art show

BLACK LIVES MATTER /  by Les Talusan

Photo: Les Talusan

Photo: Les Talusan

We affirm with pride that the SAMASAMA community is woven together through varied narratives of Asian, Pacific Islander, Black, Latinx, and Indigenous artists.⠀
⠀
In representing stories of non-Black communities of color, we must ask ourselves: in what ways are we perpetuating violent systems of oppression in this nation and in our ancestral homes? In what ways may we fight them?⠀
⠀
We must face the deep and painful truths of violence, racism, and colorism among the Asian and Black communities: through dismantling anti-Blackness in ourselves and our communities while simultaneously holding space for our humanity and trauma; through imagining liberated and decolonized ways of moving in the world, finding our voices, and being in relationship with one another. It is difficult work, and we will strive and falter.⠀
⠀
But we MUST commit to rooting ourselves in loving connections, and ensuring that our actions to flow from that place of true solidarity and care.⠀
⠀
Art is key in this work—be it solemn or joyful, exaltant or incisive. Art affirms our humanity; it gathers and connects us in powerful and unspoken ways, and allows us to build new worlds together.⠀
⠀
Let us rise up and use the power of art to support education, engagement, and direct action in and between our communities.⠀
⠀
Let us use our bodies, energies, skills and funds to fuel change, while we do the essential work of transforming ourselves from the inside out.⠀
⠀
In the coming weeks, we aim to uplift and highlight the voices of our Black artist family. Please take the time to support and LISTEN.

SAMASAMA 2020 /  by Les Talusan

To our SAMASAMA family, friends, and collaborators - AKA OUR COMMUNITY:

Like many of you, we needed to take time to process the progressing situation of COVID-19, but we are even more adamant about the importance of SAMASAMA. 

Epidemics have historically perpetuated tension against and between people of color and immigrants, resulting in ‘xenophobia’ and racism within the diaspora community. The time now is more important than ever. This is a CALL FOR ARTISTS whose work has a greater impact than they ever realized. Through this shared global experience, albeit, an unfortunate one with many unknowns, there is no better opportunity than now to come together and celebrate through creative mediums. This is a call AGAINST fear and frustration. 

The reality of our annual May exhibition is unclear, however, we are moving forward in accepting submissions. SAMASAMA dates are TBD and we will announce them as soon as it is deemed safe for us to gather once again to celebrate one another. For now, please plan on creating art that we can display virtually, be it visual or aural art.

Les & Seda
Batang Kankaloo // Foreign National

Requirements:

For more information, please contact: Seda & Les samasamaartdc@gmail.com // @samasamaart

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month /  by Les Talusan

Illustration: Katrin Davis

Illustration: Katrin Davis

Happy AAPIHM!

We are celebrating by creating new traditions and building community through art with our 3rd Annual SAMASAMA Art Show and Gathering! Join us tonight at Shopkeepers for the opening reception. I will also be curating an all-vinyl set of music by Asian/Asian American and Pacific Islander artists ✨

When I’m not DJing weddings or taking photos, here’s where I’ll be playing tunes:

5/1  SAMASAMA Opening Reception at Shopkeepers

5/2  Bahala Na Radio at Eaton Hotel

5/2 The KGB at Compass Spring Party for Friends and Clients at Gaslight Tavern

5/3  Petworth First Fridays at Petworth Fitness

5/9  Bahala Na Radio at Eaton Hotel

5/14 Power Your Day with Rent the Runway at Compass Coffee McPherson Square (8-11AM)

5/15 Power Your Day with Rent the Runway at Compass Coffee Chinatown (8-11AM)

5/16 Power Your Day with Rent the Runway at Compass Coffee Farragut (8-11AM)

5/16  Bahala Na Radio at Eaton Hotel

5/17 Power Your Day with Rent the Runway at Compass Coffee Georgetown (3-6PM)

5/17  Taking The Piss w/ The Kaiser at Marx Café

5/18 Power Your Day with Rent the Runway at Compass Coffee Spring Valley (8-11AM)

5/19  SAMASAMA Family Day at Shopkeepers

5/23  Bahala Na Radio at Eaton Hotel

5/24  All Night at Allegory

5/25  SAMASAMA Closing Reception at Shopkeepers

5/26  Movie/Brunch: Better Luck Tomorrow at Slash Run

5/28 Presentation: Harmony Hills Elementary School Career Day

5/30  Bahala Na Radio at Eaton Hotel

5/30 Midnight Driver at Black Cat

5/31  Punk Soul Sisters w/ Sally Go Round at Showtime Bar

SAMASAMA Art Show & Gathering Schedule of Events /  by Les Talusan

* Flyer image painted by Henley Bounkhong

* Flyer image painted by Henley Bounkhong

Foreign National and Batang Kankaloo present the 3rd Annual SAMASAMA Art Show & Gathering. Founded in 2016 to honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, this exhibition will present original work by artists of color from diaspora communities.

