If you are reading this right now, you've had a dream at some point. We all dream, and whether you think your dreams are feasible is determined by the boundaries set upon you. Boundaries. They can be literal or figurative, physical or mental. Whatever they are, they can hold you down and bury you until your dream is no longer visible – if you let them. With these boundaries and obstacles piling on you, bills, family, career, health, etc., you may wonder: "Is it safe to dream"? While this world becomes more unsettling with every new headline, some people want to abolish those boundaries with you. But first, you must step out of reality for just a moment, and into the Dream State.

Dream State is a grassroots impact project led by third-culture kids, kids of immigrants, dedicated to building and protecting spaces where it is safe to dream. Powered by young Asian-American creatives, this collective brings together individuals whose passions don't necessarily align with what is expected of them and encourages their full artistic expression. Their latest exhibit, Works In Progress, which took over the Asian Art Museum on May 31st and June 1st, brought together some of these artists to explore the idea: "When dreams come undone? What do we grow in their place?". Dream State uses a visual metaphor to exemplify this concept: an abandoned village growing moss and flowers. The idea is that if life can grow on top of old stones, we can create the life we want in the world we have right now. Works in Progress was curated by Steph Cai and Yasmine Anastasia, whose goals were to highlight artists who make art for themselves rather than for monetary gain. This is their second exhibit at the Asian Art Museum, this time activating the entire museum’s building – constructing a dream village into the space.

I had the opportunity to interview Dream State’s Founder, Spencer Tsang. Spencer is a 25-year-old filmmaker, born and raised in Sacramento and whose family runs a restaurant in San Francisco's Chinatown. He's a dreamer, like you and me, who found himself quite unhappy with the direction he was going. While working in film in Los Angeles, he realized that many flaws within the industry ultimately led him to feel quite unfulfilled. His desire to not only pursue his passions, but to be happy doing so, inspired him to start Dream State. This is a feeling that he and his counterparts shared. He states that they are not satisfied with how the world is right now, and want to inspire people to build the world they want to live in. Through his artistic medium, he builds surreal dream worlds that model the ones he wants to live in, as if boundaries don’t exist. Spencer took his chance to work with the Asian Art Museum and used it to lift up his peers, bringing local artists together for an exhibit — and that’s how Dream State was born. Through storytelling, Dream State intends to empower people to believe that their dreams are more real than they tend to think. As children of immigrants, they are told that their dreams are not practical or realistic. I resonated heavily with Spencer's sentiment. As the author at Hotspot, I don't talk much about my creative journey. In fact, my parents are entirely oblivious to my passions outside my 9-to-5.

At Dream State, they are interested in finding the intersection where film and art meets real life experiences, ancestry meets future, to form worlds. In their latest Museum Takeover, they explore what it means being a “work in progress”– challenging the model minority myth and what it means to be valid in your existence. Over 30 artists were represented in Works In Progress, together challenging the idea of what an Asian-American can be in today’s world. Subset themes were explored, such as the American Dream, the meaning of money, and the abandoned dreams that come with the immigrant experience. One of their most intriguing interpretations of these ideas was using pigeons as a metaphor. Historically, pigeons were brought to the United States as a resource. When they were no longer found useful, they were abandoned and left to find a new purpose in this foreign land.

"But just like a pigeon, an immigrant, they are resilient. Even when their homes are taken away from them, they are going to build a new one. They learn how to be in a place not built for them– for better or for worse. Everything is intentional, and we are just trying to build worlds that are more equitable, more equal for everyone".

– Spencer Tsang

Dream State Digital Storytelling team of filmmakers Nicole Condez, Gian Icatar, and Samantha Tsang brilliantly set the table for the show's success by designing a campaign that included public stunts and films including a surprise appearance from Bay Area icon Anh Phoong. Their efforts and artistry contributed to Dream State breaking the single day record for most tickets sold.

People can say what they want about San Francisco and the Bay Area. This place is extraordinary in the ways creatives band together and support one another. There is no other place in California that uplifts other creatives and is genuinely ready to see their peers succeed. Dream State and its mission are the perfect example of what the Bay Area is about. Expressing yourself to your maximum potential is not just a dream; it can be your reality with determination and support. At Dream State, they leverage and redirect the communities that institutions often fail to support. I asked Spencer what advice he had for someone looking to start following their dreams, and he said:

"The greatest advice I received: you may find yourself in unfriendly rooms, and when you do, you need to be brave, but you don't need to do it on your own. In every room I enter, in my heart I bring with me the people who I look up to the most. How can I be afraid when I have my ancestors with me?
We are the ancestors and the boundary breakers for those who come after us".

