Filmmakers & photographers, join us at Kearny Street Workshop for a casual mixer during open gallery hours for Inifinite Exchange!

Infinite Exchange Curatorial Statement

Lehua Taitano: The word reciprocity comes from the Latin reciprocus, meaning “moving backwards and forwards.” For centuries, many Pacifi c Islander and Asian communities have prioritized the idea of reciprocity as an inherent cultural value, where mutual exchange is necessary to the health of the community. In CHamoru society, the social practice of chenchule’ embodies more than just giving and is, rather, a system of exchange where giving triggers an obligation for the receiver to reciprocate. Similarly, in Chinese culture, guanxi refers to the intricate system of social connections and relationships based on mutual obligation and trust. Just as two mirrors facing each other create a never-ending refl ection, artists and the communities they serve can also engage in mutual reciprocity. As Pacific Islander and Asian American artists, we explore how our individual, creative practices can model the movement of chenchule’ and guanxi—an infinite exchange of giving and receiving.

Kim Acebo Arteche: For eight weeks, the AVA Lab cohort has been engaging with guest faculty members to discuss various topics that inform the spectrum of Asian Pacifi c American community arts practices. We heard from Dara del Rosario’s values of curation & community storytelling through Tara J. Yosso’s community cultural wealth; went in-depth with Christine Wong Yap’s approach to social practice and language access; learned about on-the-ground organizing & muralism practice of Cece Carpio; and were deeply inspired by Barnali Ghosh’s collaboration on the Radical South Asian Walking History Tour. We listened to the wisdom of elders Nancy Hom and Johanna Poethig as they discussed their long-lived activism and how they sustained their practices.