JENNIFER MARAMBA

I am recollecting with this group, Kapwa Collective.

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The Kapwa Collective is a group of Filipino Canadian artists, critical thinkers, and healers who work across different academic and applied disciplines. We believe in the values of inclusivity and accessibility, and we work towards bridging narratives between the Indigenous and the Diasporic, and the Filipino and the Canadian. We facilitate links among academic, artistic, activist, and other communities in Toronto.

The Kapwa Collective functions as a mutual support group based on the core value of “kapwa”. Virgilio G. Enriquez, known as the founder of Filipino Psychology or Sikolohiyang Pilipino initially proposed a concept of personhood centered on the core value expressed in the word “kapwa”. In the words of the scholar Katrin de Guia:

Kapwa is a Tagalog term widely used when addressing another with the intention of establishing a connection. It reflects a viewpoint that beholds the essential humanity recognizable in everyone, therefore linking (including) people rather than separating (excluding) them from each other. Enriquez felt that this orientation was an expression of ‘humanness at its highest level’.

- Kapwa: The Self in the Other, Worldviews and Lifestyles of Filipino Culture-Bearers, 2005

With the support of The Canada Council for the Arts, I will be  participating in the Kapwa 3 Conference in Baguio, Philippines. For me, Kapwa is central to my art work…dialogue, art healing, maharlikhan traditions, community.

At the Kapwa 3 Conference I will be speaking on a panel: The Shared Self – Lost & Found: A Dialogue On Re-Indigenization.

I will be speaking about my experience in finding Kapwa, through my journey in re-covering and re-discovering my indigenous self. Digging deep into the history of my ancestry through stories from relatives to dreams of my ancestors. All through my art process. Yes, the power of art & creativity can bring one closer to truth and healing and it is accessible to everyone through Embodied Informed Research. I am also continuing my research with Filipino Healing Traditions and how they can be integrated into mental wealth (health) care systems.

Joining me on the panel is Jo Si Malaya Alcampo to introduce 5 Stages of Decolonization and Embodied Informed Research. During the Kapwa 3 Conference at Victor Oteyza Community Art Space, Jo will be planting the Singing Plants Installation and I will be performing in collaboration with the Singing Plants. Collaboratively, we also welcome the chance to build a healing garden with native seeds and plants…bathala na!

What is Kapwa?

“Kapwa: is a Tagalog term widely used when addressing another with the intention of establishing a connection. It reflects a viewpoint that beholds the essential humanity recognizable in everyone, therefore linking (including) people rather than separating (excluding) them from each other. [Virgilio]Enriquez felt that this orientation was an expression of “humanness at its highest level.” Why? Kapwa, beyond all outer trappings, looks for what people have in common: not whether someone is rich or poor, not whether somebody is young or old, man, woman or child, but rather for the fundamental characteristics in people, that is, as human beings. According to this type of thinking, people always remain just people (tao lang) despite titles, prestigious positions or wealth. It’s their behavior and their ethics that count.”-Katrin de Guia, “KAPWA the Self in the Other”

 Kapwa-3 specifically aims:

• to bring together the tumandok or lumad (the traditional knowledge holders) and the academe, at par with one another, to learn from each other and re-define Filipino knowing and Filipino knowledge in a culture-fair way

• to provide a forum for Filipino and international scholars, professors and students, who are interested in finding appropriate cultural approaches to researching, teaching, documenting, reporting, preserving and promoting the Filipino culture.

• to map out the relevance of traditional knowledge for Filipino education today.

• to share and discuss AK (academic findings/fieldwork) and IK (the knowledge of the Indigenous People) from among different cultural communities in the Philippines and around the world

• to spark interest among the general public in the humanistic and ecology-friendly values of the ancestral Asian societies and what advantages such values can offer to our 21st century living

For more information about the Kapwa 3 Conference please click this link.

My latest labour of big time love…

Miracle Thieves is a Social Enterprise.

We strive to facilitate the growth of the individual’s creativity, while also serving as a platform for Toronto’s emerging creative economy.

Come visit me at 249 Crawford St. Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Jennifer Maramba – Partner|Program Director

www.miraclethieves.com

beyond the gate, find a cane of confidence and trust…
a good omen is upon you

PUNZARAMBA (Jennifer Maramba, Alex Punzalan JR, and Kawayan Punzaramba)

a mix of adventure and mentorship.
‘maharlika’ and healers.
hunting and gathering.
a turning point.

5 Part Video Series

Click to View Video(s)
Part 1 Philippines 2011: Abstract Video
Part 2 Philippines 2011: Hwayu, Kalinga
Part 3 Philippines 2011: Panay Bukidnon
Part 4 Philippines 2011: Harana
Part 5 Philippines 2011: AXiS Art Project / Philippine International Arts Festival

Thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts and VOCAS (Victor Oteyza Community Art Space) I was able to travel to the Philippines (my ancestral homeland) to complete a mentorship with Dr. Katrin de Guia. In the Philippines my mentorship led me to many inspiring culture bearers and healers through art including Dr. de Guia…inevitably allowing me to explore my primary goal of exploring Babaylan-Inspired Art and traditions. Along with my mentorship, Dr. de Guia encouraged me to participate as an artist resident at VOCAS where I was able to install 3 participatory/collaborative art works: Hwayu, Torontilippines and Kapwa Weaving.

