Kwentong Bayan Collective
Althea Balmes (she/they/siya)
photo by Haseena Manek
I carry the Ilocano and Ilonggo lineages and stories of my ancestors from the islands now known as the Philippines. I live and create in Toronto/ Tkaronto, following the original agreement of the Dish with One Spoon Covenant. My artistic work focuses on the multiplicity of our experience of migration and diasporic personhood. I tap into the ancestral, the sacred and the intangible cultures of my people. I approach this work like visual ethnographies to connect to past, present and future existence and the Unseen worlds as a multidisciplinary visual storyteller, designer and arts-educator. I’m part of Kwentong Bayan Collective.
Website: altheabalmes.com
Website: altheabalmes.com
Jo SiMalaya Alcampo (they/them/siya)
photo by Dhalia Katz
My people are Taga-Ilog (People of the River). I was born in Manila, Philippines and grew up in Dish with One Spoon territory in Malvern, Scarborough. My interdisciplinary art practice includes storytelling, installation, and electroacoustic soundscapes.
As part of Kwentong Bayan Collective, I create community arts with migrant care workers and queer youth, and co-facilitate Circle of Care, a grief support group for the 2SLGBTQIA+ BIPOC community.
Website: josimalaya.com
As part of Kwentong Bayan Collective, I create community arts with migrant care workers and queer youth, and co-facilitate Circle of Care, a grief support group for the 2SLGBTQIA+ BIPOC community.
Website: josimalaya.com
Melanya Liwanag Aguila (she/they/siya)
[see credits below]
Melanya is a first generation queer Filipinx settler, fitness instructor specialist, movement coach and artist in a variety of disciplines, including film and video. Her internationally screened documentaries and video shorts are along the themes of labour, migrant workers and queer identity. Most recently she designed the artwork for Anak ni tapia – Leaving Mother one woman show by Lani T. Montreal in Chicago.
Melanya collaborates with the communities that she belongs to, to design movement activities that engage the body, mind and soul and with a purpose. With music and movement, participants are able to focus and be present and be part of a bigger creation in the space that is being developed together. The act of moving together inspires connection with each other and a feeling of confidence and creativity transpires.
[Photo features paintings by Jake Santos, entitled: mia (come in alone) - 11x14 and strain (when you were younger) - 20x24]
Melanya collaborates with the communities that she belongs to, to design movement activities that engage the body, mind and soul and with a purpose. With music and movement, participants are able to focus and be present and be part of a bigger creation in the space that is being developed together. The act of moving together inspires connection with each other and a feeling of confidence and creativity transpires.
[Photo features paintings by Jake Santos, entitled: mia (come in alone) - 11x14 and strain (when you were younger) - 20x24]
