Secret Gardens We Shared 我們的秘密花園

by ponnapa prakkamakul 陳可意

Located on 9 Knapp Street, Boston, MA

Secret Gardens We Shared is a collaborative project between artist ponnapa prakkamakul and Chinatown residents from the Resident Leadership Academy, a program by Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) in collaboration with the Mel King Institute. We hope that this mural will help people feel more at home in Chinatown and that residents continue to actively steward the neighborhood and its future.

A resident-driven co-creation

During the mural co-creation process, ponnapa interviewed former residents of Knapp St. 9 Knapp Street, once a garment manufacturing building and now home to small businesses, a community organization, and residential housing, reflects Chinatown’s evolving histories of labor, immigration, and belonging. Drawing from their memories, ponnapa imagined large “drapes” on these “windows” that mediate the interior and exterior worlds. Working with RLA present-day Chinatown residents, the mural panels explore the themes of "Solidarity,” “Tomorrow will be better,” “Community," and “Feeling at home.” 

Thank you to our sponsors and partners!

Thank you to Cynergy Realty LLC for generously providing the mural site. The project is supported by Activating Boston, a grant program by John Hancock, coordinated by Healthy Places by Design.