Upcoming events.
SAMASAMA Book Club #4
Join us for our fourth book club gathering on November 16th, as we discuss Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah 📚
Chain Gang All Stars is set in a dystopian future where prison inmates can participate in the CAPE (Criminal Action Penal Entertainment) program to fight for their freedom. If the inmates can survive all matches, then they can be released from Prison. A highly anticipated book by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Chain-Gang All-Stars, presents the undeniable truth of the American penal system: exploitation, systemic racism, capitalism, mass incarceration. This story is told through gritty action-packed storytelling with footnotes of real-world statistics and actual verbiage from the US Constitution. Warning to our readers, there are gruesome fight scenes.
The SAMASAMA Book Club was created to delve into the literary works of our diaspora authors, writers, and poets. Writings are chosen quarterly by participants and meetups are set in a non-structured format to facilitate open and organic conversation.
SAMASAMA x Kam & 46 Presents UMPUKAN: A FilAm History Month Celebration!
Kam & 46 x SAMASAMA presents Umpukan! A Fil-Am History Month Celebration!
Join us on Sunday, October 29th, 12-6PM to shop local, support some amazing vendors, enjoy live music by KLOUT SITTY BURD GYANG, Cody as Always, and OPM+ (Original Pilipino Music+) with Les The DJ. Celebrate #FAHM2022 at metrobar! All ages welcome, bring your neighbors and the whole pamilya!
Our events are free and open to the public—any donations made during ticket registration will be directed to sustaining SAMASAMA's cultural offerings. Salamat!
🔸 Featuring 🔸
@_ampalaya
@anakbayandc
@ashleystarace_ceramics
@barkadabreads
@blacknerdcoffee
@chris_cardi
@eatatjujus
@gabriela_washingtondc
@jameepinedahealingarts
@kam.and.46
@mmchristii
Musubi Creations
@mxmxcreations
@pinwheelclay
@thegoodchie_
@themapdproject
Who are we?
Vanessa and Elaine are Kam and 46, Fil-Ams from Hawaii and California who were raised in an immigrant household. Kam and 46 is an ode to the homes we grew up in where we learned our culture. Being away from home, we always appreciate and carry our values, customs, and traditions. Sharing the food we grew up with embodies this spirit and is an extension of sharing a piece of us and our home.
Les and Seda are co-curators of SAMASAMA. SAMASAMA (Tagalog for "all together") began with the humble mission of celebrating diversity through art and gathering. Founded in Washington, DC in 2016 as a collective art show and benefit celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, SAMASAMA has evolved to curate year-round programs, events, and partnerships to highlight diasporic narratives and facilitate nuanced dialogue. The mission of SAMASAMA remains honoring ancestral and indigenous roots while pushing creative boundaries to grow our understanding of current and future generations' multicultural identities.
🪩 L U M P I A D I S C O 🪩 at ⚡️Electric Cool-Aid⚡️
SAMASAMA x Kam and 46 Presents
🪩 L U M P I A D I S C O 🪩 at Electric Cool-Aid
Join us on September 14, Thursday, 5-9PM at Electric Cool-Aid, on Rhode Island Avenue NW, for the 2nd installment of Lumpia Disco! Get ready for a night filled with great music, delicious lumpia bites, and support a good cause!
Music Les The DJ and Special Guest, Martín Miguel
Bites Vegetable Pancit Lumpia, Kalua Pork Sisig Lumpia
Details 📍 Electric Cool-Aid 512 Rhode Island Ave NW 🗓️ Thursday, September 14, 5-9PM
$5 Tickets will directed to sustaining SAMASAMA's cultural offerings
$25 Tickets includes an order of Kam & 46's lumpia and an Electric Cool-Aid frozen drink or beer, and a donation to SAMASAMA
No one turned away for lack of funds. Maraming Salamat 🌿
SAMASAMA x Kam & 46 Presents: Mag-Pau Hana Tayo
Kam & 46 and SAMASAMA Presents 𝑴𝒂𝒈-𝑷𝒂𝒖 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒂 𝑻𝒂𝒚𝒐! at Common Good City Farm. The first of a series of "after work" events we’re hosting to keep the spirit of Pau Hana alive through gathering folks, sharing their food, drink, stories, and music with you 🌿
Pau Hana, Hawaiian for "after work", comes from the old Hawaiian plantation days where the immigrant workers of different backgrounds, would come together after a long, treacherous day of work and talk story, share food, listen to music and dance to separate themselves from work ☀️
Join us! 𝑴𝒂𝒈-𝑷𝒂𝒖 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒂 𝑻𝒂𝒚𝒐 on Tuesday, August 29, starting at 6PM for Cocktail Hour w/ Sustain Table Food Co. & Little Hat Coffee. Afterwards, Kam & 46 will be serving dinner while Drew Kid plays a live set. We'll be ending the evening with dessert from Kam & 46. Our resident DJ, Les The DJ will be providing the soundtrack throughout the evening. Let's eat, drink, share and gather! All ages are welcome! ✨
Proceeds go towards Common Good City Farm’s public programs and Umpukan, our Filipino American History Month event in October 2023 🌱
📢 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 ‼️ 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚, 𝐌𝐚𝐮𝐢, 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬.
