Art and culture aficionados in Chandler can anticipate a convergence of tradition, memory, and personal identity in the new exhibition by Tucson-based artist Anh-Thuy Nguyen. Titled "Rice is Mẹ: Anh-Thuy Nguyen," the exhibition is scheduled to run at the Gallery at Chandler Center for the Arts from November 15 to February 7, 2026. Nguyen's work incorporates the essential element of rice to delve into her Vietnamese roots and the transmission of cultural wisdom down through generations.
Concerned with more than just the daily sustenance it provides, Nguyen sees rice as a keeper of memories and a conduit for cultural inheritance. The exhibition is born out of Nguyen's personal experiences as a Vietnamese immigrant and a mother struggling with a sense of belonging and cultural preservation. She uses rice as a metaphorical medium in "Rice is Mẹ," the title reflecting the Vietnamese word for mother, to express her connection to her own heritage and the wisdom of her ancestors. According to information obtained from the City of Chandler website, Nguyen describes the act of her culture slipping from her mouth to her daughter’s ears as akin to grains of rice running through her hands.
According to the City of Chandler website, Nguyen's mission to encapsulate cultural narratives is evident when she shares, "Through rice, I find my way back home—to my family, to my roots, to the stories that shaped me." She informed the City of Chandler that this body of work serves as a preservation tool for the valuable cultural ethos that might otherwise fade into oblivion. An opening reception for "Rice is Mẹ" is slated for Friday, November 14, from 6-8 p.m., and those interested in attending can RSVP through Eventbrite. Admission to the Vision Gallery, which is situated at 10 E. Chicago St. and operates Tuesday through Saturday, is free of charge.
