Named after the famed delicacy of the Philippines, balut conjures up exoticism, otherness, tradition, social gatherings, adventure, risk taking, and poverty. Curious thrill seekers chalk up the challenge to taste the partially developed duck fetus in hopes to simultaneously induce and subdue gag reflexes or find an authentic foreign experience. In reality, balut is quite pedestrian. It is a cheap street food for the poor and a quick snack for laborers before a long commute home. And it goes well with knocking back some beers with mga kaibigan. Balut, also spelled balot, is “wrapped” in the Tagalog language and when shelled each distinct section of the egg can be seen folded into the other, forming an interconnected mass.
This artist salon is a wrapping of sorts. Artists are invited to share partially formed projects or inklings and dialogue with an audience to co-mingle diverse perspectives and co-constitute material and ideas.
Presenting artists:
Andy Slater & Ayako Kato - April 20, 2019
José Santiago Pérez & Michael Lopez - June 22, 2019
Shawn Lent and Mirza N. Shams - September 28, 2019
Ernest M Whiteman III & Gustavo Jardim - November 23, 2019
Jose Luis Benavides & JeeYeun Lee - February 29, 2020