Milk Bottle Cafe

Drawing of the landmarked Milk Bottle Grocery Store along Route 66 in the present-day Asian District in Oklahoma City, OK. First opened in 1930, this triangle-shaped grocery with an iconic milk bottle has been home to many businesses, including Saigon Baguette in the 2010s, reflecting the surrounding neighborhood where many Vietnamese immigrants settled after the Vietnam war. Many businesses along Route 66 today are immigrant owned and operated, continuing to reflect the route’s role in fostering the American dream.

This is one of my favorite drawings. The fall of Saigon created millions of refugees, many of whom ended up on boats and refugee camps before immigrating to America. Their story of survival reminds me of my father’s experience and pushes me forward to create art for social change. Much of my work draws inspiration from immigration stories like these.