DEC13_SUPERDUPERFINAL

Art Initiatives in Changing Times
January 30, 2021
V-CON 2 had a very interesting discussion on the responses of
artists when calamity strikes, most especially during the pandemic.
Featured were the national feeding initiative by the Art Relief Mobile
Kitchen and a local response in the form of waves of assistance from
ArtHeals Fundraising.
Alex Baluyut and Precious Leaño of Art Relief Mobile Kitchen, also
known as ARMK, marked 7 years of 24/7 monitoring and addressing
the hunger needs of people affected by tragedy and calamity. Their
community volunteers included SK members, elders, barangay
officials or the LGU, and artist groups. ARMK has led more than 60
feeding missions and when calamities happen simultaneously, they
also operate simultaneous kitchens. On the other hand, Charlie Co,
Roderick Tijing, Barry Cervantes of ArtHeals shared that they began
at the onset of the pandemic when the team felt the need to respond
before lockdown ensued. ArtsHeals is an initiative that champions
art as an agent of consciousness to and for the community. Wave
1 was Local Artists Support where ArtHeals Fundraising with the
Orange Project Team gave forty grocery packs with one month’s
supply to local artists. Wave 2 was Face Shield Project for Front
liners where artists started creating face shields for front liners that
were delivered to outposts, along with snacks sponsored by artist
friends, to different locations guarding the city borders. Wave 3
was PPE Project in collaboration with NVC Foundation. Wave
4 was Food Pack Distribution to Remote Areas. Finally, Wave 5
was Pawssion Project. PAWS is an organization that helps strays get
through each day. ArtHeals Fundraising collaborated with them by
buying sacks of dog and cat food for these stray cats and dogs. The
impacts of the initiative was to create a consciousness of being part
of the solution rather the problem.
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