On Display at the Uwajimaya & Moriguchi KidPLACE Gallery
Public submissions are open: Share your favorite New Years memory or tradition and be featured in this exhibit!
About the Exhibit
New Years All Year Round
Jan. 31, 2026 - Dec. 27, 2026
Uwajimaya & Moriguchi KidPLACE Gallery
New Year celebrations occur at different times throughout the year. Yearly calendars can differ from culture to culture—many are based on the moon and the sun. Traditions are kept alive by diasporic communities in our new environments, but they also evolve with each new generation. Come learn about our communities’ favorite New Year memories and traditions at New Years All Year Round in the KidPLACE Gallery.
The Lunar New Year beginning in February of 2026 is the Year of the Horse in the Chinese Zodiac. The Zodiac and its variants are based on an ancient story of The Great Race. Twelve animals raced to create the order of the zodiac’s twelve-year cycle. The horse finished in sixth place after the snake. Nina Vichaypai is our featured Zodiac animal artist. Check out Nina’s art installation and get in the spirit of the horse!
Meet the Artist
Nina Vichayapai
Nina Vichayapai makes art that explores what it means to be at the intersections of margins and peripheries. Her interdisciplinary practice includes everything from soft sculpture and public art to pie making, dog petting, and eavesdropping. Her work has been exhibited internationally and locally in spaces such as the Tacoma Arts Museum, the Wing Luke Museum, and the Henry Art Gallery. She has been an artist-in-residence at Calderas, Centrum, Deception Pass State Park, Seattle Public Library, and more. Nina is also an educator and arts organizer who has worked within universities, public schools, and museums. She was born in Bangkok, Thailand, and lives between Seattle and Portland.
GET FEATURED IN THE EXHIBIT
How do you keep your New Year’s traditions alive?
Become a part of the exhibit by sharing a photo(s) and short story of your favorite New Year’s memory or tradition (~5–7 sentences). Memories can be from any time in your life, and we welcome both recent and older family or community traditions. By sharing your memories, you help us honor the many ways communities mark renewal, connection, and fresh beginnings. Watch some examples from staff.
We especially encourage submissions that reflect New Year celebrations from across Asian and Asian diasporic cultures—such as Lunar New Year, Vaisakhi, Songkran, Choul Chnam Thmey, Pi Mai, Thingyan, Puthandu, Vishu, Pohela Boishakh, Aluth Awurudda, Nowruz, Islamic New Year, Diwali, and many others. Stories may highlight food, gatherings, rituals, music, or small personal moments that hold meaning for you.
Submission deadline: Jan. 7, 2026
Sample Submissions:
Family Altar Offerings
Mimi Chan recalls her grandmother’s holiday rituals in Hong Kong, where incense and food offerings honored ancestors before being shared with the family. A childhood mishap with a roasted chicken adds a tender, humorous memory to this tradition.
Contributed by Mimi Chan & Family
Ozoni: A New Year’s Tradition
Jay Deguchi shares his family’s Japanese New Year tradition of making ozoni, a soup featuring mochi prepared during a festive gathering. On New Year’s Day, they cook vegetables and meat, then celebrate with relatives at a potluck filled with traditional dishes.
Contributed by Jay Deguchi & Family
Exhibition Events
Exhibit Openings
Become a member to be the first to RSVP for special community events and exhibit reception openings!
Lunar New Year Fair
Save the date for our 2026 Lunar New Year celebration on January 31, 2026! Revisit last year’s event page to learn more.
Full Events Calendar
Plan your year with us and check out more exciting community events, parties, programs, and more!
