OLONGAPO DISCO 3: dreaming joy across the Diaspora (2024)Olongapo Disco: Dreaming Joy Across the Diaspora - June 2, 2024, San Diego, CA
by Babay L. Angles / Angelica Janabajal Tolentino / Ifadoja Oyajokun This year, through a series of public workshops, local artists/activists/community members created a community sculpture/creature that transmutes intergenerational grief into healing and joy. We explored the archive of BIPOC ancestral joy/grief technologies including rhythms, myths, processions, garments, dance, ritual, and environmental/political/social activism and more to inform and design individual creatures and a large collective creature. Artists and community collaboratively designed an artistic joy centered creature to address a community problem within South East San Diego and beyond, answering the question: “What are the diasporic ancestral joy technologies within San Diego that we need to remember and create to survive and thrive?” This project helped heal intergenerational trauma as families visually, sonically, and kinesthetically integrated historical experiences of joy and struggle. Despite centuries of systemic oppression our community has endured, our work built a mobile altar of resilience. Ritualists/Movement: Alicia Arellano, Samuel Briseno-Jimenez, Corinne Canavarro (Lead Choreography Assistant), Patricia Miranda Sime, Samantha Ortega, Khue Tran, Alex Vo Fabrication: Antonia Davis Dreamers and Builders: Aubrielle Duncan, Jules de Guzman, Allize Jimenez, Haven Ongoco-Rittershofer, Magdalena Ramirez, Oren Robinson, Khue Tran, Tara, Alex Vo Community Culture Bearers and Musicians: Daunté Fyall, Omo Aché, Camilo Zamudio Sound Design: Eric Tandoc Olongapo Disco Team: Jackie Taylor (Community Resources & Communication Manager), Aurerose Piaña (Ancestral Connection & Rest Consultant), Leeza Jackson (Communications Strategist), Jules de Guzman (Graphic Design / Altar Construction / Community Connection Consultant), Allizé Jimenez (Altar Creation / Community Connection / Gender Justice and Disability Access Consultant), Angela C. Bajet (Costume Design & Photography), Haven Ongoco-Rittershofer (Land Researcher), Miko Aguilar (Marketing Coordinator) Fiscal Sponsors: Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation Supported by: Arts and Culture Commission of San Diego, Far South / Border North Collaborative, A Reason To Survive Videography by In Sage Production |