I suppose I should get used to feeling tired.
This weekend was pretty awesome. C, B and I were up in Connecticut this weekend for the (Re)Presenting Filipino Americans conference at UConn. Arkipelago was part of a panel on Media and the Filipino as a result of our submitting a proposal for a presentation on "Art as Tool for Social Change." The organizers must have REALLY stretched our relevance to that panel moderated by Emil Guillermo, since the others were academics discussing topics such as internet usage of Filipinos in Chicago, representation as a distribution problem for The Debut, and the media coverage of the Philippine American war centennial. We felt welcomed and made quite an impression just the same. It was a rare coming together of students, academics, activists, politicians(!) and artists-- young and old alike. I had the opportunity to represent Arkipelago. Though I was extremely nervous the night before, I was suprisingly relaxed the morning of the panel. Maybe it was too early for the nerves to show up:) We had a slide presentation chock full of pictures of activities that Arki has done (including maARTe of course!) and as well as snipets from other organizations doing cultural work. I'd love to put at least a full summary of the presentation on maARTe or the Arki website coz the slideshow was pretty cool - (Go B and C:) Here's the beginning (more or less) of our presentation just in case you're curious:
Manuel Ocampo, a Filipino visual artist once said, "I have no illusions that my art will change the world." At first I thought to myself, "What is he talking about!?". But after some thought, I realized that I would have to agree.
So what can art do? Art itself will not change our communities for the better. Yes, there is a power in art. Art allows us to share our collective stories. But whether we are talking about music, visual art, theater, film, or literature--it is in the act of viewing, in experiencing, and most important, talking to one another about that particular work that holds the power of art. That power lies in the audience and our communities. It is up to organizations like Arkipelago to ensure that meaningful dialogue and a sense of empowerment can come from experiencing the works of artists. Organizations such as the Balagtasan Collective, Bindlestiff Studio, Kinding Sindaw, Isangmahal, Mango Tribe Arts Collective, Ma-Yi Theater, Philippine Forum, Pintig, and Sumisibol, express a similar belief in the cultural work that they do. So, what can experiencing art do? It can empower; can cultivate the imagination; bring our community together. Cultural work aims to unite the community.
B and I had two things to celebrate this weekend. Can you believe we've been together for 3 years!? It's actually about the same time I've been babbling here on the web, hehehe...It's also his birthday today:) Happy birthday to youuuuuu, happy birthday to usssssss, happy birthday, happy birthdayyyy. happy birthday to youuuuuuuuu!
