PASIFIKA TRANSMISSIONS
Pasifika Transmissions invited 9 Pasifika artists in California to be guided by ancestor pieces. These transmissions were broadcasted from August 2020 - May 2021 with their art works shown in May-August 2021. This program is funded through the generous support by the RuMBA Foundation of Long Beach.
Pasifika Transmissions is a shared curation by Mariquita "Micki" Davis and Fran Lujan.
Disclaimer: The Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum and Pasifika Transmissions encourages more information or corrections from the community.
The Future Behind Us, a docu-short by Melodie Turori honors the journey that was Pasifika Transmissions.
Chamoru artist Mariquita "Micki" Davis will share works and story inspired by her time spent with the åcho' atupat, a Chamoru slingstone.
Multimedia artist Samantha Tagaloa will share her experience working alongside the Gaw, a form of money used in the Yap islands.
For this Pasifika Transmission, Melodie has been paired with the Masi, a traditional cloth from Fiji, made from the inner bark of the Mulberry Tree. Melodie’s Transmission comes from a pairing inspired by a recent response to the alarming rise in racially charged violence, “In this Pasifika Transmission I reflect on what it means to remember, to move beyond, and to live more presently.”
For this Pasifika Transmission, Āloai'a presented a piece that honors the Pahu that currently resides at PIEAM. Āloai'a shared his experience uncovering the legacy of this particular pahu.
Pasifika Transmissions kicks off the new year of programming with beloved Samoan muralist and designer JP and his son, Leone. JP shared his story of the Poluwat Sail and the inspiration for his new mural.
Amelia Butler presents a story connected to the Kauri trees and their Kapia (sap), indigenous to Te Ika-a-Māui (North Island) Aoteroa (New Zealand). Honored guest Auntie Audrey Aofia'omalo'aufa'atasi Laieikawaiopua Alo.
Kiki Rivera presents a work connected to the Dilukai - a carving rooted in and inspired by the people of Palau (Belau). Dilukai is a term used to identify statues in the form of both men and women. Often installed at abais (central meeting houses), they signify a story or a legend of that place or abai. This female dilukai signifies the empowerment of her sexuality. Most Dilukais are made of wood, and some are made of stone as well. This Dilukai that resides at PIEAM is made of wood, carved in Yap.
Sid Dueñas presents a work connected to the Latte that resides at PIEAM, on long-term loan from the Quenqa family and the Kutturan CHamoru clan. Latte is a CHamoru term that refers to stone pillars and capstones, which represent house supports and are ascribed to the ancient people of the Mariana Islands. In some accounts, they are also referred to as houses of the ancients.
Inspired by the collective wisdom of the people of Oceania, artist Roldy Ablao creates a series of trivia games for the PIEAM community. The series spanned three weeks in August and kicked off our first season of the Pasifika Transmissions program!