Presentation: Artist in Residence James Q. Chan

Experience a new work by 2022 Artist-in-Residence James Q. Chan. THE MAIN°, a virtual 360-degree video series, where our shared experience of a beloved institution comes alive beyond the bookshelves. Follow staff and patrons as they navigate you through the various departments and services for a behind-the-scene perspective within the bustling Main library ecosystem. Captured using high-definition 360° cameras, this observational film explores the interconnectedness of our collective memory of place and the role of the San Francisco Public Library in fostering a sense of community and cultural heritage through an immersive full-circle visual experience.

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About the Filmmaker: James Q. Chan is an Emmy-nominated producer and director based in San Francisco. Recent producing credits include PLAGUE AT THE GOLDEN GATE (PBS/American Experience); CHINATOWN RISING (PBS/America ReFramed). Recent directing projects include BLOODLINE (Emmy®Nominee, 2022); large- format 360° CIRCLE VISION films for Disney Studios; and launching the doc series CHINATOWN SHORTS. His film FOREVER, CHINATOWN (Emmy® Nominee, 2018) received multiple festival awards, screened globally with American Film Showcase where James serves as a filmmaker envoy. He received a Certificate of Honor from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for his work highlighting stories from the AAPI community. His sensibilities throughout his projects are shaped by his refugee and working class background, love for nature shows, and memories of his mother’s cooking. He is currently adapting Laurence Yep’s acclaimed CHILD OF THE OWL book into a narrative series set in San Francisco’s Chinatown. James is a 2021 YBCA100 Honoree and a member of the Directors Guild of America. 

James Q. Chan's project is presented in partnership with the San Francisco Arts Commission. Chan is one of the current artists participating in the SFAC Artist in Residence Program. Launched in 2015, this program builds partnerships with City Departments in order to provide unique artist residencies that result in strengthening the value of artists participating in and responding to the advancement of civic dialogue.