On Friday, May 16, ArtsFairfax attended the unveiling ceremony for “Still We Rise,” a new mural at the Eden Center. This beautiful artwork, created by Nhung Marilyn Phan — a gifted Vietnamese American student artist at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Maryland — tells a powerful story of resilience, renewal, and pride.
Featuring images of Chợ Bến Thành market in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Eden Center at the crossroads of Seven Corners, the image celebrates the Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American experience in Northern Virginia—a community that has endured war, displacement and hardship, yet found strength, dignity, and purpose in the American story.
“This mural honors the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War by lifting up the stories and strength of Vietnamese American communities. In its imagery, we see a journey—one that began with brave departures by boat and plane, and one that continues today in the vibrant neighborhoods and families shaped by hope and determination,” says Miss Phan, who creates various art forms deriving from her observation and perception of the world around her.
Specializing in realism and expressionism across all mediums, but working primarily with pencils and acrylic, she is also keen on other creative projects involving digital art and graphic design. Her artworks have been displayed at the PGCPS County Art Exhibition, Harmony Hall, and Montpelier Arts Center.
A community of communities
Minh Pham, who organized the mural unveiling, shares, “It’s more than a work of art. It’s a powerful reflection of our collective history, the solidarity that binds us, and the hopeful future we create together. ‘Still We Rise’ honors our deep gratitude to the United States, the nation that opened its arms to us, granted us freedom and refuge, and offered us a second chance to rebuild our lives, raise our children, and dream big dreams.”
Stuart Holt, ArtsFairfax President & CEO, who offered remarks at the unveiling, adds, “It’s a joy to see this beautiful reflection of community. Murals have the power to heal, inspire, and educate. They connect generations, celebrate cultures, and remind us that beauty and strength often come from collective effort.”
Pham, who founded Together We Thrive, the nonpartisan, community-centered nonprofit behind the Vietnamese American Legacy Project, the Moon Festival at Eden Center, and ALX Lunar New Year Celebration, celebrates what he calls “a community of communities.” By engaging family-owned small businesses and local cultural groups, Pham lifts up the Asian American community in Fairfax, and Vietnamese heritage in particular.
When asked why he created this cultural organization, he cites a Vietnamese proverb he carries close to his heart:
“Một cây làm chẳng nên non, ba cây chụm lại nên hòn núi cao.”
One tree alone cannot make a mountain, but when three trees unite, they rise, tall, strong, and unshakable — like a mountain.
This May, recognized as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we celebrate the Vietnamese community in Fairfax and invite you to visit the Eden Center and discover this extraordinary work. Alongside the mural, you’ll find a QR code for visitors to access and record their immigrant and refugee stories.
“Still We Rise” by Nhung Marilyn Phan will be on view at Eden Center all year.
6751 Wilson Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22044
