Fil-Am book launch, photo exhibit, jazz slated at San Francisco Main Library

SAN FRANCISCO–Claiming Our Stories includes Filipino American writers Emil “AMOK” Guillermo, Oscar Peñaranda, Adrienne Formentos, Guilio Sorro, Rhys Alvarado and others sharing their personal. A book sale by Readers Books follows the event.

The book launch–one of several events that showcase the combined talents of Filipino American scholars, authors and musicians–is spearheaded by Janet Alvarado, curator of The Alvarado Project.

These seasoned talents collaborated in the making of “Compositions: A Filipino American Experience,” which includes the exhibition, a literary anthology, a musical performance, panel discussions and other related programs.

Curated by Janet Alvarado, The Alvarado Project is an exhibition of historical photographs by Ricardo Ocreto Alvarado, which dramatically captures the Filipino community in and around San Francisco during the 1940s and ‘50s. It can be viewed in the San Francisco Main Library’s Skylight Gallery from September 20 to December 7.

This is the first crossover exhibit displaying original artwork and photography by a San Francisco-based Filipino American artist that is being featured at the sixth floor of the Main Library.

These unique historical photographs by Ricardo Ocreto Alvarado provide an enhanced understanding of the earliest roots of Filipino American life. The lively photographs of neighborhoods include celebrations, street scenes, nightclubs, house parties and other examples of community life.

In “Sounds of the City,” original musical compositions will be performed by jazz musician Melecio Magdaluyo. The music, while contemporary, compliments the themes in the exhibition and intimately highlights old San Francisco in the neighborhoods that photographer Ricardo Alvarado captured in the exhibition.

Exhibit: Compositions – A Filipino American Experience – Sept. 20 – Dec. 7, Main Library, Skylight Gallery, 6th Floor.

Related programs:

October 28, 2014, Sounds of the City: Jazz with Melecio Magdaluyo – Join us for a musical performance with jazz musician Melecio Magdaluyo, John Santos and other special guests. San Francisco Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 6:00 p.m.

November 8, 2014, Defending Our Stories:  Commemorating our Veterans
“Defending Our Stories” honors courageous Filipinos who fought for the survival of families and communities on both sides of the Pacific. Meet members of the Walter Scott Price family of Tacloban, Leyte, and Mrs. Norberta Alvarado, founding member of the Leyte Association of Northern California (est. 1965). San Francisco Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 1:00 p.m.

All events are supported by the San Francisco Arts Commission, the Alvarado Project, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and the Consulate General of the Philippines, San Francisco.

For more information about these and other library programs, please call (415) 557-4277.