$30 for Cocktail Hour includes plant-based and gluten-free appetizers by Sustain Table Food Co. and one beverage of your choice by Little Hat Coffee (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
$65 for Cocktail Hour, Dinner and Dessert includes plant-based and gluten-free appetizers by Sustain Table Food Co. and one beverage of your choice by Little Hat Coffee (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) for Cocktail Hour and one beverage for dinner. Dinner service and dessert by Kam & 46.
Vegetarian option for dinner and additional drinks available for purchase.
Check out the menus below!
A little bit of history. . .
The word PAU HANA comes from the Hawaiian language. Pau means done and Hana means work. In translation it means after work. In Hawaii, the phrase Pau Hana means more than the direct translation itself.
Going back to the early plantation days in Hawaii, the different ethnicities (Hawaiian, Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese , Puerto Ricans to name a few) were recruited by plantation owners and labor contractors. They brought in a diverse ethnic workforce to control cheap labor in order to increase production and profits. The immigrant workers were enslaved and mistreated into long hours in poor environments. Labor laws and unions came into action afterwards, but to overcome it all was the spirit and unification of the workers.
The plantation owners separated the living and working spaces of these ethnicities but after work they all gathered and shared their culture with one another. Amongst a few shared were food, music, traditions, and language. Because of this willingness and practice, new friendships/relationships, new traditions, new language (Pidgin), and new culture evolved based on diversity, unification and not separation.
Today pau hana is still practiced, whether at a local bar for happy hour or community gathering for socializing. To keep tradition going in the DMV area, we hope to carry out a PAU HANA gathering much like how the plantation workers did. To provide a community gathering filled with diversity. Our event will feature local small businesses within the DMV and artists. Please join us and let's "talk story" and dance with some food, drinks, and entertainment.
Magsama-sama tayong mag-pau hana!
A little about us. . .
Vanessa and Elaine are Kam & 46, Fil-Ams from Hawaii and California who were raised in an immigrant household. Kam & 46 is an ode to the homes they grew up in, where they learned their culture. Being away from home, they always appreciate and carry their values, customs, and traditions, and sharing the food they grew up with embodies this spirit and is an extension of sharing a piece of them and their home.
Les and Seda are co-curators of SAMASAMA. SAMASAMA (Tagalog for "all together") began with the humble mission of celebrating diversity through art and gathering. Founded in Washington, DC in 2016 as a collective art show and benefit celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, SAMASAMA has evolved to curate year-round programs, events, and partnerships to highlight diasporic narratives and facilitate nuanced dialogue. The mission of SAMASAMA remains honoring ancestral and indigenous roots while pushing creative boundaries to grow our understanding of current and future generations' multicultural identities.
PARTICIPANTS
The Space by Common Good City Farms
Common Good City Farms is a place where community members can source fresh food, see sustainable urban agriculture in action, and gain exposure to concepts and skills to lead healthy lives. They actively engage with all members of their diverse community and create opportunities for connections on their farm, while emphasizing intensive vegetable production and modeling best practices in sustainable urban agriculture. Their mission is to sustain and support a more equitable community through growing, learning, cooking, and sharing fresh food together.
Beverage and Cocktails by Little Hat Coffee
Little Hat Coffee is a D.C. based popup founded by Hwan Choi and Frankie Contreras. LHC was born from our love for coffee and the service industry. LHC’s aim is to provide quality coffee and beverages that highlight our Latin and Asian heritage. LHC works closely with A Toda Madre Roasters based in North Potomac who sources various single origin coffee beans from Central and South America. By working directly with smaller farms we are able to help farmers receive better wages and continue to improve their business and quality of living. LHC is currently located at Bryant Street Market in front of bar Alegria.
Appetizers by Sustain Table Food Co.
