Art and Charity as Bridges: Getting to Know Five Lexington Immigrants

By Ying Chen

In the past few years, I’ve had the fortune of getting to know five Lexington residents one after another, all of whom are immigrants. What connects us is art, but moreover, charity work. Through them, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the historic Lexington community as well as philanthropy itself.

Elizabeth  Wenrong Xu

Wenrong is my senior from university, a talented lady skilled in both poetry and prose. Although two years my senior, I still like to address her by her given name – partly because she is as gentle and restrained as her name suggests, but also because our interactions feel completely unrestrained by seniority. Wenrong was my window into understanding Lexington, especially its philanthropic activities, and the connecting soul that led to my interactions with the other Lexington immigrants. 

I admire Wenrong’s persisting spirit of community service and promoting traditional Chinese culture, and I’m proud of her receiving the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Recounting how we first met, it stemmed from charity work – we were both volunteering as editors for the USTC alumni WeChat official account “Cosmic Whispers”, writing articles. Wenrong has an excellent writing style, and reading her interviewing  articles about community people and events in “Discover Lexington” opened a window for me. 

Gradually, Wenrong suggested that I participate in Lexington’s charitable activities through my art. During the pandemic period when I was still in Beijing, I mailed her my artworks and Peripheral products, which she actively promoted at community events. While doing charity work, she was also promoting Asian culture, which was very moving.

In the spring of 2022, I had a short stay at Wenrong’s house in Lexington. During the Dogwood blossoming season, she showed me around the culturally rich town that has produced many writers. This was where the first shot of the American Revolutionary War was fired. The town library also left me a deep impression – not only a vast ocean of knowledge, but a place where different cultures collide and merge. People from diverse ethnic backgrounds study, communicate, and engage in a rich array of cross-cultural activities there. Wenrong also introduced me to two actively community-serving Chinese individuals: Jessie Zhan and Professor Hua Wang. Later on, I would work with them through charitable events. 

In Lexington, I also met Dr. Catherine Rielly. An unprecedented cross-cultural afternoon tea exchange on Wenrong’s front yard allowed people from different backgrounds to gain deeper mutual understanding.

Catherine Rielly

I first learned about Catherine Rielly from reading Wenrong’s personality profile interview “Catherine Rielly Political Economist” in the 2020 issue of “Discover Lexington“ https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/SX4Vm6gjK75MzzJZ2x6c_g. Catherine is a political economist who graduated from Harvard’s Kennedy School, a university professor, president and executive director of the non-profit organization Rubia, and a Lexington philanthropist.

During the pandemic when I was still in Beijing, Wenrong suggested I contribute my artworks and peripheral IP products to a Lexington charity sale. I mailed over prints of my paintings and scarves I designed. Being my first IP product, there was much room for improvement, but Wenrong still actively promoted them, telling me that Catherine had purchased paintings and scarves as gifts for her stylish friends at Stanford. I knew Catherine’s gesture was to support an amateur artist like me. Not long after the event, Catherine also sent me a gift – handcrafted products made by underprivileged African women that Rubia supports. I admire her tireless efforts for the underprivileged women.

(Correction: The handyman embroidery is actually made by an Afghan woman and she was in her early life very privileged–her father was a local leader — but was deprived of a life of comfort by the Taliban.  She does the embroidery to continue her Pashai ethnic handwork as well as to earn income for her family. )

In 2022 when I visited Lexington, I had the pleasure of meeting Catherine in person – sunny, elegant, well-spoken, amiable, immediately putting me at ease. It was an afternoon tea prepared by Wenrong, in her blooming spring garden with pleasant sunshine and wonderful conversation. Wenrong documented it in an article titled ” Ferrywomen | My Junior Sister is a Self-Promotor” (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/3wVHku311-28hsAFlqZ6NA).

Christina Gamota

My intersection with Christina Gamota stemmed from a 2023 charity auction. 

One day in September 2023, Wenrong messaged me asking if I was interested in participating in a Lexington charity auction. At the time, I was still in Beijing and thought I couldn’t attend. Wenrong then asked if I would be willing to donate an original Ginkgo leaf painting for the auction. Upon learning that this auction was a fundraiser for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize winner, the Center for Civil Liberties Ukraine (CCL), I immediately agreed without hesitation.

