The Charleston AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Collective will host its inaugural event, a Lunar New Year market, on Jan. 26, bringing together artists, food and a panel discussion to celebrate Asian culture in the Lowcountry. The event takes inspiration from the vibrant night markets found all over Asia, said local artist Anna Chen, one of the event’s organizers.

“The idea is to bring the Asian community together, and also share this culture with the larger community in Charleston,” Chen shared in an interview with the Charleston City Paper. “The Lunar New Year is different in every culture, but for me, it means family time, communing with the people you love over great food.”

Chen is one of the artists who will participate in the market. She’s known around town for her dynamic watercolor collages. In fact, some of her newest artworks speak to what she called an “Asian trope” where parents and family members “show love through preparing food.” Those works depict persimmons and figs and other fruits on homemade paper.

For the Lunar New Year market, Chen will show a series highlighting her favorite AAPI dishes from restaurants in town. And there is no shortage of great local food to be had at the Jan. 26 event.

Organizing the Lunar New Year Market with Chen are local food and bev titans, such as Shuai Wang (Jackrabbit Filly, King BBQ) and Sarah Williams-Scalise, who will offer her locally made Korean mandu (dumplings). Other food vendors include Butter Half Bakery, Pink Bellies, Boy Choy Boy, Seol Ah’s, A-roi Thai and Wandering Taps.

“If you ask me, we’ve got all the best restaurants in town participating,” Chen said. “We hope to bring the community together to celebrate the Lunar New Year and to bring Asian folks in Charleston together for our first official event.”

On the art side of things, Sonny Sisan of Studio Sontosis will bring ceramic works, including red-colored candles in honor of the holiday. Market-goers can also find art by Hirona Matsuda, Alicia Modoor, tattoos from @ink.ho and more, as well as jewelry from the Asian-owned local brand Margerite & Motte.

Thanks to support from Storehouse 9 and Lowcountry Local First, the Jan. 26 Lunar New Year Market is free. As a part of the APPI Collective’s mission to give back to the Asian community, a portion of proceeds from vendors will go towards the Charleston Chinese Academy, a North Charleston based nonprofit that promotes Chinese language education and cultural diversity.