Guide to the Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association Collection
MS.SEA.026
Finding aid prepared by Processed by Julia Stringfellow; machine-readable finding aid created by Audrey Pearson; addition
processed by Alix Norton
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, California, 92623-9557
949-824-3947
spcoll@uci.edu
© 2013
Title: Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS.SEA.026
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.2 Linear feet
(4 boxes, 5 videocassettes, 1 OS folder)
Date (inclusive): 2002-2005
Abstract: The collection is comprised of organizational records and materials documenting events sponsored by the Vietnamese American
Arts and Letters Association (VAALA). Items include those from the Fresh off the Boat (F.O.B.) art exhibit that presented
works by 40 visual and performing artists and artistic groups of all mediums. Materials from the Vietnamese International
Film Festival (VIFF) are also contained in the collection, such as programs, photographs, and descriptions of films being
shown at the festival. The film festival is the first in the nation and worldwide to exhibit works by the Vietnamese diaspora,
Vietnamese living outside of their homeland, and has been held at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University
of California, Irvine beginning in 2003.
Creator:
Hoi văn hoc nghe thuat Viet My .
Access
The collection is open for research. Original sound and video recordings may not be used. Researchers must request that duplicate
use copies be made for access.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Southeast Asian Archive Librarian.
Preferred Citation
Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association Collection. MS-SEA026. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries,
Irvine, California. Date accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association, 2003-2005 and 2011. Additional gift of Yse Le, 2013.
Processing History
Processed by Julia Stringfellow, 2005. Processing was supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant. Additional
materials accessioned and processed by Alix Norton with assistance from Audra Eagle Yun, 2013.
Historical Background
The Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association (VAALA), a community-based non-profit organization based in Orange County,
California, was founded in 1991 by a group of Vietnamese American journalists, artists, and friends. VAALA's mission is to
promote Vietnamese values in art, create opportunities for artists to interact with their audience, and facilitate communication
among different ethnic groups through various forms of art. VAALA has organized numerous cultural events that include lectures,
exhibits, book fairs, and concerts by world-class Vietnamese scholars and artists. These events help bring the arts and culture
to the community.
The Fresh off the Boat (F.O.B.) art exhibit was held in September 2002 at the Nguoi Viet gallery in Westminster, California.
F.O.B. was the first exhibit to incorporate all the major media of visual and performing arts presented by Vietnamese American
artists who are under 40 years of age. The goal of the exhibit was to celebrate and empower the Vietnamese American identity
through creativity. Media featured include painting, sculpture, photography, film, new genres, installation, performing art,
video art, comic drawings, graffiti art, poetry/spoken word, music, and di-jing. F.O.B. interwove art, popular culture, and
unpopular notions of identity into a controversial show that addressed discrimination, stereotypes, and struggles. The exhibit
was part of a three-week long festival.
"Fresh off the Boat' is a label often attributed to immigrants who have not yet integrated into the mainstream American society.
The art show was created to shatter stereotypes and empower the immigrant community, co-opting the term "F.O.B." for the immigrants'
own use.
The Vietnamese International Film Festival (VIFF) was first held in 2003 and was the world's first film festival showcasing
works on the Vietnamese diaspora. It was held at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of California,
Irvine. The festival usually features about 100 films shown over a six-day period.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
The collection is comprised of materials from events sponsored by the Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association (VAALA).
Items include those from the Fresh off the Boat (F.O.B.) art exhibit that presented works by 40 visual and performing artists
and artistic groups of all mediums. The materials include information on the artists and their works, budget information,
notes, a schedule of the exhibit, newspaper articles, and a Vietnam California Radio yearbook. Videotapes used for the exhibit
are also included.
Materials from the Vietnamese International Film Festival (VIFF) are also contained in the collection, such as programs, photographs,
and descriptions of films being shown at the festival. The film festival is the first in the nation and worldwide to exhibit
works by the Vietnamese diaspora, Vietnamese living outside of their homeland, and has been held at the University of California,
Los Angeles, and the University of California, Irvine.
