APAture 2021 Recap

One Final Embrace for APAture 2021

photos by Claire Burke (all photos from APAture Literary, Music, and Film showcases will be uploaded soon)

In Spring of 2021, a group of KSW volunteers, all emerging artists and cultural workers themselves, began to convene over Zoom to discuss the return of our APAture festival. After more than two years of navigating a global pandemic, fear, and isolation, they felt especially called to create a space that can hold Asian Pacific American artists during this time.

The festival theme they dreamed up was “Embrace.” How can we all reimagine intimacy and closeness? During times of sickness, violence, and injustice, how do we come together in community and in radical care? What do we hold close in our lives and in our art? What do we embrace when we step into artistic power? These were the questions explored by the 36 artists who participated in APAture 2021.

Read the full article by Emily Wilson on 48Hills here.

APAture 2021: EMBRACE ran from October 23 through November 14, 2021 and featured both limited in-person and livestreamed events. The festival kicked off with a Visual Arts exhibition titled HERE, at Arc Gallery, featuring the work of Erina C. Alejo and many more reflecting on our resilience, presence, and power in San Francisco. Our Performing Arts event, CHERISH, broadcasted tender, multimedia performances including Johnny Huy Nguyen’s exploration of masculinity and self-love, live from Bindlestiff Studio. Khmer poet Monica Sok headlined the Literary Arts showcase RISE with her poems illuminating her lived experiences as a daughter of refugees. HEAL took place outdoors at Kapwa Gardens and gathered not only music artists such as Mild Monk, who provided such loving and caring vibes, but also local APA art vendors sharing and selling their work. At REUNITE, film artists such as Edward Gunawan livestreamed a conversation from Ninth Street Independent Film Center discussing their process and journey crafting films during the pandemic.

The fact that this year’s festival Closing Reception, FORWARD, experienced the largest turnout yet out of previous closing receptions is a testament to the timeliness and necessity of APAture’s return. APAture 2021 was the first in-person project for so many of us. Multiple participating artists shared this was their first return to the stage in over a year. Volunteers were excited to physically gather and put on the limited in-person events. Conversations brimmed with hope and possibility as folks discussed art and creative endeavors in-person for the first time in two years.

The connections made during the festival continue to reverberate after it’s end. We’ve heard exciting news of participating artists meeting over Zoom or coffee to discuss future collaborations, and several of our GPC members and volunteers have formed their own writing group. Part of what makes APAture so impactful are the friendships and community building that continue on after the festival’s conclusion. 

For Kearny Street Workshop, the festival was our first attempt at returning to in-person events while learning also how to increase accessibility through virtual livestream. We’re emboldened by the festival’s energy and success, and are excited to bring you new programs in 2022 (KSW’s 50th year)! 

As 2021 comes to a close, we kindly ask you to consider Kearny Street Workshop for your year-end giving. If you’re interested in volunteering for future APAtures, you can sign up here.

Thank you to everyone who supported and was involved in this year’s festival! We can’t wait to begin working on what’s next with all of you. Until next time—

Michelle Lin, Festival Coordinator

Participating Artists

Visual Arts
Erina C. Alejo*
Senny Mau
Ralph CR
Stephanie Gervacio
Marlene Yee
Juke Jose
Miko Lee
Alyson T. Wong
Forrest McGarvey
Jasmine Liang
Kiana Honarmand 
Sheri Park
Shubhansha Agrawal
Claire S. Burke

Performing Arts
Johnny Huy Nguyen*
LeeAnn Perry
Sophie Brion Neely
Ito Yosakoi

Literary Arts
Monica Sok*
Natasha Tamate Weiss
Dena Rod
Karthik Sethuramen
Maureen Boyd
Zara Jamshed
Sarah Matsui

Performing Arts
Johnny Huy Nguyen*
LeeAnn Perry
Sophie Brion Neely
Ito Yosakoi

Music
Mild Monk*
Connor Komiya Carroll
Patris
Jxtheo
Leo Hegde

Film
Edward Gunawan*
champoy
Odd Folk Films
Movie Boy
Sara Hayden
Kim Requesto

GENERAL PLANNING COMMITTEE
Michelle Lin (Festival Coordinator)
Sheri Park
Claire S. Burke
Angeera Khadka
Vanesa O. Hanlon
Shubhansha Agrawal
Paula Mirando
Sean Bautista
Dawn Angelicca Barcelona
Lucie Pereira
Emma Grover
Wesley Wang
Kenneth Ruan

EVENT VOLUNTEERS
Andrew Rogge
Ivy Chen
Mark Flores
Rita Huang
Robert Fox
Evelyn M. Zhong
Carter Yee
Sam Lee
Sarah Halabe

KSW STAFF
Jason Bayani, Artistic Director
Mihee Kim, Managing Director

KSW Board
Paul Ocampo
Robynn Takayama
Cristiana Baik
Lawrence Liu
Jenny Ton
Amanda Chaudhary
Jennifer Chu
Jayo Miko Macasaquit
Nina Asay
Irene Gutierrez
Joshua Wheeler

PHOTO & VIDEOGRAPHY
Tonilyn A. Sideco
Claire Burke
Dave Ragaza
Darius Muñoz
Diana Chen
Anth Bongco

CO-PRESENTERS
Arc Gallery & Studios
ARTogether
Eastwind Books
The Ruby
Kapwa Gardens
Bindlestiff Studio
CAAM
Ninth Street Independent Film Center

FUNDERS
California Arts Council
Fleishhacker Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts
Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center
Grants for the Arts

SPECIAL THANKS
Vinay Patel
Vega Coffee
SOMArts
Kundiman
CAATA
SF Jazz