Unique Piña exhibit opens at SF Asian Art Museum

WATCH VIDEO: The Hinabi Project opening at SF Asian Art Museum

SAN FRANCISCO — Members of the diplomatic corps and special guests attended the opening of The Hinabi Project, a unique and special initiative of the Philippine American Writers & Artists, Inc (PAWA) Thursday, September 24 at the Asian Art Museum at the Civic Center.

The project, launched in conjunction with the Philippine Department of Tourism and the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, is an educational display of “Piña, the Enduring Philippine Fabric” at the Asian Art Museum.

Spearheaded by its volunteer members, Anthony Cruz Legarda, Maya Ong Escudero, Christina Laskowski, Michael Gonzalez, Edwin Lozada, Caroline Ocampo, Maria Beebe, Camille Escudero and Patricia Araneta Gonzalez, the display is shown at the Asian’s Education Resource Room until October 11. Renowned Filipino designer Patis Tesoro was also present.

Deputy Consul Jaime Ramon Ascalon, designer Anthony Cruz Legarda and tech leader Cristina Laskowski at the Asian Art Museum opening of The Hinabi Project. FACEBOOK PHOTO

It traces the development of 300 years of piña fabric production from its early origins in the 1500s to contemporary times. On exhibit are fibers that are used for weaving, the color dye examples, an antique pañuelo (short shawl), a christening gown and an evening dress made during the 1930s.

These are juxtaposed with a newly tailored piña shawl, a handkerchief with an embroidered Golden Gate design, a Barong Tagalog and evening gowns all designed by Anthony Cruz Legarda, the project’s design artist.

Expressly for this event, master weavers and embroiderers from Aklan and Laguna in the Philippines, wove three large panels of piña and mixed fibers (hyacinth, silk).

The panels represent popular folk motifs of the Philippines—the malakas and maganda (male/female) myth and the sarimanok (magical bird).

Some volunteers and guests at the Hinabi Project opening (from left) Maya Escudero, Edwin Lozada, Philippine Tourism Attache Purification Suanding-Molintas and Deputy Consul Jaime Ramon Ascalon. FACEBOOK PHOTO

Also special to this exhibit, as a bow to technology, the Creation panel has a QR code that will take your cellphone scanner to The Hinabi Project site where more information about its mission and plans can be read.

PAWA, a recognized leader of cultural events in the San Francisco Bay Area, is a 501(c)(3) organization. It will also host a panel talk on piña and other Philippine textiles by known experts in the field on October 4 during the Third Filipino American International Book Festival at the San Francisco Public Library.

For more information and to arrange for a guided tour, contact: Dr. Michael Gonzalez, Dept. of Philippine Studies, City College of San Francisco Email: [email protected].

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