Lisandro Rives with AAA Flag and Banner installs over eighty new banners in a two-day process that state "Welcome to Cambodia Town" along Anaheim Street in Long Beach on Wednesday. (Diandra Jay/Press-Telegram)03/18/2010
By Greg Mellen, Staff Writer
Long Beach Press Telegram
LONG BEACH - Little by little, Cambodia Town's identity is taking shape.
On Wednesday a collection of banners that identify the area was installed on light poles along Anaheim Street.
The design for the banners emerged from an international online contest organized by the Arts Council for Long Beach and the winning entry came from an artist from Indonesia.
Community activist Richer San, who helped with the banner project, said representatives from a number of Cambodian civic and arts groups voted for the winning design.
Although he says the choice of the final design was democratic, he admits the winner was something of a personal favorite.
"I like things that are abstract," San said. "I think art shouldn't be just a picture but something more abstract."
"I think it's a strong graphic image," said Craig Watson, executive director of the Arts Council, noting that more than 100 pieces were submitted online.
The winning design depicts a dancer/guard in reds and rusts in a classic Apsara-style pose from a classical Khmer dance. In the background is an image of a sun slung low over the Angkor Wat temple complex. At the top of the banner is a sign in white letters that reads "Welcome to Cambodia Town." On the back, the welcoming message is repeated in Khmer, followed by a list of the sponsors.
The banners arrived just in time for two dance events this weekend, that are part of the Arts Council's "A lot" series on the empty lot at Anaheim Street and Walnut Avenue and two weeks ahead of the popular Cambodian New Year's parade on Anaheim Street.
Business owners have yet to create an economic improvement district needed to receive city funds and other procedural aspects remain in the works. However, with the banners, the Cambodia Town area has a little more sense of self. Cambodia Town, the stretch of Anaheim Street between Atlantic Avenue and Junipero Avenue was made mostly official by the City Council in July 2007 and has had that unofficial title for years.
greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291
On Wednesday a collection of banners that identify the area was installed on light poles along Anaheim Street.
The design for the banners emerged from an international online contest organized by the Arts Council for Long Beach and the winning entry came from an artist from Indonesia.
Community activist Richer San, who helped with the banner project, said representatives from a number of Cambodian civic and arts groups voted for the winning design.
Although he says the choice of the final design was democratic, he admits the winner was something of a personal favorite.
"I like things that are abstract," San said. "I think art shouldn't be just a picture but something more abstract."
"I think it's a strong graphic image," said Craig Watson, executive director of the Arts Council, noting that more than 100 pieces were submitted online.
The winning design depicts a dancer/guard in reds and rusts in a classic Apsara-style pose from a classical Khmer dance. In the background is an image of a sun slung low over the Angkor Wat temple complex. At the top of the banner is a sign in white letters that reads "Welcome to Cambodia Town." On the back, the welcoming message is repeated in Khmer, followed by a list of the sponsors.
The banners arrived just in time for two dance events this weekend, that are part of the Arts Council's "A lot" series on the empty lot at Anaheim Street and Walnut Avenue and two weeks ahead of the popular Cambodian New Year's parade on Anaheim Street.
Business owners have yet to create an economic improvement district needed to receive city funds and other procedural aspects remain in the works. However, with the banners, the Cambodia Town area has a little more sense of self. Cambodia Town, the stretch of Anaheim Street between Atlantic Avenue and Junipero Avenue was made mostly official by the City Council in July 2007 and has had that unofficial title for years.
greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291
14 comments:
Congratulation Khmer in Long Beach, CA. Thanks for putting Cambodia on the map in South California.......
Lowell, MA have almost as many Khmer Community but most are incompetent to do anything exceeding the Water Festival.
i like the look of the banner. cambodia town is getting better all the time. keep up the good works for long beach. next, there ought to be a shopping mall that sell many products of khmer things and food, etc... god bless.
The design could have looked a little more beautiful and the more intricate details representing Cambodian culture. The design should come from Cambodia, not Indonesia. Maybe next year...
it should at the least contain apsara picture.
10:29 PM Little Phnom Penh or Phnom Penh Square.
Sorry, I did not hit that jackpot worth $113M or cash out $82.9M was won by white man here in Long Beach two weeks ago. If it were me I would invested $82M all in Little Phnom Penh or Phnom Penh Square. I probably would keep $900K for myself.
Congratulation Khmer in Long Beach. It's great to see Cambodia Town on the map in Long Beach city, California State.
Chhey-Yo Khmer Angkor!
Best wishes from a khmer canadian.
Long live the Khmer Nation.
CHEYOOOOOOOOOOOO KAMUPUCHEA
banner like this could be redesigned if there's a better one out there. so, keep that in mind, ok! it's not the end of the world, you know!
I don't understand why people keep calling Long Beach is Cambodian Town? I don't even see a sign on the street or freeway they said wellcome to Cambodian Town. Like China or Youn they have there side on the freeway or on the street name.
4:32 am
Long Beach was and is Cambodian town all along. You don't need the street signs or billboards to be recognized. This banner is good enough for now. The reason China or Youn have the signs on the freeway cause, they are more visible than us. Hope this answer your question! Khmer rules!
Isn't it odd that an Indonesian designer can beat other Khmer artists? When I look at the banner, I don't feel it's Khmer at all.
Is that money-hungry Richer San still involved? After he failed to invite Sok An here, what else is he up to?
I can never trust crooks like him and his wife.
4:32
I read in the Long Beach Press telegram about a month ago and it stated that the members/committee of Cambodia Town are still trying to come up with funds for the freeway sign and all other signs. They have to fund all of that, and with the recession, it's difficult.
That sign don't look like KHMER at all.
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