FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 13, 2014

Contact: Ellen Endo (818) 512Email: pr@camla.org

SRIRACHA, TAPATIO HOT TOPICS IN NEW EXHIBIT Los Angeles (March 13, 2014)--Two of Americas leading hot sauce brands, Huy Fong Sriracha and Tapatio, provide the inspiration for a new art exhibition, L.A. Heat: Taste-Changing Condiments opening today at the Chinese American Museum (CAM). Opening day includes a public reception from 7 to 9 p.m. The show will run through July 12. L.A. Heat is the brainchild of CAM Interim Executive Director Steve Wong, who challenged local artists to create works with the hot sauce products in mind. The result is a collection of thirty (30) imaginative pieces in wide range of media. Tapatio and Huy Fong Sriracha, both produced in Southern California, are leaders in Americas eighth fastest-growing industry. According to IBISWorld, a market research organization, hot sauce production is the United States is expected to reach $1.3 billion by 2017. The products reach well beyond the Latino and Asian communities where they originated. We are privileged to be able to showcase the work of this prestigious group of established and emerging artists while recognizing two products that have emerged as symbols of our increasingly multi-cultural society and our changing tastes, Wong stated. Participating artists include: Edith Beaucage, Erik Benjamins, Audrey Chan, Ching Ching Cheng, Chris Christion, David Chung, The Clayton Brothers, Daniel Gonzalez, EyeOne, Gajin Fujita, Pato Hebert, Michael Hsiung, Phung Huynh, Tomo Isoyama, Nery Gabriel Lemus, Sandra Low, Trinh Mai, Patrick Martinez, Michael Massenberg, Kwanchai Moriya, Sand One, Skeet One, Jose Ramirez, Yoshie Sakai, Jose Sarinana, Slick, Henry Taylor, Shark Toof, and Werc. L.A. Heat is sponsored by Friends of the Chinese American Museum, El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, Smithsonian Institution, Cal Humanities Community Stories, La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, Culinary Historian of Southern California, and Chinatown Business Improvement District. Restaurant partners are The Grids, Mexicali, Starry Kitchen, and Xoia Vietnamese Eats. The museum is located at 425 N. Los Angeles St., across from Union Station in El Pueblo, and is open Tuesday-Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day, and Independence Day. For additional information, visit the museums website at camla.org. Suggested admission: adults, $3; seniors 60 and over, $2; students with ID, $2; and CAM members, free. All exhibits are wheelchair accessible. #