TNT Traysikel
In 2018 Michael Arcega, Paolo Asuncion and Rachel Lastimosa began working together in SOMA Pilipinas Cultural and Heritage District. Michael and Paolo started the TNT Traysikel project with support from the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) grant. Rachel Lastimosa officially joined the team on their second SFAC grant to produce a short film called Lost and Found: TNT in America.
In 2016, SOMA Pilipinas- cultural heritage district became officially sanctioned by the county of San Francisco and the State of California. The community came together to express their needs for visual markers in the landscape. In response, TNT Traysikel was conceived. The roaming sculpture would signal the presence of the Fil Am community. The project began with a grant from SFAC for a sculpture that holds space in the streets of SF. Their efforts rapidly expanded to include three concurrent projects, 1) TNT SideCaraoke, karaoke activations of joyful sing-alongs, 2) Lost and Found: TNT in America, a short film that centers an immigrant object searching for a home in America and 3) TNT SideNotes, listening sessions to give community members space to share their stories.
TNT Traysikel has been the anchor for many of their recent efforts. their activities blur traditional practice and disciplines taking sculptural, spatial, relational, performative and cinematic form. For example, during a 4-month long Artist in Residence at Saint Joseph’s Arts Society (once home to the largest congregation of Fil Am Catholics in the US), they produced non-traditional “artist panels” called More Awareness Something Something (M.A.S.S.). They filmed over 60 experts on four Filipinx American topics- History, Visual Arts, Cuisine and Performing Arts. Every M.A.S.S. panel concluded with a TNT SideCaraoke sing-along.
In five years, they have co-produced over 2 dozen events involving hundreds of culture producers who intersects visual, culinary, literary, and performing arts, as well as motorcyclists. TNT Traysikel events occur in museums, galleries, plazas, parks and sidewalks. They never charge the public and welcome all.
Michael Arcega is an educator and visual artist working primarily in sculpture and installation. His research-based work is informed by History, geography, language and topics that deal with unbalanced power. Michael has degrees from the SFAI and Stanford University. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. He has received awards from Artadia, SFAC, Guggenheim Foundation among others. He lives and works in San Francisco as an Associate Professor of Art at SFSU.
Paolo Asuncion grew up in Manila. He is the son of an actor and was immersed in the film industry early on. He began in corporate films that led to independent documentaries. As a motorcyclist, His work uses the subculture as a springboard to explore subjects like religion, craft, family legacy, death and sex trafficking. His films have garnered awards nationally and internationally. He lives and works in the San Francisco bay area.
Rachel Lastimosa is an interdisciplinary artist, producer and performer, scoring for theater and film and has toured nationally and internationally. She has worked in the Bay Area as a community organizer, arts administrator and artist, supporting public art programming and performance. She founded AGASAN an expressive arts therapy program. Rachel’s focus on the intersection of arts, culture, equity and wellness continues to be the foundation for her creative pursuits and community service.
TNT SideCaraoke event at CMAC
Hiraya Magazine Feature
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