The organizers of this auction were Christina Gamota and her son Alex. About Christina, the 2021 Discover Lexington introduces her as: Born in Lisko, Western Ukraine, she immigrated to the US with her parents at age 17, settling in Lexington in 1986 after living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A long-time Lexington resident, Christina is an avid participant in community activities and a longtime volunteer who has helped various Lexington organizations raise funds. Christina is renowned in the fields of home design, art design, and art collecting, and has made a name for herself in the charity world by using art to drive philanthropic endeavors. Those who are impressed by her character regard her as a lifelong devotee.

This September 2023 auction for peace in Ukraine took place in Christina’s artistically decorated home. It was a successful fundraising event that Christina and Lexington’s philanthropists put a lot of work into.

I sent over an original Ginkgo leaf painting from my Sunflower series (Peace and Hope) and a collage painting (Peace and Hope). After the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in February 2023, I created a Ginkgo leaf painting series themed around sunflowers, war, and hope, which was exhibited at the Palo Alto Public Library in California. This was one of the themed pieces from that series, expressing the hope that every land ravaged by war can regain its vitality. Just like the sunflower seeds in that Ukrainian grandmother’s hands, if everyone sows a bit of kindness, a golden harvest will be reaped in autumn.

Thanks to the generous bidders, the artworks fetched $2,100! I’m honored that my art could contribute a small effort for those suffering from the war, fulfilling the original creative intent – nothing could be more gratifying!

After the auction, Christina wrote a thank-you letter and invited Wenrong and me over for tea and conversation. I very much look forward to meeting this respected “professional volunteer” over the upcoming Lexington afternoon tea.

Jessie Zhan

At this charity auction for peace in Ukraine, there was another active, beautiful presence – Jessie Zhan, who assisted Christina in organizing the event. She is the chief editor of the Lexington Chinese American Association’s (CAAL) official WeChat account, and together with her team, founded the CAAL Monthly magazine, Discover Lexington, Lexington Events Early Notification, and Lexington Life Encyclopedia columns.  

Jessie is also a health and fitness enthusiast, having participated in the Boston Marathon multiple times. In 2022, she initiated and organized the Lexington AAPI 5K Run ‘n’ Walk event, which has been held for three consecutive years. The first time I met Jessie, she was in running shoes and athletic wear, ready to take off at any moment 🙂

Through our interactions, I learned about the upcoming cultural events organized by the Lexington Chinese American Association (CAAL), and Jessie warmly invited me, a non-Lexington resident, to attend. Art is a bridge, and I hope to cross paths with Lexington again soon.

During my Lexington visit, I also met Professor Hua Wang.

Professor Hua Wang

Hua Wang is a professor at Boston University and my senior from university. As Chinese elites step out of the ivory tower to take on the social responsibilities expected of an ethnic community’s elite members, Professor Hua Wang is an outstanding example. Not only is he the co-president of the Lexington Chinese American Association, but also the co-chair of the New England Chinese American Alliance. With his excellent leadership and outstanding contributions, he has won numerous accolades and enjoys a high reputation in the community. Recently, Professor Hua Wang was chosen by GetKennected! as one of Boston’s 50 most influential Asian Americans. As a fellow Chinese and alumnus, I applaud and take pride in his achievements!

My first interaction with Senior Wang Hua occurred during a video conference interview with alumni (hosted by Wenrong). The interviewees that time were newly elected Maryland State Delegate Chao Wu and his campaign manager Hongling Zhou, and Senior Wang Hua was one of the guests. During the interview, he spoke about assisting Chinese Americans in running for office, campaigning, and fundraising matters, drawing from his personal experiences with the non-profit organization for Chinese Americans that he founded, as well as the many specific efforts he has made, leaving a deep impression.  

Later when we met in Lexington, it was my second interaction with Senior Wang Hua. That meeting and exchange was very eye-opening. I gained more understanding about issues like how to enrich the community, inherit cultural heritage, and foster cooperation and exchange between different ethnic groups. His efforts have also boosted the confidence of other Asian organizations in the community to participate in community building efforts. Nowadays, Lexington has many Chinese American officials, including town-wide public positions, and a large number of Chinese Americans are also involved in various committees and charitable organizations in Lexington.