When local artist Jordan Wong was commissioned by the St. Clair-Superior Development Corporation (SCSDC) to paint a mural on the side of a building next to Siam Café on E. 40th and St. Clair Ave. his first question was “Why me?” The corporation’s  response was simple: his use of vibrant colors, his ability to be whimsical and his capacity to bring past experiences into today and beyond. According to Wong, he began developing the mural concept by visiting and speaking with Michael and May Hong, owners of Siam Café. Through listening to their stories of the immigrant experience — their journey to build a new life and home, and their efforts to foster a renewed sense of belonging — he envisioned vibrant color palettes and layered, modular compositions. The imagery he chose draws on flowing mountains and water, evoking the style and movement of traditional Chinese watercolor paintings. The work, titled “Welcome Home,” which was unveiled on June 5, has a total of five boldly colored panels representing the past. The larger mural’s centerpiece depicts Chinese architecture reminiscent of a building that stood off the street on Superior Ave. near East 21st Street in the early 1980s. The mural will […]