Sustain Table Food Co was founded in Washington D.C. by Maylan Nguyen to empower herself and others to become a positive impact on our local food system. By sourcing ingredients from local farmers and producers, she has found various mediums to showcase how to prepare nutritious, whole food plant-based options that can appease omnivores. From experimenting with making Asian-inspired backpacking meals to piloting a zero-waste meal service for her neighborhood, and most recently working with Little Hat Coffee to offer a plant-based bánh mì, Maylan hopes to use this project to help consumers envision a flavorful future with less reliance on excess salt and processed sugars and oils. Sustain Table Food Co also works to support community gardening and food projects to foster sustainability and equity in the DMV area.
Live Performance by Drew Kid
Drew Kid, sometimes known as French Toast Jefferson, is a dedicated musician, multidisciplinary artist, and for context, a Silver Spring, MD native of Filipino-American origin. DK’s current work takes on the form of his band: KLOUT SITTY BURD GYANG, an artistic community movement centered on ascension, which focuses the spectrum of expression to promote universal healing. He has amassed an extensive discography of collaborations among artists DMV-based, nationwide, and recently released his self-declared greatest work: THE LOOP EVOLVES, a 22-track double album chronicling his recovery from trauma and depression.
Event Soundtrack by Les The DJ
Les The DJ a.k.a. Les Talusan is a DJ, whose musical practice immerses people in the joy of community-powered discovery. Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, and now based in Washington, DC for over 20 years, Les continues to find inspiration behind the decks in the U.S. and abroad. Fueled by their own story of resilience, liberation, and courage as an immigrant, parent and survivor, Les brings to the center the songs long cherished, remembered, and celebrated by people of the global diaspora.
SAMASAMA x Kam & 46 Presents UMPUKAN: A FilAm History Month Celebration!
Kam & 46 x SAMASAMA presents Umpukan! A Fil-Am History Month Celebration!
Join us on Sunday, October 16, 12-6PM to shop local, support some amazing vendors, enjoy live music by KLOUT SITTY BURD GYANG, Rafa Espiritu, and OPM+ (Original Pilipino Music+) with Les The DJ. Celebrate #FAHM2022 at metrobar! All ages welcome, bring your neighbors and the whole pamilya!
Our events are free and open to the public—any donations made during ticket registration will be directed to sustaining SAMASAMA's cultural offerings. Salamat!
🔸 Featuring 🔸
@aiyahxo
@anakbayandc
@balangaydc
@blacknerdcoffee
@dinewithclaudine
@fanhs_national DMV
@gabriela_washingtondc
@hatzumomo
@jesigonerouge
@kam.and.46
@nicofertakis
@pinwheelclay
@supreme_bbq_
@tacoslamichoacanadc
@we_the_flowers
@xoxotiya
Who are we?
Vanessa and Elaine are Kam and 46, Fil-Ams from Hawaii and California who were raised in an immigrant household. Kam and 46 is an ode to the homes we grew up in where we learned our culture. Being away from home, we always appreciate and carry our values, customs, and traditions. Sharing the food we grew up with embodies this spirit and is an extension of sharing a piece of us and our home.
Les and Seda are co-curators of SAMASAMA. SAMASAMA (Tagalog for "all together") began with the humble mission of celebrating diversity through art and gathering. Founded in Washington, DC in 2016 as a collective art show and benefit celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, SAMASAMA has evolved to curate year-round programs, events, and partnerships to highlight diasporic narratives and facilitate nuanced dialogue. The mission of SAMASAMA remains honoring ancestral and indigenous roots while pushing creative boundaries to grow our understanding of current and future generations' multicultural identities.
RSVP via Eventbrite (FREE!)
SAMASAMA x Kam and 46 "Sari-Sari Pop-Up Market" at City-State Brewing Co.
Kam and 46 x SAMASAMA are teaming up again for the Sari-Sari Pop-Up Market at City-State Brewing Co. on Saturday, December 18th. This holiday market, we will be hosting our favorite vendors and introducing new makers. However you are celebrating this season, join us for an evening of food, drinks, music, and shopping local. All ages welcome, bring your family and friends, and support some amazing artisans, we can’t wait to see you there!
RSVP via Eventbrite (FREE!)
Vanessa and Elaine are Kam and 46, Fil-Ams from Hawaii and California who were raised in an immigrant household. Kam and 46 is an ode to the homes we grew up in where we learned our culture. Being away from home, we always appreciate and carry our values, customs, and traditions. Sharing the food we grew up with embodies this spirit and is an extension of sharing a piece of us and our home.
