the power of storytelling, advocacy, and philanthropy to shape a more just world.
Outside of work, Terri finds joy in baking, writing, and exploring new creative outlets that connect her passions with the causes she cares about.
