Salo-SALA, a mini directory, tracks the growing number of Filipino American artist-run spaces serving as hubs for alternative art, power centers of Philippine culture, and diversity platforms.

The name Salo-SALA is a pun and playful fusion of two Pilipino words: salo-salo meaning a gathering, get-together, reception, banquet and party and sala, meaning living room. Our sala is open, come and party!

THE ARTISTS AND THEIR SPACES

WEST COAST

Nica Aquino, artist and curator, runs Mata Art Gallery in Los Angeles. Along with Ged Merino, Matt Manalo, Paz Tanjuaquio, Mic Boekelmann and others, they organized Hatak, perhaps the first collaboration virtually linking Fil Am artist spaces together, . @mata.art.gallery

Cat Lauigan, artist, DJ and producer, along with her partner, Matt, lead Cone Shape Top Center for Arts and Music in Emeryville. They show art, music and fashion. @coneshapetop

Eileen Tabios, writer, publisher, and inventor of the Haynaku, hosts North Fork Arts Projects in Napa wine country. Undeterred by a fire in the original space, she moved it to a pair of sliding closet doors in wine country home where big name artists hang their work.  @eileentabios

Balay Kreative, an incubator in SOMA, San Francisco is led by Desi Danganan an Andre Sibayan from advertising backgrounds, and artists like Nicole Salaver, a performance artist. @balaykreative

I run the ARROZidency San Francisco, a residency program for Filipino American artists, with exhibits at the Minnesota Street Project.  @omfrancestudio

Bindlestiff Studio, founded in 1989 and Filipino-run since 1997 (first by Allan and Joyce Manalo, and currently by Oliver Saria and Aureen Almario), is a performance space that has also showcased FilAm photos and art installations.

EAST COAST

Paz Tanjuaquio, choreographer, curator and visual artist along with her partner Todd, own Topaz Arts, a center for creative development in New York. @topazartsinc

Ged Merino, artist and curator, opens his New York studio to shows and collaborative projects; he founded the Gedaze project with contemporary artists pushing the boundaries of textiles. @blissonbliss

Mic Diño Boekelmann runs The Orange Door in New Jersey and founded NExSE Art Collective.@theorangedoor.us

There’s also North Willow in New Jersey, details soon. @northwillows

Technically Silverlens is run by a Philippine-based (not a FilAm) artist, Isa Lorenzo, but this Chelsea NY branch of the behemoth Philippine gallery shows FilAm artists like Carlos Villa and has to be on any list. @silverlensgallery

THE OGs: ACKNOWLEDGING THE PIONEERS

Babilonia 1808 in Berkeley was run by Malou Babilonia, writer, curator and Pusod founder, along with the Babilonia Wilner Foundation; it was an exhibition space and event hub. Here’s famed poet Al Robles doing a poetry reading there.

Togonon Gallery in San Francisco was founded by Julina Togonon and can be credited for getting a work by Leo Valledor into the SFMOMA collection.

Bindlestiff Studio, founded in 1989 and Filipino-run since 1997 (first by Allan and Joyce Manalo, and currently by Oliver Saria and Aureen Almario), is a performance space that has also showcased FilAm photos and art installations.

If you are aware of a FilAm artist-run space in the U.S. or Canada, please share the link with us through our Contact form tab. Thanks!