Les and Seda are co-curators of SAMASAMA. SAMASAMA (Tagalog for "all together") began with the humble mission of celebrating diversity through art and gathering. Founded in Washington, DC in 2016 as a collective art show and benefit celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, SAMASAMA has evolved to curate year-round programs, events, and partnerships to highlight diasporic narratives and facilitate nuanced dialogue. The mission of SAMASAMA remains honoring ancestral and indigenous roots while pushing creative boundaries to grow our understanding of current and future generations' multicultural identities.
SAMASAMA x Kam & 46 Presents UMPUKAN: A FilAm History Month Celebration!
Join us on Saturday, October 2, 3-6PM to shop local, support some amazing vendors, enjoy OPM+ (Original Pilipino Music+) with Les The DJ/@lestalusan and celebrate #FAHM2021 at metrobar! Bring your neighbors and the whole pamilya!
Featured vendors include:
We have a kick-off event at Wild Days at the Eaton on Friday, October 1, 9PM-2AM w/ Les The DJ and Crown Cobra! Let’s kick it!
Since 2016, SAMASAMA has worked to shine a light on amazing creatives within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and fellow artists of the diaspora, and we are excited to partner with our new friends, Kam & 46 for this event!
RSVP via Eventbrite (FREE!)
SAMASAMA / All Together Now
SAMASAMA is partnering with The Kennedy Center for the re-opening weekend of The REACH. SAMASAMA, inspired by the literal Tagalog meaning "all together", celebrates Asian American Pacific Islander+ narratives and heritage through art and community. Founded in 2016, SAMASAMA has grown from a collective art show and gathering, to developing programs and events that push boundaries through art, food, and conversation to develop a greater understanding between all communities. Join The REACH and SAMASAMA for an enriching and uplifting reopening weekend filled with multicultural programs for all generations!
Saturday, May 29
10AM-3PM: Sound Health: Yoga at the REACH + Dance Sanctuaries
11-11:45AM: Traditional Hula: Nāpualokelani Kamakele of Hālau Nohona Hawaiʻi under the direction of Kumu Hula Kaimana Chee
12-12:45PM: Khmer Classical Ballet with Bonavy Chhim
1-1:45PM: Upgrade Your Two-Step: Hand Dance with Erica Childs
2-2:45PM: Asik with Jamie Garcia
11AM-8PM: Arts Market on the River Terrace
5:30-6PM: Shuno Re! শুনো রে! DJs [all-vinyl set of South Asian + diaspora]
6-7PM: Iza Flo on the main stage
7-8PM: Les The DJ [all-vinyl set of Original Pilipino Music+]
8-9PM: Iza Flo on the main stage
Access is first-come, first-served. Registration will also be available at the box office as capacity allows. Can't wait to see you there!
UPDATE: Advance Tickets are sold out but walk-in tickets are AVAILABLE until capacity!
Register for SAMASAMA // All Together Now at The REACH at the Kennedy Center
Register for Yoga and Dance Classes
Learn more about Millennium Stage Summer at the REACH: tkc.co/mstage
flyer: Michelle Chen
SAMASAMA / All Together Now
SAMASAMA is partnering with The Kennedy Center for the re-opening weekend of The REACH. SAMASAMA, inspired by the literal Tagalog meaning "all together", celebrates Asian American Pacific Islander+ narratives and heritage through art and community. Founded in 2016, SAMASAMA has grown from a collective art show and gathering, to developing programs and events that push boundaries through art, food, and conversation to develop a greater understanding between all communities. Join The REACH and SAMASAMA for an enriching and uplifting reopening weekend filled with multicultural programs for all generations!
Friday, May 28
5:30-9PM: Arts Market on the River Terrace
5:30PM: Les The DJ [all-vinyl set of jazz, (city) pop, disco, and other hip-shaking tunes by Asian/AAPI artists]
6-7PM: Iza Flo on the main stage
7-8PM: Les The DJ
8-9PM: Iza Flo on the main stage
Access is first-come, first-served. Registration will also be available at the box office as capacity allows. Can't wait to see you there!
Visit our Programs page for more details.
UPDATE: Advance Tickets are sold out but walk-in tickets are AVAILABLE until capacity!