The term SAMASAMA means all together in Tagalog. The theme of the exhibit is Bayanihan, a Filipino custom derived from the Tagalog word bayan, meaning community. It refers to the spirit of communal unity, work, and cooperation to achieve a particular goal.

AAPI communities are rich in tradition and heritage, but tread quietly in the modern-day conversation of nuanced diversity. America's relationships and identities are more complex today than ever, uncovering layers of untold and underrepresented narratives. These differences are encouraged, celebrated, and is the foundation of supporting, and understanding one another's cross-cultural connections.

This year, SAMASAMA will continue its tradition of donating a portion of proceeds for all art sold to local organization Asian American LEAD (AALEAD). In support for the tireless work that they do for our youth. Please tag and follow us on IG @samasamaart and use the hashtag #SAMASAMAART2019 to view our activities throughout the month and share our artists’ powerful work!

OFFICIAL 2019 ARTIST LIST

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Donations will be accepted at the door (suggested $5-20 donation), 15% of art sales will be donated to Asian American LEAD (AALEAD), a non-profit that supports low-income and underserved Asian Pacific American youth. All events will be held at Shopkeepers except for the movie showing on May 26th, which will be at Slash Run.

May 1 | OPENING RECEPTION | 6:00-9:00PM | RSVP
To kick off the month-long celebration, please join us for an evening of art and atmosphere. Featuring food by Maketto and Aiya, Kicheko Goods and SAMASAMA artists’ pop-up shop, live painting by Cita Sadeli CHELOVE and Maria Miller, live screen printing by Soul & Ink and Les The DJ, curating an all-vinyl set of Asian and AAPI music.

May 18 | KUNG FU 101 | 11:00AM-12:00PM | RSVP
Kung Fu, or sometimes referred to as Wushu, is a system of self-defense that is based on developing and improving the mind and body to efficiently function as one. Wong People has been in Washington, DC's Chinatown since 1971 and will be leading a free Kung-Fu 101 session. Open to all ages.

May 19 | STENCIL, CALLIGRAPHY, BOOKMAKING + POP-UP LIBRARY | 2:00-5:30PM | RSVP
Join our family-friendly event at Shopkeepers for a series of fun workshops where kids can make books, learn stenciling, Chinese calligraphy, and brush painting! Miss Chelove will be live printing (with prints and other items available for purchase). The pop-up art market will be open. Check the times below for each activity. Enjoy all-vinyl set by Les The DJ, in the cafe space. Food and beverage by Maketto will be available for purchase.

2:00-5:00PM | Make Books/Read Books with DCPL
Drop by anytime between 2-5:00PM at the DC Public Library table to make your own mini field journal, customized with imagery from DCPL's local history and punk archive collections. DCPL will also bring a pop-up library of books by Asian American and Pacific Islander authors, so bring your library card!

2:00-3:30PM | Stencil/Poster Workshop by Shani Shih
Join Shani Shih for a workshop on expressing identity, values, and vision through stencil art on a poster format. Participants will learn how to create stencils of various levels of complexity, and ultimately create a unique 11x17 poster with a combination of painting, typography, and image and pattern stencils. Stencils will be applied with spray paint outdoors.

4:00-5:30PM | Chinese Calligraphy and Brush Painting with Michelle Chen
Join us for an introduction to Chinese calligraphy workshop, open to all ages. Students will use traditional brushes and ink to write Chinese characters, and will have the opportunity to try different styles, such as standard, seal, and running script. We will also discuss some of the history and cultural significance of calligraphy. Rice paper, ink, and brushes will be provided.

