KULTURA Filipino Arts Festival starts TODAY!
I’ve always been pretty proud of my Pinoy upbringing, even if I’m not necessarily loud about it. A large part of that pride is tied to the fact that Filipinos have a knack for being talented. We love the arts and the arts seem to love us right back.
Kultura is a festival that celebrates all the things that Filipinos in Canada are doing wonderfully. Every year the festival has featured all sorts of tasty food, marvellous art installations, rockin’ live music & stellar performances – all hailing from the tinubuang-bayan1. This year is gearing up to be yet another impressive week; with a strong finish at the annual KULTURA Philippine Culinary Competition featuring “Kain Kalye” which translates into ‘Street Eats’2, and also includes KULTURA Live! and the KULTURA Marketplace – all taking place at Artscape Wychwood Barns from 12-7pm.
It fills me with all sorts of pride & butterflies to support KULTURA because of all that it accomplishes and the amazing talent that is brought to the light of day through the five day celebration. Considering it started out as a small backyard art show party, and seeing what it has grown into I can’t help but feel an immense sense of pride and hope that it continues to see nothing but success. All the founders wanted was a natural way to present the kind of work that the Kapisanan Centre was doing throughout the year. I’d say they’ve done that now, and brought about something so much more enriching and inspiring.
I would like to think that one of the contributing factors to KULTURA’s success is the fact that there are family ties rooted in the tinubuang-bayan1, but I’m sure that their passion, love and pride for Filipino culture and talent is nothing to scoff at either. Growing up in Dubai, I recall attending many events that celebrated Filipino talent and pride but they all fall short of showcasing original talent. Much like Caroline Mangosing‘s experience here, where she would only see beauty pageants3, Hawaiian & salsa dancing and Celine Dion cover artists. KULTURA was created to allow those of us4 with something original to share, a place to do it.
Artists like Tim Manalo, Kristina Guison & Julius Manapul who will collaborate with Regent Park, Cabbagetown and the surrounding neighbourhoods as part of Daniels Spectrum’s Outdoor Arts Program in Bayanihan: An Interactive Art Installation at Daniel’s Spectrum today from 11am till 7pm.
Artist Bios
Timothy Manalo was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2006, he attended the Ontario College of Art and Design (now OCAD University), where he received his Bachelor’s of Fine Art from the Sculpture and Installation program and was honoured with the coveted OCAD Medal upon graduation in 2010. Known for being technically skilled, Timothy Manalo has gained numerous experience within the fabrication industry as an sculptor and fabricator working in fibreglass, mascot-making and custom interior finishing companies. Most recently he has started working as an ice sculptor for an ice producing company. His true focus is on his personal art practice, which he is able to exercise in his studio located in downtown Toronto. – See more at: http://kapisanancentre.com/vinta-gallery/timothy-manalo/#sthash.bGSAMIDS.dpuf
Maria Kristina Guison is a visual artist currently residing in Mississauga, Ontario. She was born and raised in the Philippines. She took up Production design in Theater and Film for three years in College of St. Benilde, Philippines, then transferred at Sheridan, Trafalgar campus, Oakville Ontario for the Visual and Creative Arts 2-year program. She started being active in the Kapisanan Centre when she joined the CLUTCH Program, a 5-month arts-based program for young Filipina women that deals with the expression of Filipina identity through a wide range of multi-disciplinary arts. Kristina’s works are mostly inspired by not only the by her personal history and experiences, but also by her views on the Philippine society, specifically the relationship of the so-called oppressors with the so-called oppressed. She is amazed at the beauty and sometimes grotesque characteristic of Filipino resilience through out its long and very eventful history. – See more here.
Julius Poncelet Manapul was born in the City of Manila, Philippines. He immigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1990 where he studied Fine Arts at the Ontario College of Art and Design University graduating with a BFA in 2009. He then took one year of residency at Toronto School of Art in 2011. Julius attended the University of Toronto for his Masters of Visual Studies in 2011-2013. Julius cuts to create new Hybrid imaginaries and the unattainable utopian narratives of the imagined Queer happy endings, that reflect his own struggles in religious beliefs growing up as a gay young man in the Philippines and Canada. All in all placing questions in his coming out process and his own racial melancholia.
Now for a complete look at all the KULTURA events happening this week:
Day 1: BAYANIHAN Interactive Art InstallationDate: Wednesday, August 7th
Time: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Where: Daniel’s Spectrum
Address: 585 Dundas Street East
Cost: FREE
Day 2: ILUSTRADOS – KAPISANAN Legacy Campaign Fundraising Gala Dinner
Date: Thursday, August 8th
Time(s): 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. seatings
Where: Lamesa
Address: 669 Queen Street West
Cost: $80
Day 3:
(KONTRA)BIDA: A Clutch Vol. 5 Exhibit
Date: Friday, August 9th
Time: 7 p.m. – late
Where: Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts & Culture
Address: 167 Augusta Ave.
Cost: FREE
Day 4 Part 1: Tales from the Flipside: Over Time, Overseas
Date: Saturday, August 10th
Time: 2 p.m.
Where: Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts & Culture
Address: 167 Augusta Ave.
Cost: FREE
Day 4 Part 2:
Tambay Nights featuring WilaBaliW
Date: Saturday, August 10th
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts & Culture
Address: 167 Augusta Ave.
Cost: $15
Day 5: KAIN KALYE: Filipino Street Eats Competition KULTURA Live! KULTURA Marketplace
Date: Sunday, August 11th
Time: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Where: Artscape Wychwood Barns
Address: 601 Christie St
Cost: Various5
But that’s not all, the folks over at the Kapisanan Centre are doing so much great work I couldn’t fit it all into one blog post. Look out for another post later this early next week sometime this month where I tell you about the great things they’re doing for the Filipino fashion scene here in Toronto.
Hope to see you this week!
Footnotes:
- Filipino for homeland
- Kain meaning Eat, Kalye meaning Street
- one of which I actually entered and thankfully lost
- Filipinos
- depending on the food truck