Register for SAMASAMA // All Together Now at The REACH at the Kennedy Center
Learn more about Millennium Stage Summer at the REACH: tkc.co/mstage
flyer: Michelle Chen
SAMASAMA / All Together Now
SAMASAMA is partnering with The Kennedy Center for the re-opening weekend of The REACH. SAMASAMA, inspired by the literal Tagalog meaning "all together", celebrates Asian American Pacific Islander+ narratives and heritage through art and community. Founded in 2016, SAMASAMA has grown from a collective art show and gathering, to developing programs and events that push boundaries through art, food, and conversation to develop a greater understanding between all communities. Join The REACH and SAMASAMA for an enriching and uplifting reopening weekend filled with multicultural programs for all generations!
Thursday, May 27
5:30-8PM: Arts Market on the River Terrace
5:30PM: Les The DJ [all-vinyl set of Asian music - kundiman, soul, beat, luk thung, molam, pop]
Sunset: Don't Think I've Forgotten ‘Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll’ Film Screening on the Video Wall
Access is first-come, first-served. Registration will also be available at the box office as capacity allows. Can't wait to see you there!
Visit our Programs page for more details.
UPDATE: Advance Tickets are sold out but walk-in tickets are AVAILABLE until capacity!
Register for SAMASAMA // All Together Now at The REACH at the Kennedy Center
Learn more about Millennium Stage Summer at the REACH: tkc.co/mstage
flyer: Michelle Chen
SAMASAMA ‘Sari-Sari Pop-up Market’ at Shopkeepers
This Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM), SAMASAMA is pleased to present Sari-Sari Pop-Up Market, a one-day indoor-outdoor shopping and art experience.
Since 2016, SAMASAMA has worked to shine a light on amazing creatives within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and fellow artists of the diaspora. A sari-sari store in the Philippines is a variety store, nostalgic to the days where you would pop in for something you need and occasionally, discover something new. Curated with an intention to highlight artistic and local entrepreneurs, the Sari-Sari Pop-Up Market will feature AAPI and BIPOC artisans, makers, and chefs from the DC area.
Join us Saturday, May 15th to shop local, support some amazing vendors, and celebrate AAPIHM at Shopkeepers.
RSVP via Eventbrite (FREE!)
Click HERE to learn more about the vendors.
SAMASAMA x Red Scarf Revolution: Chul Ch’nam Tmei
Chul Ch’nam Tmei literally meaning “enter the new year” in Khmer is a 3-day celebration of the solar new year. Also known as Sonkran, this new year is shared with many countries including Thai, Laos and Burmese neighbors. It’s a time to honor our ancestors, eat, and reflect on our blessings.
Join SAMASAMA and Red Scarf Revolution for this year’s virtual Ch’nam Tmei celebration.
Les The DJ will be playing a live, all-vinyl set of Asian music including vintage Khmer pop, rock, and roll.
SAMASAMA & Red Scarf Revolution Presents
"Chul Ch’nam Tmey"
New Year, Same Thoughts, New Action
April 15, Thursday
5PM PT / 8PM ET
twitch.tv/lestalusan⠀
You don’t need a Twitch account to tune in, just click on twitch.tv/lestalusan when the event is happening but feel free to create a Twitch account to join in the chats and follow Les Talusan!
Flyer: Les Talusan
SAMASAMA x SCL Event: The Altars Festival
SAMASAMA and The Sustainable Culture Lab are partnering to bring you The Altars Festival
SAMASAMA is teaming up again with Sustainable Culture Lab to bring you The Altars Festival. This festival combines philosophy, art, and activism. During the three-day virtual event, 6 artists will be revealing their Altar depicting their culture, history, ancestors, while honoring departed loved ones.
Indigenous people in the Americas and around the world have used ancestral remembrance as a foundational community pillar for thousands of years. Despite America’s diverse society and the amount of significant holidays, the United States has never created a formal remembrance celebration. A new tradition is needed to bring together our multicultural, intergenerational society, reflective of America’s landscape.
The festival will be cultivating cross-cultural celebrations and dialogue around the intersections of tradition and the current state of the diaspora community. We will intentionally create space for collective healing and reflection, revealing the essence of Altars - resilience, tradition, and community.
