DxDp: We like transitions.

Eric and I are in a major transition. To be frank: we are pretty much newlyweds. It's been difficult to enjoy the "newness." The Sunday after we had what I've been calling our "Rain Blessing Ceremony," Eric's stepdad died. Were they close? I don't know. But all I knew what that Eric had to go home. Like, now-ish. Eric... in massive "transition," just finished his job at a specific store location and is just now learning his newly promoted position. He got to take his first work trip, ever just this past week. Then, he has a 1 week break before he starts his new job. Okay- long story short- Eric is in upstate new york seeing his mom, sister and niece whom he hasn't seen in 7 years. Oh, and his stepdad just died.

Me: I have to go to Guam only to get sick on the way back. My dad is in Philippines for 3 weeks, Christian burns out and I'm taking a cumulative of 2 work weeks off to help out. I... was saving my leave to study for my exam and our little honeymoon to Kauai. My new catch phrase that Eric is adapting to: "Ehhhhh fak."

We like change. We love change. But holy frack when you are IN it, you are IN IT. It's more than just change- its the time it takes to go through change.

Is okay if I drop the mic on a blog? And how would one say so?

Philippines: #socialintact #itsmorefuninthephilippines

DxDp is going to the Philippines, specifically Ilocos Norte. Marysol is being invited to her father's alma mater, Northwestern University, in Laog City. The twist of her tale in this speaking engagement is that Marysol only wanted to hold a workshop for students, so that they could get resumes together and gather entreprenuership energy. What ended up happening is a flyer for multi-tiered speaking event that includes the Dean of the school, student presentations and even a following day of meet & greet! A little more than she expected, to say the least, but it should be interesting. I'll be arriving there a day after this speaking event but I'll be there to support her at the meet & greet. Also, her father is being honored in a procession of transporting  a statue of a Saint to his home in the Philippines, where the Saint will stay at the home till the next host is selected. This is all preemptive and give more details after the trip. 

This is my first trip to the Philippines and past Hawaii over the UTC boundary. I'm nervous and excited and prepared to stand out like the tall white pole that I am. Excited to meet the people, eat all the food and see the old streets of Vigan.

We will be filming the experience and will be sharing our travels on Instagram when we can. Hopefully this trip will be including in some future shorts, stay tuned!

Cheers,

ECM 

 

Eric Cyganik Morgan was everywhere that one weekend in July.

Congratulations to our very own Eric Cyganik Morgan! Eric was featured in 3 shows the weekend of July 2017 First Fridays. On the opening night, he sold an art piece in the exhibit Huki Pau at Aupuni Place. This will be the last exhibit before Aupuni Place and Ward Warehouse closes to be torn down. He was concurrently in show at the Paradise Cove Gallery a few storefronts down and at Select Works of Contact 2017 at Arts at Marks Garage.

Creators behind Date by Date Productions present art exhibition closing performance

HONOLULU – Up-and-coming artists, Marysol A. Damo and Eric Cyganik Morgan, present a live performance edition of their video piece Ears for Fears, a performance that utilizes ear candles, an ancient form of deep ear wax removal, and the reveal of personal fears to remove blockage of body and soul. This performance is an extension of their collaborative exhibition, immerse | journey, at Aupuni Place in Ward Warehouse this month. The exhibition is a compilation of Damo and Morgan’s multimedia work developed together under the duo’s Date by Date Productions (DxDp) and as individual artists. The performance will be on July 1st 6-8pm and exhibition will be on display from June 16 to July 2nd, 2017.

The exhibition flows through the gallery by trail of paper folded cranes, a deeply important symbol to Damo and the first subtly immersive experience for the viewer. Pieces range from Damo’s intimate narratives featuring photography, watercolor, acrylic and inspiration from Hawaiian icons; to Morgan’s tropical surrealism that uses a mix of acrylic, spray paint and pen. The gallery also features a series of four digital videos from DxDp, which first garnered attention at Showdown in Chinatown, Hawaii’s most prominent showcase of independent films, and TEDx Honolulu’s short film challenge July 2016.  

About DxDp: The duo’s collaborative video work as DxDp tells the story of their relationship that is connected on the mutual terms of exploring and developing as individuals within the connection. Exploring the apprehension excitement and discovery in “what we have,” the collaborative work presents states of surrendering, such as fear and jumping in, balancing immersion and a desire to inquire further. The immersion aspect of the work includes the environment – both urban and natural – as a significant character that has influence in the story.

About the Artists: Honolulu born and raised, Damo built her architecture professional career off-island. She previously lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, Hong Kong, Guam and Seattle. Moving back to Hawaii in 2015, Damo is reclaiming her youth and is doing what she always wanted: to be a surfer and artist.

Since moving to Hawaii in 2011, Morgan has shown work in Honolulu’s Chinatown galleries: Thirtyninehotel, The Arts at Mark’s Garage and Studio 114. He also showed in the CONTACT3017 exhibition at the Honolulu Museum of Art School (Linekona Gallery). He works and lives between Honolulu and Kailua.

Immerse | journey is running as one of the last installations to be featured at the Aupuni Place, which will close at the end of July. Art pieces for sale upon request.

Honolulu Biennial | March 8 to May 8, 2017

Eric is volunteering with the Honolulu Biennial as a docent; allowing to see the project come together before the general public! He's been great; teaching me about some of the most exciting International Artists  I've ever seen- AND!!!!! I'VE EVER MET! Yes! Their not-even-finished installation brought me to tears! This is Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan: a Filipino husband-and-wife team from the Philippines based out of Australia. I've never reacted to art like that *ever* but their unfinished installation instantly triggered memories of my childhood and the journey my father took to become an American citizen which has resulted in 4 generations of Filipino-Americans! Thanks Pops (um, even though you're a total curmudgeon) and also, thank you Alfredo and Isabel for your deeply emotional work. Last night I brought them coconut water kape (coffee), dark chocolate covered saba (banana) and some relics of my childhood, hoping that they will incorporate it into their installation. We'll find out when the Honolulu Biennial opens on Wednesday!