Chon SuJ'n

Co-founder of IDEA Odyssey Gallery & Collective

Founded in 2010, the International District Engaged in the Arts (IDEA) Odyssey is a collective dedicated to nurturing and supporting visual artists of diverse cultures, primarily those of Asian, African, Caribbean, Latino, Native American and Pacific Islander heritage, and artists who explore culture, diversity and identity in their work.

The Collective started in the International District because it is historically the cultural home for so many diverse groups. In a neighborhood with few arts destinations, IDEA Odyssey, in partnership with established organizations such as the Wing Luke Asian Museum (WLAM) and the Seattle Chinatown-International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda), uses its exhibitions and outreach activities to increase arts participation among neighborhood residents, workers and others who have limited access to arts and cultural activities.

After operating a gallery in the International District for one year, the Collective now organizes exhibitions in different venues in the greater Seattle area, still with a focus on promoting cultural diversity through contemporary art.