Congratulations to Christina Villadolid, First Place Winner of the Nashman Center Community Engagement in the Arts and Design Award for their project, 'Tracing Manila House,' an ongoing art project that brings Filipino American history to life while building a resilient and interconnected community in Washington, D.C. Through graphite rubbings, engaging with local schools, and honoring the forgotten past of the Manila House, this project reshapes narratives, educates, and inspires change. Explore how one artist's personal journey of reckoning with colonial history has sparked a beacon of resilience and remembrance for a marginalized community.
Title: Tracing Manila House: Unearthing Filipino Histories and Community Resilience
In the heart of Washington, D.C., an ongoing project is quietly but profoundly reshaping the narrative surrounding Filipino Americans and their enduring impact on the United States. "Tracing Manila House" is not just an art project; it's a testament to the power of memory, community, and resistance in the face of erasure perpetuated by U.S. policies. This project, led by an impassioned artist, has created ripples of awareness and change that extend far beyond the walls of a historic row house on K St. NW.
A Legacy of Invisibility
For far too long, the Filipino American community has grappled with invisibility in the United States. Despite being the third-largest Asian group in the country, their presence and contributions have been overlooked, a tragic consequence of American policies that perpetuated this obscurity. However, this narrative is now being rewritten through "Tracing Manila House."
The heart of this project lies in its commitment to preserving and honoring the history of the Manila House, a row house on K St. NW that served as a sanctuary for immigrant Filipinos during the 1930s-1950s. The artist behind the project, whose practice is grounded in historical research, aims to resist the erasure of Filipino histories through site-specific interventions and installations.
Materializing Memory
"Tracing Manila House" materializes memory in a unique and evocative way: through graphite rubbings of the original floors and staircases of the Manila House. These rubbings serve as a tangible connection to the past, preserving the essence of a space that was once a vital hub for Filipino immigrants seeking refuge and community.
One of the project's most powerful aspects is its engagement with the Acton Academy community, which now occupies the Manila House. Students and staff alike have been invited to learn about Filipino immigrants in the United States and their connection to the very place where they now study and work. The Manila House has transformed into an intentional space for healing, as the community comes together to activate memory through the creation of floor rubbings.
This intergenerational community has played a crucial role in rendering visible the historically marginalized lives of Filipinos and creating a point of access for policy change. But the journey doesn't stop here; it's just the beginning.
Expanding the Impact
To further amplify the impact of "Tracing Manila House," the artist is extending their engagement to include groups from the forming D.C. chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society and retired Filipino veterans of American wars. These veterans, whose sacrifices and contributions have been painfully under-recognized, are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
The next steps of the project include an exhibition reconstructing Manila House through the collection of graphite rubbings made in collaboration with these groups. An annual K St. NW sidewalk pop-up during Filipino American History Month and interviews with descendants of the Filipina who cooked meals at Manila House are also in the works.
A Catalyst for Change
The impact of "Tracing Manila House" has been nothing short of transformative for both the community and the artist behind it. It has transcended the realm of art and has become a symbol of change and activism. The project has provided the community with a unique perspective on how places can hold physical traces of intangible stories, demonstrating the potential for art to communicate meaning and recover lost narratives.
Children at Acton Academy have eloquently expressed why it's crucial to remember moments of love, loss, and change, setting an example for adults. For the school's Filipina American teachers, the experience has been particularly meaningful, as it has allowed them to reconnect with their own history that was omitted from their education.
The graphite rubbings have given shape to a space for grieving and healing, echoing the role Manila House played for Filipinos in Washington, D.C. The project has also connected with the broader community, including a vestry member from St. Paul’s Church next door, who recognized the significance of community-building within the project.
A Personal Journey of Reckoning
For the artist behind "Tracing Manila House," this project has been a deeply personal journey. After a long career as a museum teaching artist, they returned to graduate school disillusioned by the inequities within cultural institutions. The research into U.S. policies negatively impacting Filipinos over the last century weighed heavily on their shoulders, as they grappled with their identity as both a Filipina American colonized by U.S. policies and a participant in coloniality.
The project became a means to process and express this tension, a place for mourning and a platform for identifying and celebrating the decoloniality in their DNA. It was a search for evidence of resilience, care, and laughter despite the oppressive policies faced by Filipinos, and they found it in the unassuming floors of Manila House.
A Beacon of Resilience
"Tracing Manila House" is not just an art project; it's a beacon of resilience in the face of historical injustices. It serves as a marker of strength against generational trauma caused by U.S. policies, offering a space for healing and remembrance. And it's a testament to the power of art to bring communities together, shine a light on hidden histories, and spark change.
As the project continues to grow and evolve, the possibilities are boundless. What other sites exist that can be extensions of "Tracing Manila House"? This entry point to change can expand organically and resonate far beyond Washington, D.C. The artist is committed to being there for this journey, ensuring that the voices and stories of Filipino Americans are no longer invisible but celebrated and remembered.
