See what’s on from our base in Brunswick and beyond ↓

Sat 11 Mar
2pm-10pm
Brunswick Mechanics, 270 Sydney Road Brunswick
$20 All Day Pass, $10 Tickets, Mob Free, Kids Free
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Purchase an All Day Pass
Please contact Saluhan Collective if finance is a barrier via mabuhay@saluhancollective.com

You’re invited to Radical Hospitality: Kain Na Tayo! curated by Saluhan Collective.

Influenced by Maria Orosa, the Filipina food scientist behind one of the Philippines’ most beloved ingredients - banana ketchup - Kain Na Tayo! draws on her creativity to invite audiences to explore issues of climate crisis and consumption through diasporic and intergenerational perspectives. Maria’s use of native fruits and vegetables in product manufacture helped combat the food insecurities experienced in the Philippines throughout the early twentieth century; establishing a legacy that continues to influence contemporary Filipino cuisine today.

Through a unique 8-hour event, Kain Na Tayo! works with artists, chefs, musicians, and storytellers to guide audiences through a series of installations and performances, illustrating the ingenuity of Filipino food culture.

Families are invited to gather round for merienda as father-daughter duo and acclaimed actors Alfred and Charlotte Nicdao present children’s storytime, reading from ‘I fear for my books’, a Filipinx library collection curated by Saluhan and Arts Gen. Filipino-Iranian artist Aida Azin will work with young people to create cute artworks using mixed materials, inspired by food packaging of the Philippines.

As the sun sets, experience the work of theatre-makers David Finnigan, Ness Roque, and Reuben Ingall as they present the development of their 2023 residency project, ‘You’re Safe’. Then, join us in the kusina as FiloFeeds takes over Next Wave, serving up ingredients from the archipelago and celebrating the history and knowledge embodied in Filipino dishes.

After dinner, hear from artists and storytellers Taga Barrio and Matcho Makata, two unique forces of spoken word and poetry whose works demonstrate the transformative power of language. In the final hours of the evening, DJ Mendoza and DJ Reuben will immerse audiences in soundscapes, tropical house, and dance music to close out the night.

Kita-kits!

Schedule:

2-4pm: Children’s storytime with Alfred and Charlotte Nicdao; ‘I fear for my books’ Filipinx Library collection; visual arts workshop with Aida Azin; and merienda with Filipino snacks
4-6pm: ‘You’re Safe’ development preview with David Finnigan, Ness Roque, and Reuben Ingall
6-8pm: Dinner catered by FiloFeeds; spoken word performances from Taga Barrio and Matcho Makata
8-10pm: Dance party DJ’ed by DJ Mendoza and DJ Reuben Ingall

Produced by James Emmanuel McKinnon
MJ Flamiano
and Catherine Ortega-Sandow.

Artist Bios:
Saluhan was first created to establish a network between creatives in Australia and the Philippines and has since expanded to include collaborative projects combining arts and community development. Their practice is underpinned by notions of kinship, reciprocity, and the desire to create spaces that interweave artistry and community.

Saluhan has previously facilitated Saluhan: A Filipino Community Arts Event (2019) for makers, artists, musicians, and local community in Melbourne, Adelaide and Quezon City (PH); Agimat (2021) a series of community printmaking workshops at Sunshine Print Artspace; Magkasama (2022), a monthly gathering to share in Filipino film and literature; Dialekto (2022), a series of artist-led workshops at Siteworks; and Residence (2022-2023), a residency project at Footscray Community Arts. @s_a_l_u_h_a_n

David Finnigan is an award-winning theatre-maker from Canberra, Australia. His playscripts have received the 2017 Griffin Playwrights Award and the 2021 Melbourne’s Green Room Award for Best New Writing. He is a Churchill Fellow, an Asialink Fellow and an Early Career Fellow of the Australia Council for the Arts.

DJ Mendoza is a Filipina-Australian DJ based in Wurundjeri Country. In 2022, Mendoza hosted ‘Musika ng Mundo’ on Area 3000 radio which explored global influences in electronic dance music. Listen via chelsea-mciver.
@dj_mendozaaah

Matcho Mataka is an Actor, Writer, Performance Poet, Dance Teacher, Community leader, Theatre Producer, Movement Enthusiast, Event Manager, Publisher and Creative Director of Soul Lounge Australia & Co-Host of Sabayan Creative & Cultural Collective @matcho_makata

Taga Barrio (Larra Juab) is a multidisciplinary artist that shares their experiences and point of views through storytelling with topics of lived experiences, Identity, Heritage, Belonging, Post-colonialism and Community through the use of arts through different forms and mediums. @taga.barrio

Alfred Nicdao is a veteran Australian/Filipino actor who had his first professional job as a Sumatran fisherman in the landmark Australian television series, ‘The Sullivans’. Since then, Alfred has appeared in various Australian television dramas and stage plays. His most recent appearance was in the Stan drama, ‘Bali 2002’ and the upcoming Season 2 of the award winning drama, ‘Love Me’ on Binge. Charlotte Nicdao is an Australian actress and composer. She is known for her roles as Jackie Lee in the Nine Network series A gURLs wURLd (2010–2011) and Poppy Li in the Apple TV+ comedy Mythic Quest (2020–).

Aida Azin is a painter, art facilitator and community organiser based in Melbourne on the land of the Wurundjeri and the Boon Wurrung people. Her involvement with the Saluhan collective gives Aida an opportunity to explore her Visayan roots and represent the experiences of third culture kids. @aidapplebaum