With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive.
Chinese American Museum Exhibit Honors Kung Fu Legend Bruce Lee, Who Died 50 Years Ago This Month
A Bruce Lee statue is the centerpiece of an exhibit put on by the Chinese American Museum timed to the 50th anniversary of the cultural icon's death.
(
Frederic J. Brown
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Topline:
Starting Saturday, a free weeklong exhibit in downtown L.A. will feature tribute art to Bruce Lee. The screen legend moved to L.A. during the 1960s and taught martial arts and acted here. The exhibit is timed to the anniversary of Lee's death in Hong Kong on July 20, 1973 at the age of 32.
The exhibit: The show put on by the Chinese American Museum features several dozen works by Hong Kong-based sculptor Chu Tat Shing. The centerpiece is Chu's sculpture of Lee in his signature side-kick pose. A larger version has been on display at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum since 2013.
Why L.A.: A self-described Lee fan, Chu said he collaborated with the museum to bring his exhibit to the city because of its large Asian American population and Lee's ties to Hollywood. Lee acted in The Green Hornet TV series and trained celebrities such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Students flocked to the studio Lee opened on College Street in Chinatown.
Support for LAist comes from
Where to see the exhibit: The Bruce Lee sculpture and other other Chu works will be on display at the Pico House at El Pueblo de Los Angeles from July 15 to 23. (The museum is closed July 17.) Scheduled events include live sculpting demos by Chu. For more information, visit here.
The other Bruce Lee statue in L.A.: A bronze statue of Lee stands in Chinatown’s Central Plaza. It was unveiled in 2013 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Lee's death.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress. -
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent. -
Kevin Lacy has an obsession with documenting California’s forgotten and decaying places. -
Restaurants share resources in the food hall in West Adams as Los Angeles reckons with increasing restaurant closures.
Best of LAist