Organizational records include meeting agendas and minutes, correspondence, event programs and announcements, digital files,
and publications.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is arranged in 3 series:
- Series 1. Fresh off the Boat (F.O.B.), 2002
- Series 2. Vietnamese International Film Festival (VIFF), 2003-2005
- Series 3. Organizational records, 1994-2007
The first two series of the collection are arranged alphabetically, either topically or by form of material. The organizational
records series is an addition and is not arranged.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Hôi văn hoc nghê thuât Viêt My -- Archives..
Online Archive of California.
Vietnamese International Film Festival -- Archives..
Art, Vietnamese
Artists, Vietnamese
Audiocassettes -- 21st century.
Clippings -- 21st century.
DVDs -- 21st century.
Interviews -- 21st century.
Motion pictures (visual works) -- 21st century.
Video recordings -- 21st century
Vietnamese American art -- California -- Orange County -- Exhibitions -- Archives.
Fresh off the Boat (F.O.B.) Series 1.
2002
Box-folder 3 : MS-SEA026-A04
Cassette tape, F.O.B. show
circa 2002
Box-folder 3 : MS-SEA026-A01
DVDs, Nguoi Tinh Gia (Pham Duy) The Old Lover, documentary film
2002
Box-folder 1 : 1-2
"F.O.B.: A MultiArt Show" materials
2002
General Physical Description note: 2 folders.
Box-folder 1 : 3
"F.O.B.: A MultiArt Show" newspaper articles
2002
Box-folder AV-11 : MS-SEA026-V01-V02
Cinema symposium at the University of California, Los Angeles
2002
General Physical Description note: 2 tapes.
Box-folder 3 : MS-SEA026-V03
Box-folder 3 : MS-SEA026-V04
Box-folder 3 : MS-SEA026-V05
Box-folder 3 : MS-SEA026-V06
Box-folder 3 : MS-SEA026-V07
Box-folder 3 : MS-SEA026-V08
Box-folder 3 : MS-SEA026-V09
Box-folder 3 : MS-SEA026-V10
Box-folder AV-11 : MS-SEA026-V11-V12
F.O.B. short films series
2002
General Physical Description note: 2 tapes.
Box-folder AV-11 : MS-SEA026-V13
Nguoi Tinh Gia (Pham Duy) The Old Lover, documentary film
2002
Box-folder AV-11 : MS-SEA026-V14
Shut Up White Boy, short film
2002
Vietnamese International Film Festival (VIFF) Series 2.
2003-2005
Box-folder 3 : MS-SEA026-A02-A03
DVDs, Vietnamese International Film Festival (VIFF) trailers
2005
General Physical Description note: 2 discs.
Box-folder 1 : 6-7
Programs, photographs, and festival materials
2003
General Physical Description note: 2 folders.
Box-folder 1 : 8
Programs and festival materials
2005
Box-folder AV-9 : MS-SEA026-V15
VHS videocassette tape, Vietnamese International Film Festival (VIFF) talk show
2003
Organizational records Series 3.
1994-2007
Physical Description:
0.4 linear feet.
1 box
Scope and Content Summary
This series includes digital files from the VAALA organization, brochures, event programs and announcements, meeting agendas
and minutes, correspondence, and a book published by VAALA on Vietnamese boat people.
Digital files
2004-2006
Physical Description note: 3 discs.
Scope and Content Summary
Contains VAALA website information, secretary files, and files of Ysa Le.
Box 1, Folder 11
"Building a Stronger America Together" brochure and note from President George W. Bush
2006
Box 1, Folder 12
Event programs and announcements
2005-2007
Scope and Content Summary
Contains programs and postcards from VIFF, gallery openings, lectures, and book events.
Box 4, Folder 1-6
Meeting notes and correspondence
1994-2000
Scope and Content Summary
Contains agendas, minutes, and notes from VAALA meetings as well as correspondence and other organizational records.
Box 4, Folder 7
The Forgotten Ones: a photographic documentation of the last Vietnamese boat people in the Philippines
2004
Box-folder 1 : 4
Vietnam California Radio yearbook
2002-2003
Box-folder 1 : 5
Vietnamese Diaspora Film Symposium, program materials
2004
