Join GYOPO and Pilele Projects for a special walkthrough of a collaborative two-person exhibition by Sid M. Duenas and Isa Gagarin titled Talåyan Langhet. Translated literally to "sky net" in English, Talåyan Langhet evokes an image of a CHamoru talayeru throwing a circular fishing net in shallow ocean waters. Duenas and Gagarin’s work employs the idea of a fishing net as a conceptual framework for their collaboration, which draws connections between their distinct visual and material approaches; it also functions as a metaphor for the fragmented nature of their respective CHamoru-language fluency. In his multi-media work, Duenas builds poetic textual elements including bilingual phrasing and compound words. Gagarin’s recent work plays with the ochosyllabic structure of Kantan Chamorrita, composing original songs that accompany her paintings as a way to pursue CHamoru-language thought frameworks in her creative process.

Accompanying Duenas and Gagarin’s exhibition is an open-edition poster produced by Pilele Projects.

Pilele Projects is an exhibition and workshop space, founded by Mariquita “Micki” Davis and Edward Sterrett, that is dedicated to supporting projects by Pasifika artists in Southern California. They are working towards developing grant-funded residencies for artists, cultural practitioners, curators, and scholars emerging from and focused on Pacific Island cultures and their diasporas. Pilele Projects takes its name from the creative director’s CHamoru grandfather who ran a Mom and Pop store and Laundro-mat in post-war Guam. The store was beloved in the village for being more than a convenience; it was a community center, a place for ceremonies, and a support for local artisans.

This exhibition walkthrough is part of GYOPO Learning Circle: Lessons from the Pacific series organized on the occasion of its "Art of the Pacific" symposium organized by GYOPO at REDCAT on October 24 & 25.

EXHIBITION WALKTHROUGH OF TALÅYAN LANGHET: SID M. DUENAS AND ISA GAGARIN

at Pilele Projects

Team Members