May 25 | CLOSING RECEPTION | 4:00-7:00PM | RSVP
Please join us for our closing reception with The Color Curtain Project book release, live activations by Miss Chelove, Shani Shih and Michelle Chen, a pop-up art market and powerful performances, including a traditional Cambodian dance demo by Sadira and a contemporary Filipino folk dance by Jamie Garcia. It will be an evening full of delicious food provided by Maketto and Citizen Cook. Citizen Cook realizes Wilma Consul’s vision of making food that creates awareness about wellness, sustainability, and diversity. The chef will offer Filipino merienda (mid-afternoon snacks), adding rice plates at 5:00PM. The dishes can be enjoyed to the all-vinyl set of Asian and AAPI music curated by Les The DJ.

May 26 | BRUNCH MOVIE: BETTER LUCK TOMORROW AT SLASH RUN | 11:00AM-3:00PM | RSVP
Celebrate the end of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with us at Slash Run, a local burger joint, with a movie and brunch presented by Batang Kankaloo & Parle-G Baby! We'll watch Justin Lin's “Better Luck Tomorrow”, enjoy Slash Run's tasty brunch menu, and listen to all-vinyl jams by Les The DJ, before and after the movie.

For all the events, donations will be accepted at the door (suggested $5-20 donation), 15% of art sales will be donated to Asian American LEAD (AALEAD). Pay what you can, no one turned away.

We could not have produced this show without the pure passion, hard work, and dedication of our artists, AAPI community, and supportive allies. We hope you can check out any of our events to view their talent and craft. There's something for everyone. RSVP at bit.ly/2019samasama.

SAMASAMA Art Show & Gathering - Call For Artists /  by Les Talusan

SAMASAMA_ArtistCall_Socials_2019Blog.jpg

Call for Artists for Art Show Celebrating
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

SAMASAMA ART SHOW & GATHERING

DEADLINE:          APRIL 1, 2019, MONDAY
CURATORS: FOREIGN NATIONAL AND BATANG KANKALOO
LOCATION:   SHOPKEEPERS, 1231 FLORIDA AVE NE WASHINGTON, DC 20002
ON VIEW:           MAY 1-25, 2019
OPENING RECEPTION: MAY 1, 2019, WEDNESDAY, 6-9PM

Call Summary: February 6-April 1, 2019 Foreign National and Batang Kankaloo present the 3rd Annual SAMASAMA Art Show & Gathering. Held in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, this exhibition will present original work by artists of color from diaspora communities.

The term SAMASAMA means all together in Tagalog. The theme of the exhibit is Bayanihan, a Filipino custom derived from the Tagalog word bayan, meaning community. It refers to the spirit of communal unity, work, and cooperation to achieve a particular goal.

From the outside, AAPI communities are often perceived as devoid of meaningful difference in identity and experience. From the inside, our communities live vibrant, varied lives - but remain divided by a lack of exchange between our cultures and ongoing histories.

Our goal is to examine the multicultural American experience and to break through stereotypes and boundaries because diverse stories, perspectives, and contributions push humanity forward.

This year we will be donating a portion of proceeds for all art sold to local organization Asian American LEAD (AALEAD) for the tireless work that they do for our youth.

Specifications: Open to artists of color producing original paintings, screen prints, illustrations, digital prints, photographs, stand-alone installations or 3-dimensional work with print components. Artwork must be displayable on a wall and must be wired for hanging and no larger than 4x5 feet. Art that highlights the Spirit of Bayanihan, AAPI culture or perspective, social justice, and racial justice issues are especially encouraged.

Requirements:

Submission Deadline: April 1, 2019 (Midnight EST) and Artists will be notified via e-mail of their acceptance on or before April 5, 2019. Art to be delivered at Shopkeepers between 12-6pm on Sunday, April 21, 2019.

For more information, please contact:
Seda, Les and Thu at samasamaartdc@gmail.com // @samasamaart

FB event link: bitly.com/samasamafb2019

SAMASAMA: Art, Beauty, Community, Togetherness /  by Les Talusan


🎥: Joseph Le

Sherry and I (Batang Kankaloo) would like to thank everyone for all the support we received in making our second annual Samasama Art Show & Gathering bigger and better. We are still unpacking our lives from the 5-day whirlwind of love that was SAMASAMA! The theme of the exhibit, Bayanihan, meaning the spirit of communal unity, work, and cooperation was truly felt every single day. Thank you to the 50+ artists for exhibiting your work with us and to our vendors, panelists, and volunteers for lending your time and talents. We’ve received a lot of compliments on the vibe and the energy this show created. Community building at its finest.

