Asian Arts Initiative presents SIYA (Apr09)

Philadelphia, PA – In the spirit of the singular pronoun used in Tagalog language to signify he, she, or any person, Siya is the newest collaborative endeavor by Lovella Calica, L. Capco Lincoln, and Michelle Posadas – Tatlo Mestiz@s. They invite you for an evening of fun as they undress their investigation of gender and gender roles as Pilipino American artists through performance, poetry, and film.

The transplanted trio takes on this performance collaboration to discuss how gender identities have shaped their lives and encourage the audience to imagine a world where we can all live beyond the binaries that bind us. The show takes us through a Pilipino diasporic re-imagination of the many gender possibilities as it relates to our bodies, our families and our ancestral homeland. Let us imagine a gender fluid world by drawing upon the past and bringing genuine hope for the future.

Using their own personal histories and drawing from family experiences, they envision what it is like to be their brothers, fathers, mothers or grandmothers as they struggle through migration, adoption and male privilege. Through these intergenerational stories, they further investigate how living with gender binaries creates power and privilege that end up hurting those affected by imperialism and poverty. They relate it back to a history of both struggle and resistance especially among Pilipino women who have to endure such industries as mail order brides, state sponsored overseas workers and the U.S. military.

“ We are dancing to a tune of contradictions and pressure discovering beauty and possibility, so we must learn to love ourselves wholly.” - Lovella Calica

Using multiple projections, video, shadow performance and monologues, Tatlo Mestiz@s take us through a journey of the harsh realities of gender oppression both here and in the Philippines. The Mestiz@s don’t leave us hopeless but instead speculate and imagine a world where not only pronouns are singular, but bodies and lives are born into endless possibilities in an open and gentle world.

Tatlo Mestiz@s Mission Statement
We are rooted as Pin@y visionaries emerging as multimedia artists who create space for our stories. We explore and reclaim home through innovative collaborative art-making that awakens liberation. We give rise to ourselves, to each other and to others. We stand by the struggles of our Pilipino kin, here and abroad.

For more information, images and video please go to http://tatlomestizos.blogspot.com/
The Asian Arts Initiative is a community-based arts center in Philadelphia that engages artists and everyday people to create art that explores the diverse experiences of Asian Americans, addresses our social context, and imagines and effects positive community change. Recently relocated due to the expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Asian Arts Initiative is now in a new home at 1219 Vine Street where we are contributing to the revitalization of Vine Street and Chinatown North.

--
Regards,
Teena Bounpraseuth
Marketing Assistant

Asian Arts Initiative
1219 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215.557.0455

www.asianartsinitiative.org

* * * * *
The Asian Arts Initiative is a community-based arts center in Philadelphia that engages artists and everyday people to create art that explores the diverse experiences of Asian Americans, addresses our social context, and imagines and effects positive community change.

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	Asian Arts Initiative presents SIYA Philadelphia, PA – In the spirit of the singular pronoun used in Tagalog language to signify he, she, or any person, Siya is the newest collaborative endeavor by Lovella Calica, L. Capco Lincoln, and Michelle Posadas – Tatlo Mestiz@s. They invite you for an evening of fun as they undress their investigation of gender and gender roles as Pilipino American artists through performance, poetry, and film. The transplanted trio takes on this performance collaboration to discuss how gender identities have shaped their lives and encourage the audience to imagine a world where we can all live beyond the binaries that bind us. The show takes us through a Pilipino diasporic re-imagination of the many gender possibilities as it relates to our bodies, our families and our ancestral homeland. Let us imagine a gender fluid world by drawing upon the past and bringing genuine hope for the future. Using their own personal histories and drawing from family experiences, they envision what it is like to be their brothers, fathers, mothers or grandmothers as they struggle through migration, adoption and male privilege. Through these intergenerational stories, they further investigate how living with gender binaries creates power and privilege that end up hurting those affected by imperialism and poverty. They relate it back to a history of both struggle and resistance especially among Pilipino women who have to endure such industries as mail order brides, state sponsored overseas workers and the U.S. military. “ We are dancing to a tune of contradictions and pressure discovering beauty and possibility, so we must learn to love ourselves wholly.” - Lovella Calica Using multiple projections, video, shadow performance and monologues, Tatlo Mestiz@s take us through a journey of the harsh realities of gender oppression both here and in the Philippines. The Mestiz@s don’t leave us hopeless but instead speculate and imagine a world where not only pronouns are singular, but bodies and lives are born into endless possibilities in an open and gentle world. * Discount rates available for groups of youth ABOUT THE ARTISTS Tatlo Mestiz@s Mission Statement We are rooted as Pin@y visionaries emerging as multimedia artists who create space for our stories. We explore and reclaim home through innovative collaborative art-making that awakens liberation. We give rise to ourselves, to each other and to others. We stand by the struggles of our Pilipino kin, here and abroad. For more information, images and video please go to http://tatlomestizos.blogspot.com/ The Asian Arts Initiative is a community-based arts center in Philadelphia that engages artists and everyday people to create art that explores the diverse experiences of Asian Americans, addresses our social context, and imagines and effects positive community change. Recently relocated due to the expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Asian Arts Initiative is now in a new home at 1219 Vine Street where we are contributing to the revitalization of Vine Street and Chinatown North. -- Regards, Teena Bounpraseuth Marketing Assistant Asian Arts Initiative 1219 Vine Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 215.557.0455 www.asianartsinitiative.org * * * * * The Asian Arts Initiative is a community-based arts center in Philadelphia that engages artists and everyday people to create art that explores the diverse experiences of Asian Americans, addresses our social context, and imagines and effects positive community change. Home \| News \| Calendar \| Directory \| Plays \| Library/Storefront \| Timeline Copyright 2009, Roger W. Tang Questions? Email