🗓️ Saturday, August 23, 2025
🕚 11am to 4pm (Door opens at 10:40am)
📍 Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Squirrel Hill (5801 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217)
🎨 Lunch will be provided. This is a FREE event. All are welcome.
(Photo Credit: YuHe Chen)
✨ What’s This All About?
Join us for a heartwarming and hands-on day of storytelling, art, and cultural connection! As part of the Taiwan World Portrait Project’s 2025 North America Tour, this workshop invites you to reflect on your family traditions (biological or chosen!), migration journeys, and cherished memories — and then bring them to life through the magical medium of lightbox art.
Led by acclaimed Taiwanese educator and artist Mr. Chen Yu-He (陳雨禾), you’ll learn how to transform your personal stories into glowing works of art using drawing, paper cutting, and light. Whether you come solo, with friends, or as a multi-generational family, you’ll create a beautiful, handmade lightbox that celebrates your heritage and creativity.
Pittsburgh is the 6th stop on the “World Portraits: Starting from Taiwan’s Collective Creative Experience” tour, which includes workshops in Salt Lake City, San Diego, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Seattle, and Chicago. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to be part of a creative movement!
Check out highlights from previous workshops in Taiwan, Northern Thailand and Japan.
🎨 What Will I Do?
Reflect on your family history, migration stories, or cultural traditions in your biological or chosen family
Sketch meaningful people, places, or objects from your memories
Learn paper cutting techniques to create layered visual scenes
Assemble and light up your own story lightbox
Share and connect with others in an intercultural setting to celebrate our diversity
👉 Watch this short video to get an idea. (Note: This workshop focuses on the lightbox only — the music box shown in the video is not included.)
🖌️ About the Instructor
YuHe Chen (陳雨禾) is a celebrated art and aesthetics teacher at Wanfu Elementary School in Taipei. Chen is known for his innovative approach to maker education and has led students in creating hundreds of story lamps that highlight family and community heritage. His work has been featured at Maker Faires across Asia and recognized by Parenting Magazine and CommonWealth Magazine as a leader in educational innovation.
🙋♀️ FAQ
Who can attend?
Everyone is welcome! The workshop will be led in Mandarin and Taiwanese, with English interpretation available. We encourage participation from all cultural backgrounds.
Is there an age limit?
Nope! This is a family-friendly event. Children under 16 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Do I need to be an artist?
Not at all! No prior art experience is needed — just bring your stories and your imagination.
Can I work with someone else?
Yes! You can create a lightbox on your own, with a friend, or as a family.
Do I need to register?
Yes, please! Registration helps us prepare materials and order lunch.
👉 Sign up now to reserve your spot!
Project Founder: Hui-Ling Chen
Executive Director: Yi-Ling Lin
Hosts: Utah State University Extension, Taiwanese American Foundation of San Diego / Taiwanese American Community Center, UC San Diego Center for Taiwan Studies, Taiwan Center Foundation of Greater Los Angeles & Taiwan School, Taiwanese Associate of Northwest Los Angeles, East Bay Taiwanese Association, Seattle Taiwanese Language Association, Taiwan Studies Arts & Cultural Program, University of Washington, KITA Foundation, Team Taiwan Foundation
Co-organizers: Professor Chen Wen-Chen Memorial Foundation, Dr. Chen Wen-chen Memorial Foundation (Taiwan)
Sponsor: Jean Huang, Flora Chen
Special thanks to Ellen Chang, Philip Wu, Ar Mwun Go, Chen-Chao Wang, Samuel Hsieh, Longson Chang
Pittsburgh workshop co-hosts: KITA Foundation, Café Philo - Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning (TCML)