'Rice is Mẹ' exhibit opens at Chandler gallery

“Rice is Mẹ: Anh-Thuy Nguyen” is the name of an exhibit that will be on display at the Gallery at Chandler Center for the Arts from Nov. 15 until Feb. 7, 2026 -- with a reception planned for this weekend. Join the gallery for a free public opening reception Friday, Nov. 14, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. RSVPs are appreciated online at this Eventbrite link. In what a news release describes as a deeply personal exhibition, Tucson-based artist Anh-Thuy Nguyen explores the complexities of cultural identity, memory and intergenerational connection through the powerful symbolism of rice. For Nguyen, rice is far more than a staple food. It is a vessel for memory, tradition and belonging. Drawing from her experience as a Vietnamese i