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In this issue of NHA we celebrate an often overlooked yet vital segment of our community—artists—be they musicians, painters, sculptors, writers, poets, or dancers. Devoting one’s life to the service of art is a calling rather than a choice. One often hears the adage: “Art chooses you, you do not choose art.” It’s no wonder, for the risks are enormous with little monetary prospects and even less chances of recognition or success. Artists pursue art simply because they must.

Contrary to romantic notions that artists lead a carefree Bohemian lifestyle, art, like carpentry, is hard work. As the writer Marcel Proust once said and Gabriel García Maùrquez noted years later, “It is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration.”

For Vietnamese Diasporans, particularly those from the 1.5 and second generations, pursuing art as a career is especially challenging. As the children of war refugees and immigrants, answering the call of the Muse is not merely an unconventional, even defiant choice; it is a privilege that carries with it the burden of familial and historical guilt. In this issue of NHA, you’ll hear from established and emerging artists who are meeting these challenges in various and creative ways.

Meet Unity Nguyen, a talented musician who believes in the healing power of music. She lives her life according to her beliefs, teaching others about holistic living through her music and practice of Eastern medicine. You’ll also meet abstract artist Tam Van Tran whose circuitous route led him back to his one true calling. Now, after a five-year hiatus, his work is being exhibited in galleries around the country. A computer scientist by day and artist by night, Xuan My Ho has managed to balance her career in the hi-tech industry with her passion for creating mosaic art.

We’ll introduce you to the members of the Vietnamese Artists Collective (VAC), a group of young photographers, writers and musicians who work in concert to exchange ideas and support each other through the difficult process of creating. Be sure to read the poetry of VAC member Anh-Hoa Thi Nguyen whose verse sings like the riffs of a Jimi Hendrix song. And hear the prophetic truth in Andrew Lam’s short story “The Palmist.” On the lighter side, you’ll encounter the Ngo Club, a stylish, irreverent trio working in the media arts.

We bring you these stories and much more, so read on.

Enjoy the issue!

Kathy Nguyen
Editor
2004-2006