About CA+T

Our Mission

We offer a space of dialogue and convergence amongst artists and scholars.
Starting from the perspectives of Filipinos around the world, the Center for Art and Thought (CA+T) harnesses the potential of digital and new media technologies in order to foster dialogues between artists, scholars, and the broader public. A web-based nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status, we believe that the convergence of art and critical thought, as exemplified by our virtual residency program, is a crucial way to generate new modes of knowledge production and creative and critical lenses for understanding and transforming global conditions.

We understand global processes through the experiences of the Filipino diaspora.
We examine Filipinos’ experiences to learn about the rest of the world. As a site where colonialism and neocolonialism, militarization, migration, and globalization all come together, the Philippines and its diaspora exemplify the global dynamics and processes of the last five centuries. CA+T thus takes the Philippines and Filipinos around the world as a point of departure—rather than a point of arrival—for bringing into focus and understanding other histories, spaces, and communities.

We emphasize the importance of curation in the digital era.
CA+T pays attention to curation—the way we collect, organize, present, and mold content—in this new media and digital age in order to make the most of the possibilities of digital media while remaining aware of their limitations. For instance, we ask, what counts as content and how does that affect virtual curation? Why do we include or exclude an item? How do we present the items we choose to preserve? We embrace curation that demands innovation through the continual rethinking of media in an era transformed by the digital.

We are a literacy project that educates users to make art and knowledge accessible.
We want our users to do more than merely pass on and repeat what they see, hear and think. CA+T draws attention to the need for flexible, skillful reading practices and engaged user experiences. Committed to critical modes of thinking and learning, we offer a virtual space of possibility for the transformation of art and knowledge. As a means of fulfilling this goal in today’s media-saturated society, we emphasize the importance of media and cultural literacy in both online and offline forms.

curated exhibition

Cruising

How do we think about cruising in a multi-dimensional and multi-faceted framework that encompasses the experience of queerness in an age where “cruising” can be imagined beyond a geographical space?

Cruising in this group exhibition inhabits several registers of embodiment, sensation, space, and temporality. In homage to José Muñoz’s Cruising Utopia, Cruising navigates the many ways that Muñoz engages with the quotidian, or the everyday moments, of queer life. This exhibition moves through “cruising” as both a fluid and fragmented concept. The works of each of the five artists—Marissa Cruz, Kelvin Burzon, Jana Ercilla, Daniel Ballesteros, and Adrian Alarilla—contribute to themes of intimacy, time, space, abundance, ephemerality, tenderness, and distance.

These artists work through different definitions and possibilities of cruising as a queer way of life. Instead of situating “cruising” as a definitive action, spatial concept, or “event,” these artists readjust the scope of cruising into a larger frame of quotidian queer life where viewers can see a past, present, and future of “cruising” that includes health, transitions, routines, and dis/comforts. Often times these moments in queer life are brushed over or perhaps only surface in crisis; however, these are the moments that necessitate slowness and care. What happens when queer bodies are able to think and move beyond crisis and into futurity?

Daniel Ballesteros’s series Night Pictures evokes a simultaneous feeling of loneliness, abundance, and timeliness by allowing us to visually experience a transition defined by the seasons.

Jana Ercilla’s Normalcy allows the viewer to walk through the intimacy of her home and routines, which lends viewers a space we can envision ourselves in or be a part of.

Kelvin Burzon’s Latex series reconstructs the parts of the body with condoms, raw meat, and thread that reminds viewers of the many sensitivities their bodies hold, their entanglements with other bodies, and their health.

Marissa Cruz ruptures typical conceptions of space through her digital reproductions of space and movement by obscuring and masking her backgrounds with both intimate and public space accompanied by dance, music, and her own body.

Lastly, Adrian Alarilla’s Queer Transnational Love in the Time of Social Media and Globalization achingly excavates the quotidian moments of our digital lives where pain, love, and distance paint our relationships.



Curated by the Center for Art and Thought, with special acknowledgment and thanks to Filipino American Artist Directory. For more information about the artists and FAAD, navigate to. https://www.filamartistdirectory.com/

Contributors: Adrian Alarilla, Daniel Ballesteros, Kelvin Burzon, Marissa Cruz, and Jana Ercilla

Spring 2019

Web Me Pt. 1

Marissa Sean Cruz

2017 Video Duration: 5 min. 35 secs. Courtesy of the artist

contributor

X

Marissa Sean Cruz

b. 1996
image description
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Marissa Sean Cruz is a Canadian interdisciplinary artist. Cruz’s practice is based in Montreal, Canada where she focuses on video and sculpture. As a queer biracial Filipinx, much of Cruz's work acts as a rapprochement into the complexities of racial identity and reconciliation of sexual and social absurdities of daily “feminine” rituals.

