ABOUT: The creative world today walks a careful tightrope with the ego — it is the source of both vulnerable inspiration as well as toxic self-inflation. We believe there is an alternative path away from this cruel dichotomy through building empathy with our collective self.
Our belief is expressed through kapwa, an Indigenous value of the so-called Philippines. Kapwa represents the communal spirit – a shared identity and interconnectedness with our fellow beings. This demonstrates the opposite of Western colonial values of individualism and competition, values that many of us are working towards healing and unlearning together.
In observance of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, a community of creatives unite to express what it means to possess a communal spirit. As we band together during tough times, we consider how much we can accomplish as a community. Kapwa encourages our artists to express what it means for us to dissolve our ego wholeheartedly into the collective.
Thank you to all our individual community donors for helping us make this event possible! And thank you to our sponsors Ready State, Island Warrior Fighting Sticks, Dulce Capadocia/Silayan Dance Company, Ginto Seeds & Lola's Kusina.
Please donate & help us keep this project going! We accept donations via Venmo, PayPal (as "friends & family"), Cash.App & Zelle (search email address info@mataartgallery.org)