Program:
Saturday, October 31, 4-6PM EST
Honoring Our Ancestors ~ Indigenous Ancestral Connection through Altars
Featured Artists: Charles Jean-Pierre, Erik Bruner-Yang
Special Guests: Chef Irwin Sanchez, Samhain from Duende District
Sunday, November 1, 4-6PM EST
Third Culture Generation ~ Intersectionality of Traditions and Identity
Featured Artists: Almas Haider, Matt Manalo
Special Guests: Greta, Kenniya, and Yanina from DCSCORES, Raquel L. from Creative Mornings
Monday, November 2, 4-6PM EST
Our Essence and Existence is Political ~ Trauma, Healing, and Action through Communities
Featured Artists: Shyama Kuver, Mansa Johnson
Special Guests: Sheldon Scott, Culture Director of Eaton DC; Reiki Healer Dr. Darrien Jamar
Participating Artists:
Moderators: Seda Nak and Barrett Holmes Pitner
Altars: Charles Jean-Pierre, Almas Haider, Erik Bruner-Yang, Matt Manalo, Shyama Kuver, Mansa Johnson
Zine: Muriel Villalobos
Visual Storytelling: Antonio Hernandez
Music Curator: Les The DJ
Speakers: Duende District, Dr. Darrien Jamar, DC Scores, Raquel L., Sheldon Scott, Chef Irwin Sanchez
IG: @scl_community @samasamaart
RSVP: Eventbrite
For more information: The Altars Festival
SAMASAMA x SCL Event: Diaspora People’s Month
SAMASAMA and The Sustainable Culture Lab are partnering to reclaim July as Diaspora People’s Month
July has always been associated with independence and freedom in America, but since America fails to live up to its stated ideals and continues to oppress people of color, we have decided to reclaim July and celebrate diversity and the fight for freedom against white supremacy.
SAMASAMAxSCL will provide artists with the platform to share their work, speak their truth, and redefine America during this revolutionary time. Each week, we will showcase multiple artists and have discussions on various topics such as politics and diaspora culture. Attendees will be able to ask the artists questions, learn more about their practice, and of course, buy their art via our Diaspora People’s Month gallery. 100% of art purchases will go to the artist. All events are free and open to the public—any donations made during ticket registration will be directed to sustaining SAMASAMAxSCL’s free cultural offerings, and 10% of funds will be donated to the DC Chapter of the Movement for Black Lives.
We appreciate you for supporting this collective work!
Weekly Themes:
Week 1: Philosophy, Art, and Action | July 1, 7-9pm
Jon Henry, Tammy Nguyen, Dominic Green
Week 2: Heritage and Identity | July 8, 7-9pm
Nate G, Ina Padua, Muriel Villalobos
Week 3: Diaspora DC, Migration, Displacement | July 15, 7-9pm
Mignotae Kebede & Mansa Johnson, Matt Manalo, Jamilla Okubo, Antonio Hernandez
Week 4: Politics | July 22, 7-9pm
Shani Shih, MONOLITH, Adriel Luis & Charles Jean-Pierre
Week 5: Envisioning Eǔtopia + Closing Ceremony | July 29, 7-9pm
Lovely Umayam, Peap Tarr & Lisa Mam, All-Vinyl DJ Set: Les The DJ
RSVP: Eventbrite
For more information: Diaspora People’s Month
SAMASAMA x SCL Talk: Philosophy, Art & Politics
Join SAMASAMA and Sustainable Culture Lab for a conversation on Philosophy, Art & Politics featuring SCL founder Barrett Holmes Pitner and Seda Nak of Foreign National.
Speaker Bios:
Barrett Holmes Pitner is a philosopher, writer, journalist, and filmmaker focusing on race, culture and politics. As the founder of the Sustainable Culture Lab, his work focuses on combatting ethnocide and creating Eǔtopian (not utopian) practices. In 2018, he began production on his first feature-length documentary Altars: A Cross-Cultural Day of the Dead. This film builds upon his friendships and connections within America’s Latino/a community, experiences as a Black man in America, journalistic work, and background in filmmaking.
Seda Nak is a co-founder of Foreign National hospitality group, creating unique, cultural experiences through food. Under Foreign National, she is the creator and owner of specialty retail and community brick-and-mortars, Hometown and Shopkeepers. Seda is also a co-creator of The Color Curtain Project, an artist book and culinary project influenced by Richard Wright’s The Color Curtain, A Report on the Bandung Conference, in 1955. The Color Curtain Project reflects on the meaning of Afro-Asian solidarity and community.
Thank you to our partner:
The Sustainable Culture Lab (SCL) is a cultural think tank committed to combatting and raising awareness of ethnocide—the killing of culture, while keeping the people —and the fostering of Eǔtopian spaces. Their work focuses on elevating the cultural discourse by including the language of Eǔtopia (pronounced: ev-topia) and ethnocide into their conversations on racial equity, social justice, environmentalism, and more. They do this through our written and published work, art, activism, podcasts, events, products, consulting, trainings, and reports.