Cruz is a celebrated video artist who has had work displayed throughout Canada. Her work provocatively intertwines humor and symbolism to criticize oppressive systems within society and on the internet.

location

X
  • Born: Halifax, Canada
  • Based: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

comments

X

Web Me Pt. 2

Marissa Sean Cruz

2017 Video Duration: 1 min. 27 secs. Courtesy of the artist

contributor

X

Marissa Sean Cruz

b. 1996
image description
  • See All Works
  • visit website

Marissa Sean Cruz is a Canadian interdisciplinary artist. Cruz’s practice is based in Montreal, Canada where she focuses on video and sculpture. As a queer biracial Filipinx, much of Cruz's work acts as a rapprochement into the complexities of racial identity and reconciliation of sexual and social absurdities of daily “feminine” rituals.

Cruz is a celebrated video artist who has had work displayed throughout Canada. Her work provocatively intertwines humor and symbolism to criticize oppressive systems within society and on the internet.

location

X
  • Born: Halifax, Canada
  • Based: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

comments

X

Web Me Pt. 3

Marissa Sean Cruz

2017 Video Duration: 4 min. 13 secs. Courtesy of the artist

contributor

X

Marissa Sean Cruz

b. 1996
image description
  • See All Works
  • visit website

Marissa Sean Cruz is a Canadian interdisciplinary artist. Cruz’s practice is based in Montreal, Canada where she focuses on video and sculpture. As a queer biracial Filipinx, much of Cruz's work acts as a rapprochement into the complexities of racial identity and reconciliation of sexual and social absurdities of daily “feminine” rituals.

Cruz is a celebrated video artist who has had work displayed throughout Canada. Her work provocatively intertwines humor and symbolism to criticize oppressive systems within society and on the internet.

location

X
  • Born: Halifax, Canada
  • Based: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

comments

X

LATEX: Heart

Kelvin Burzon

2016 - 2017 Archival inkjet print 14" x 14" Courtesy of the artist.

contributor

X

Kelvin Burzon

b. 1989
image description
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Kelvin Burzon is a Filipino American artist whose work explores intersections of sexuality, race, gender and religion. His most recent work investigates religion’s role in culture and familial relationships and highlights religion’s traditions, imagery, theatricality, and psychological vestiges. He graduated from Wabash College (Indiana) and received his M.F.A. from Indiana University’s School of Art, Architecture + Design. His work has been exhibited abroad and all over the country and is a part of several permanent collections, including The Kinsey Institute and the Center for Photography at Woodstock. He has presented his work at several conventions, including the Society of Photographic Education’s regional and national conferences. Burzon continues to push his work with inspirations from the past, recontextualized narratives, and imagery of religion, paired with the never-ending stimulation and inspiration from the LGBTQ+ community

“CAUTION: This Product Contains Natural Rubber Latex Which May Cause Allergic Reactions. Latex condoms are intended to prevent pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections.”

The Natural Rubber Series is an exploration of imagery that brings to the foreground issues of contraception methods in the modern world. The photographs question the ethical and the natural, the positive and the negatives, and the vulgar and the beautiful.

location

X
  • Born: Orani, Bataan
  • Based: Bloomington, IN, USA

comments

X

LATEX: Andro

Kelvin Burzon

2016 - 2017 Archival inkjet print 14" x 14" Courtesy of the artist.

contributor

X

Kelvin Burzon

b. 1989
image description
  • See All Works
  • visit website

Kelvin Burzon is a Filipino American artist whose work explores intersections of sexuality, race, gender and religion. His most recent work investigates religion’s role in culture and familial relationships and highlights religion’s traditions, imagery, theatricality, and psychological vestiges. He graduated from Wabash College (Indiana) and received his M.F.A. from Indiana University’s School of Art, Architecture + Design. His work has been exhibited abroad and all over the country and is a part of several permanent collections, including The Kinsey Institute and the Center for Photography at Woodstock. He has presented his work at several conventions, including the Society of Photographic Education’s regional and national conferences. Burzon continues to push his work with inspirations from the past, recontextualized narratives, and imagery of religion, paired with the never-ending stimulation and inspiration from the LGBTQ+ community

“CAUTION: This Product Contains Natural Rubber Latex Which May Cause Allergic Reactions. Latex condoms are intended to prevent pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections.”

