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Deets: An unforgettable night of captivating stories and soul-stirring melodies with Rhiannon Giddens, Lisa See, and the Silkroad Ensemble.

The forthcoming American Railroad tour—just one component of the multi-year American Railroad initiative, Silkroad’s most ambitious project to date—comprises stops in locations with significant connections to the U.S. Transcontinental Railroad. In addition to previously announced tour dates, Metro Art x Silkroad are pleased to present a free event on November 13 at Los Angeles Union Station. The evening includes musical performances by Silkroad Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens, Silkroad artists Wu Man and Haruka Fujii, and guest artist Pura Fé, as well as a discussion about the railroad, the communities who built it, and the people who were displaced and most affected by it.

Joining Silkroad for the conversational portion of the event is bestselling author Lisa See, whose great-great-grandfather worked on the Railroad in the mid-1800s, as described in See’s memoir On Gold Mountain. See grew up in and currently lives in Los Angeles; her great-grandfather, Fong See, overcame obstacles at every step to become the godfather of the city’s Chinatown neighborhood and the patriarch of a sprawling family. Her books have been celebrated for their authentic, deeply researched, lyrical stories about Chinese characters and cultures. Images from the Lisa See Collection, The Huntington, San Marino, CA are also on view as part of the exhibition, Where You Stand: Chinatown 1880 to 1939 (你所處的位置: 唐人街 1880 年至 1939 年) in the Union Station Waiting Room Gallery.

Hint for the Average Socialite: This event is free, but does require an RSVP!

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