The Babaylan* is a Filipino word that refers specifically to an individual or a group of healers, mostly women, who were acknowledged by friends and family as possessing extraordinary gifts… having a gift of vision; an ability to see through schemes or situations and later advise on future plans… or the gift for healing; a specific touch or intuited or passed-on knowledge to specific processes of ‘fixing’ and ‘putting’ people and things together. The first priority of all Babaylan [is] her community. -Carlos Villa

Dr. Katrin de Guia’s initial hospitality and kindness to my family during my mentorship was the beginning of the realization of Dr. de Guia’s own healing gifts. I am honoured to have had the opportunity to get to know and learn from such an amazing woman, mother, grandmother and artist.

“Katrin de Guia, PhD is the founder/President of HAPI. The founding of HAPI is one moment in 25 years continuity of cultural work that began in the early 80s when Kidlat Tahimik and Katrin de Guia opened up their Baguio residence to the community as an art-space and a temporary home for Filipino artists whose orientation, interests and creative style was rooted in indigenous Filipino Knowledge Systems and Practices.”
-http://www.babaylan.net/speakers/bio-kdeguia.h

http://www.amazon.com/Kapwa-Worldviews-Lifestyles-Filipino-Culture-Bearers/dp/971271490X

Thank you Canada Arts Council for your support and motivation to continue my exploration and art!

Special Thanks to the de Guia Family for your hospitality and continuous work as culture bearers of the Philippines. Let the dialogue and culture continue!

VOCAS Residency Exhibition

VOCAS – Victor Oteyza Community Art Space
108 Session Rd., L’Azotea Bldg. 5th Floor
Baguio City, Philippines

FEB 21 to 27, 2011

PLAN B! (PLAN BAHALA NA!)
Plan A didn’t work so, we’re on Plan B…Plan Bahala Na!

VOCAS artist residency exhibition exploring the culture bearer art of the Philippines and Babaylan-Inspired art that focuses on community art participation. This exhibition also explores the creative and spiritual journey of Toronto-based artist-facilitator Jennifer Maramba in ‘finding’ Kapwa, Toronto to Philippines ~ Philippines to Toronto. Bahala Na!

Plan B! Participatory Installations:
kapwa weaving – using ukay ukay / wagwag fabric materials, participants will be encouraged to add, continue, collaborate and/or attempt to complete a weaving installation within an intimate VOCAS space.

hwayu! (beautiful!) – a collaborative sound / experiential installation with Ruel Bimuyag, JR Punzalan, and Kawayan Punzaramba. Sounds of the healing work of Fang-Od, mambabatok or tattoo artist in Kalinga can only attempt to describe one’s spiritual experience to attain the marks of beauty.

torontilippines – a series of collaborative ‘exquisite corpse’ drawings with Filipino-Canadian artists and Philippine-based artists. These pencil drawings are the manifestations of bridging cultures and people. Jennifer Maramba will be in attendance to facilitate ‘exquisite corpse’ drawings with participants.

In collaboration with Katrin De Guia, Ruel Bimuyag, JR Punzalan, Kawayan Punzaramba and YOU!!
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http://axistartproject.com.shootrj.com/?page_id=20

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION / CALL FOR ARTISTS
–TORONTO–

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torontilippines: an exquisite corpse project

Artist Jennifer Maramba will be going to the Philippines in January 2011 to complete an inter-disciplinary arts mentorship with Dr. Katrin de Guia in Baguio, Philippines. During her mentorship, Jennifer will be affiliated with VOCAS (Victor Oteyza Community Art Space) and HAPI (Heritage Arts and Academies of the Philippines Inc.) in Baguio City. 

torontilippines: an exquisite corpse project is seeking artists of any and every practice to participate in a collaborative drawing project with artists in the Philippines. This is an excellent opportunity to participate in a culturally progressive creative project that is dependant on artistic chance. Through automatic pencil drawings, Toronto artists will complete one half of a drawing and the other half contributed and completed by artists in the Philippines. 

The completed works will be exhibited in the Philippines at VOCAS and in Toronto (venues to be announced).

Who can participate?
Visual Artists, Musicians, Designers, Illustrators, Writers (but not limited to), that are experienced in drawing or mark-making.
Artists of Filipino descent are encouraged to participate.

How to participate?
Contact Jennifer Maramba at jenmaramba@gmail.com or 416-948-5599

Artists must pick-up the required *materials or complete their drawings at Mae to Jun Wednesday Open-Studio Sessions at the Barb Symons Studio (261 Niagra between Queen & King Streets) at the following dates:

December 22
January 5
January 12 – Last day to submit drawing

Alternate arrangements can be made to pick up materials. Please contact Jennifer.

(*Materials required and provided by artist: Paper, HB Pencil, Kneaded Eraser, Written Instructions/Rules of Participation)

For more information please contact jenmaramba@gmail.com