The Natural Rubber Series is an exploration of imagery that brings to the foreground issues of contraception methods in the modern world. The photographs question the ethical and the natural, the positive and the negatives, and the vulgar and the beautiful.

location

X
  • Born: Orani, Bataan
  • Based: Bloomington, IN, USA

comments

X

LATEX: Kidneys

Kelvin Burzon

2016 - 2017 Archival inkjet print 14" x 14" Courtesy of the artist.

contributor

X

Kelvin Burzon

b. 1989
image description
  • See All Works
  • visit website

Kelvin Burzon is a Filipino American artist whose work explores intersections of sexuality, race, gender and religion. His most recent work investigates religion’s role in culture and familial relationships and highlights religion’s traditions, imagery, theatricality, and psychological vestiges. He graduated from Wabash College (Indiana) and received his M.F.A. from Indiana University’s School of Art, Architecture + Design. His work has been exhibited abroad and all over the country and is a part of several permanent collections, including The Kinsey Institute and the Center for Photography at Woodstock. He has presented his work at several conventions, including the Society of Photographic Education’s regional and national conferences. Burzon continues to push his work with inspirations from the past, recontextualized narratives, and imagery of religion, paired with the never-ending stimulation and inspiration from the LGBTQ+ community

“CAUTION: This Product Contains Natural Rubber Latex Which May Cause Allergic Reactions. Latex condoms are intended to prevent pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections.”

The Natural Rubber Series is an exploration of imagery that brings to the foreground issues of contraception methods in the modern world. The photographs question the ethical and the natural, the positive and the negatives, and the vulgar and the beautiful.

location

X
  • Born: Orani, Bataan
  • Based: Bloomington, IN, USA

comments

X

LATEX: Gyno

Kelvin Burzon

2016 - 2017 Archival inkjet print 14" x 14" Courtesy of the artist.

contributor

X

Kelvin Burzon

b. 1989
image description
  • See All Works
  • visit website

Kelvin Burzon is a Filipino American artist whose work explores intersections of sexuality, race, gender and religion. His most recent work investigates religion’s role in culture and familial relationships and highlights religion’s traditions, imagery, theatricality, and psychological vestiges. He graduated from Wabash College (Indiana) and received his M.F.A. from Indiana University’s School of Art, Architecture + Design. His work has been exhibited abroad and all over the country and is a part of several permanent collections, including The Kinsey Institute and the Center for Photography at Woodstock. He has presented his work at several conventions, including the Society of Photographic Education’s regional and national conferences. Burzon continues to push his work with inspirations from the past, recontextualized narratives, and imagery of religion, paired with the never-ending stimulation and inspiration from the LGBTQ+ community

“CAUTION: This Product Contains Natural Rubber Latex Which May Cause Allergic Reactions. Latex condoms are intended to prevent pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections.”

The Natural Rubber Series is an exploration of imagery that brings to the foreground issues of contraception methods in the modern world. The photographs question the ethical and the natural, the positive and the negatives, and the vulgar and the beautiful.

location

X
  • Born: Orani, Bataan
  • Based: Bloomington, IN, USA

comments

X

Normalcy #8

Jana Ercilla

2015 Color Film Photography 7.5" x 12" Courtesy of the artist.

contributor

X

Jana Ercilla

b. 1991
image description
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Jana Ercilla was born in the Philippines and is currently based in San Antonio, Texas where she received her B.F.A. in Photography from Texas State University. Her work reflects her interest in marrying traditional art with modern conceptualism and expanding those viewpoints with her own experience as a gay woman and person of color. Jana is currently involved with the Filipino American Artist Directory and has shown her work in different parts of the United States. She is currently working on projects that are simultaneously helping her understand and accept herself within the societal confines into which she was born.

location

X
  • Born: Quezon City, Philippines
  • Based: San Antonio, TX, US

comments

X

Normalcy #11

Jana Ercilla

2015 Color Film Photography 7.5" x 12" Courtesy of the artist.

contributor

X

Jana Ercilla

b. 1991
image description
  • See All Works
  • facebook
  • visit website

Jana Ercilla was born in the Philippines and is currently based in San Antonio, Texas where she received her B.F.A. in Photography from Texas State University. Her work reflects her interest in marrying traditional art with modern conceptualism and expanding those viewpoints with her own experience as a gay woman and person of color. Jana is currently involved with the Filipino American Artist Directory and has shown her work in different parts of the United States. She is currently working on projects that are simultaneously helping her understand and accept herself within the societal confines into which she was born.

location

X
  • Born: Quezon City, Philippines
  • Based: San Antonio, TX, US

comments

X

Normalcy #6

Jana Ercilla

2015 Color Film Photography 7.5" x 12" Courtesy of the artist.

contributor

X

Jana Ercilla

b. 1991
image description
  • See All Works
  • facebook
  • visit website

Jana Ercilla was born in the Philippines and is currently based in San Antonio, Texas where she received her B.F.A. in Photography from Texas State University. Her work reflects her interest in marrying traditional art with modern conceptualism and expanding those viewpoints with her own experience as a gay woman and person of color. Jana is currently involved with the Filipino American Artist Directory and has shown her work in different parts of the United States. She is currently working on projects that are simultaneously helping her understand and accept herself within the societal confines into which she was born.

location

X
  • Born: Quezon City, Philippines
  • Based: San Antonio, TX, US

comments

X