This publication is the catalogue of the exhibition Traditions Transformed organized by The Oakland Museum, which opened from November 3, 1984 to January 27, 1985 in Oakland and April 13 to June 3, 1985 at Doizaki Gallery of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles, California. The guest curators were Terrie Sultan and Miles Kubo, who also contributed essays to this catalogue.

“Traditions Transformed: Contemporary Works by Asian American Artists in California, is intended as an introduction and survey of the current generation of California Asian American artists. The purpose is not to categorize but to introduce this significant group of artists, who bring a unique blend of traditions and heritage to their work and, thus, continue the enrichment of American painting. Tradition is a passing down of elements of a culture from generation to generation, a mode of thought or behavior followed by a people that is viewed as a coherent body of precedents influencing the present. People immigrating to the United States bring with them a cultural tradition of which they are proud. While in the past the tendency had been to subvert their own heritage in order to become part of the American “melting pot,” a new pride and interest in diverse cultures has come to the fore, and American lift is benefiting from this multi-ethnic mix. America is an amalgam of many different cultural traditions and consequently, American art reflects this in both style and content.” (Essay from the catalogue by Terrie Sultan)

Participating artists: Carl Cheng, Dewitt Cheng, Mineko Grimmer, Hye Sook, Betty Kano, Marc Katano, Hirokazu Kosaka, Young June Lew, Masayuki Oda, Ann Takayoshi Page, Liga Pang.