A Mural Project Celebrating

Southeast Asians in Burke

In the Southeast Asian American mural, designed by Kiana Mui, we are presented with a nostalgic piece, exploring themes of exodus, assimilation, and collective resilience. Figures flow in a chronological narrative from left to right depicting 1970s Laos and modern Morganton. The dreamy color palette, influenced by Mui’s personal style, ties each element together in a deeply layered, intricate design. Mui shared that one of her goals for the mural was to inspire cultural connectivity. She hopes the mural will act as a lyrical reassurance to hope and peace, despite life’s many hardships. Figures in the mural have been influenced by Chue and Tou Lee, of Morganton’s own Lee’s Fortune One Farm, Thoum Nivanh, Pa Nhia Thao, Mai Vue, Dayna Yang, and resources with interviews with Khamkay Inthavong, Kiangsamay, Tea Yang, Sengkeo Sengchanthavong, and Chia Xa Vue. 

Location Site: Marquees Cinema
101 S Green St, Morganton, NC 28655

Design by Kiana Mui

Ribbon Cutting at the mural with artists, models, steering committee members, supporters, and residents in Morganton.

Artists

The Steering Committee

  • Geensia Xiong

  • Mai Vue

  • Pat Nivanh

  • Tea Yang

The Process

Community Mural Institute’s Process

  • Scouting | Identifying the Stories and Sites

  • Nominating | Identifying the Community Group (small group of 3-5 people to make key decisions for the project) and artists

  • Listening Sessions | The artists and CMI team lead the workshop, engaging our community in conversation and activities to solicit ideas for the theme and content of the mural. These sessions typically last 2 hours. 

  • Designing | The community input guides the muralists, who creates the design. The mural design is done by the artists and CMI team, who have years of experience translating complex and nuanced ideas into visual images that work well as a mural.

  • Painting | Once the mural design is approved by the project coordinators and design approval committee, it is projected onto specially prepared mural fabric, creating a giant paint-by-numbers. 

  • Paint Parties | The mural paint parties are free and open to all. People can paint for as little or as long and they want and no experience is necessary.  

  • Installation | The muralists then do the detail work and overpainting in the studio, before installing the mural permanently on the wall.

  • Ribbon Cutting | When the mural is complete, we all come together one last time for a ribbon cutting. We give thanks, take pictures, and celebrate what we all created together.