– Spencer Tsang

If you want to get involved with Dream State or keep up with their projects, check out their website dreamst888.io and Instagram @dreamstate.wav. Soon, their Works in Progress exhibit will be available for viewing online. There are many great things still to come from Dream State. While they have inspired many people in the community, they have also greatly inspired me and touched my heart. They have shown me that my dreams can be my reality. I think I will finally show my mom this blog this weekend.

DREAM STATE TEAM: Spencer Tsang, Founder & Director / Yasmine Anastasia, Curator & Art Director / Steph Cai, Curator & Art Director / Rachel Tang Halpert, Experience Designer / Amber Lee, Project Manager / Dominic Wong, Producer / Jenay Denise, Program Assistant / Gian Icatar, Producer & Marketing Lead / Nicole Condez, Director of Digital Storytelling / Sam Tsang, Digital Storytelling / Jesus Ochoa, Director of Photography / Christina Qian, Social Media Manager / Ilaria Lobo, Copywriter / Nate Yo, Designer / Clarisse Aruino, Designer / Yoko April Tamada, Community Relations Lead / Aysia Saadiq, Community Outreach Lead / Bridgette Yang, Documentary Director / Marc Spencer Tejada, Director of Photography / Gianpaolo Pabros, Director of Photography

“WORKS-IN-PROGRESS” FEATURED ARTISTS: Ashia Ajani / Astra Logik / Bijun Liang / Bryan Chu / BODYSONNET / Caleb Soon / Chandarany Prak-Austin / Chris Yee / Ethan Okamoto / Ginger Yifan Chen / Henry Tran / Jenn Ban / Jessica Bailey / Jessica Le / Jimmy Ramirez / Jyun Sun / Jun Yang / Kualii Wong / Kunal Palawat / Leanna Chan / Madi Reyes / Martín Herrera / Mel Ho / Mike Arcega / Mindy Ng / Moscelyne Parke Harrison / Nisa Khan / Papi Grandisimo / Riley Nakamura / Qiao Shan Irene Peng / Roziht Eve / Somer Taylor / Stella Harry Lee / Steven Gong / Thank You Saint / TJ Camaclang / The Students of Foothill High School / The Students of Harbor House Ministries / Tod the Bunny / Vivi Matsuda / Wenna Luu / When the Smoke Comes / Ximaps Dong / Zuheyla

COLLABORATORS: ABG Art Group / All Pau / Asian Art Museum / Bay Area Creative / Josh Reyes / Julia Lin / Jy-Jimmie Gabiola / Lao Family Community Development / Malaya Movement / MASAPRAP / Mycelium Youth Network / PILES Collective / Restore Oakland / Rhythm Section / Steven Gong / The WEB / When the Smoke Comes

FABRICATORS: Dar Swift / Brent Schroder

VOLUNTEERS: Amare McArthur / Alex Vaheid / Ash Chang / Brian Lee / Carla Grace Fajardo / Connie Liu / Denise Tran / Emi Erce / Elliot Austin / Emerson Diehl / Erica Lizundia / Griselda Corcoles Neri / Isabel Li / Isalene Icatar / J Han / Jawa / Jinju / Julia Solano / Jules Roberts-Hansen / Kaitlyn Hsu / Katie Dever / Kie Chang / Kseniya / Leanna Chan / Makaile Bishop / Manasa Thimmiya / Maris Juwono / Mary Graves / Michael “Mikey” Soleta / Mikey Garcia / Moses “Mo” Ortega / Nes / Papatson Suphavai / Rachell / Raphael Mallari / Yolanda Ha

DONORS & SPONSORS: Anh Phoong / Avant Printing / Duxwell Printing / Helen Zhang / Heman Lee / Janice Wong / Jessica Wei Lee / Ike’s Sandwiches / KACE Tea / Krista Simor / Lao / Family Community Development / Monster Pho / Outta Sight Pizza / Ike’s Sandwiches / KACE Tea / Janice Wong / Asians are Strong

A Conversation with Dream State