LA Heat: Taste Changing Condiments at the Chinese American Museum, Los Angeles, California

LA Heat: Taste Changing Condiments, is an art exhibition exploring the impact of Sriracha and Tapatio in Los Angeles. The exhibit will include a curated selection of artwork from artists of diverse backgrounds who are passionate and reflective about notions of identity, community, and foodways.

Sriracha and Tapatio hot sauces are two examples of the recent homegrown all-American condiments that have dramatically impacted American cuisine. The rise in popularity of these condiments signifies an increase in Asian and Latino populations living in the US and especially in Los Angeles after the passing of the Immigration and Nationality Act in 1965. In 1971, Mexican immigrant Jose-Luis Saavedra, Sr., started Tapatio Hot Sauce, a unique combination of red chili peppers, spices and a hint of garlic, in a warehouse in Maywood, California. David Tran, an immigrant from Vietnam of Chinese ancestry, started making Thai-inspired Sriracha sauce blended fromchili peppers, vinegar, garlic in small shop in Los Angeles Chinatown in 1983. In large American cities everywhere, both Sriracha and Tapatio contend to rival Heinz Ketchup and French’s mustard as the all-American condiment for the Y-Generation, for these hot sauces have become interwoven into the American cultural fabric and thus becoming an ubiquitous condiment in American cuisine.

Participating artists in the exhibition include:

Edith Beaucage
Erik Benjamins
Audrey Chan
Ching Ching Cheng
The Chung!!
Chris Christion
Clayton Brothers
Eye One
Gajin Fujita
Daniel Gonzalez
Pato Hebert
Michael C. Hsiung
Phung Huynh
Tomo Isoyama
Nery Gabriel Lemus

Sandra Low
Trinh Mai
Patrick Martinez
Michael Massenburg
Kwanchai Moriya
Jose Ramirez
Yoshie Sakai
Jose Sarinana
Sand One
Shark Toof
Sket
Slick
Henry Taylor
Werc

Location:
The Chinese American Museum is located in the red-bricked historic Garnier Building, located at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument across from downtown Los Angeles’ Union Station. Just follow the hanging lanterns, south of Olvera Street, to find the museum site.

Address
425 N. Los Angeles Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(The cross street is Arcadia)

Museum Front Desk: (213) 485-8567

Hours
CAM is opened on Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 3pm.
Closed on Mondays and the following holidays:
Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day