Fifty-five artists were hosted from ACTA's Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program in Los Angeles for ACTA 's 2nd Biennial Artist Gathering. The Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo provided an inspiring venue for the performances, panels, and discussions on October 25 and 26. Visit our photo gallery to see some of the highlights.
Both Saturday and Sunday featured powerful performances and sharing sessions from each of the artists. With nineteen different art forms ranging from Mexican American altar making to Native American basketweaving, and from Afro-Peruvian Zapateo Dance to Hmong Kwv Txhiaj (traditional sung poetry), the sessions were a demonstration of the vibrancy and diversity of living cultures in California . The sharing sessions allowed each artist an opportunity to not only demonstrate their art, but express the meaning and significance, and in many cases urgency, in ensuring its continuance.
In addition to the more formal learning and sharing offered through the panels, forums, and sharing sessions, participants also had the chance to connect and network with each other. Over meals and during a special Divali ritual to mark the Indian Festival of Lights on October 25, hosted by Ramaa Bharadvaj and Ramya Harishankar and their respective apprentices Shivali Panchal and Trisha Banerjee , new connections were formed. The collective experience over the two days reinforced the value of coming together and the powerful inter-relationships shared as artists, as culture bearers, as Californians, and as humans.
Many thanks to the California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts and the Fund for Folk Culture in partnership with the James Irvine Foundation for the funding that made the event possible.
Read more about the featured speakers, panels and forums.
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