Theo Bickel
Theodore Kenzo Dante Bickel is a Seattle-based photographer who has contributed to the International Examiner since 2024. He uses visual storytelling to showcase the vitality of the Chinatown-International District and contemporary Asian American communities in Seattle. He is Shin-Nikkei Japanese American. Born in Portland, Oregon, he grew up in the wilds of southwest Washington state. Theo, or "Tay-o" as his friends call him, found himself putting down roots in the C-ID shortly after arriving in Seattle in 2013. He has spent over a decade working in C-ID community non-profits in development, community engagement, civil rights advocacy, and communications. Theo was one of seven Seattle-based Asian American photographers that published the photography exhibit "Through the Eyes of a Tiger" in May 2023. The photo exhibit blended holistic, not homogenous, views of the C-ID in a critical time of regrowth and development.
Bumbershoot is upon us – Labor Day Weekend 2026
There are Seattle music festivals, and then there is the one-and-only Bumbershoot.
Washington State’s legacy arts and music festival is coming up very soon this...
Nikkei Manor’s Bon Odori Summer Festival brings together multiple generations to celebrate community, family,...
(Editor’s note: These photos were originally commissioned by Nikkei Manor and are republished here with permission)
On Sunday, July 27, Nikkei Manor celebrated its annual...
Community gathers in Canton Alley for 11th annual vigil remembering neighborhood protector Donnie Chin
On Sunday, July 26, community members gathered in Canton Alley for a vigil remembering Donnie Chin, the Chinatown International District neighborhood protector who was...
Photos: Community celebrates Bush Garden re-opening
Six years after closing, Bush Garden marked its grand re-opening on June 3 with a ribbon cutting, lion dances, taiko, a City proclamation, and...
Keeping traditions alive at the 23rd annual White Center Cambodian New Year Street Festival
Under warm, sunny skies hundreds gathered in celebration of Cambodian New Year in the heart of White Center, Washington on April 25, 2026.
Families celebrated...
2026 Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is here!
Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is here! This is a time of celebration and reflection on the vibrancy and rich...
Photos: Community honors Day of Remembrance in Puyallup and NW Detention Center, calls for...
Community members honored Day of Remembrance at two symbolically important sites in Puyallup and Tacoma, honoring the memory of the more than 125,000 people...
Ward off the evil spirits of 2026 with these local Lunar New Year celebrations
Its time to ward off the evil spirits surrounding us in 2026. Check out these gatherings to celebrate and be together in community as...
A new CID Safety Booklet reaches elders with safety lessons
Amy Chen Lozano was on the phone a lot during the holiday season. Calling volunteers. Calling organizers in the Chinatown International District (CID).
She’s been...
Photo essay: Filipino Community of Seattle hosts 5th Annual Tree Lighting & Night Market
On Nov. 29, the Filipino Community of Seattle (FCS) held the 5th Annual Tree Lighting & Night Market at their community center on Martin...