Special thanks to Shopkeepers, our most gracious host, Seda Nak and Samandar Khelgati for both being so kind, accommodating and supportive. We appreciated sharing such a truly special space together.

📷: Carlos Salazar

📷: Carlos Salazar

SAMASAMA Art Show & Gathering - Call For Artists /  by Les Talusan

SAMASAMA_BlogBanner_2018.jpg

CALL FOR ARTISTS FOR ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN ART SHOW
SAMASAMA Art Show & Gathering

Deadline:  April 2, 2018
Curators: Soul & Ink and Batang Kankaloo
Location:  Shopkeepers, 1231 Florida Ave NE Washington, DC 20002
On View:  May 2-6, 2018
Opening Reception: May 2, 2018 6-9PM

Call Summary: March 9-April 2, 2018 Soul & Ink and Batang Kankaloo present the 2nd Annual SAMASAMA Art Show & Gathering. Held in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, this exhibition will present original work by artists of color from diaspora communities. 

The term SAMASAMA means all together in Tagalog. Bayanihan is a Filipino custom derived from the Tagalog word bayan, meaning community. The theme of the exhibit is Bayanihan, which refers to the spirit of communal unity, work, and cooperation to achieve a particular goal. 

From the outside, AAPI communities are often perceived as devoid of meaningful difference in identity and experience. From the inside, our communities live vibrant, varied lives - but remain divided by a lack of exchange between our cultures and ongoing histories. 

Our goal is to examine the multicultural American experience. Breaking through stereotypes and boundaries because diverse stories, perspectives, and contributions to push humanity forward.

This year we will be donating a portion of proceeds for all art sold to local organizations Asian American LEAD (AALEAD) and Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute for the tireless work that they do for our youth. 

Specifications: Open to artists producing original paintings, screen prints, illustrations, digital prints, photographs, stand-alone installations or 3-dimensional work with print components. Artwork must be displayable on wall and must be wired for hanging and no larger than 4x5 feet. Art that highlights the Spirit of Bayanihan, AAPI culture or perspective, social justice and racial justice issues are especially encouraged.

Requirements:
1. Complete the Entry Form.

Submission Deadline: April 2, 2018 (Midnight EST) and Artists will be notified via e-mail of their acceptance on or before April 5, 2018. Art to be delivered at Shopkeepers between 12-3pm on Monday, April 30, 2018.

For more information, please contact:
Sherry Meneses and Les Talusan at samasamaartdc@gmail.com.

 

"SAMASAMA" Art Show & Gathering - Call For Artists /  by Les Talusan

CALL FOR ARTISTS FOR ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN ART SHOW
"SAMASAMA" Art Show & Gathering

Deadline:  May 17, 2017
Curators: Soul & Ink and Batang Kankaloo
Location:  Ten Tigers Parlour 3813 Georgia Ave NW, DC 20011
On View:  May 24, 2017, 6-10PM

Call Summary: April 28-May 17, 2017 “SAMASAMA” is derived from the Malay language and is Tagalog/Pilipino for “you are welcome”; “all together”; “united”. In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, this one night only pop-up art show and gathering aims to showcase artists while benefitting Asian American LEAD (AALEAD)*. Everyone is welcome to submit work. We will highlight the Asian Pacific American experience to raise our voices collectively, acknowledging we’re part of a whole and that we are all in this together.

*Proceeds from suggested donations for admission and 10% of all art sales will go to AALEAD. AALEAD’s youth programs provides academic and enrichment support to low income and underserved youth in the DC metro area.

Specifications: Open to artists producing original paintings, screen prints, illustrations, digital prints, photographs, stand-alone installations or 3 dimensional work with print components. Artwork must be displayable on this type of easel that can hold up to 20x30” canvas. Art that highlights APA culture or perspective, social justice issues, or unity is especially encouraged.

Requirements:
1. Complete the Entry Form
2. Email Form including digital representations of up to 3 different pieces of work to info@soulandinkcrew.com and cc hello@lestalusan.com. Make sure to include on the subject line “SAMASAMA”.

Submission Deadline: May 17, 2017 (Midnight EST) and Artists will be notified via e-mail of their acceptance on or before May 19, 2017. Art to be delivered in Petworth on the afternoon of May 21, 2017, Sunday.


For more information, please contact:
Sherry Meneses at info@soulandinkcrew.com | soulandinkcrew.com and
Les Talusan at hello@lestalusan.com | lestalusan.com