BARRETTO ONG
Artist Statement
I am a lifelong movement artist uniquely informed by a rich life as a student, educator, birth keeper, bodyworker, and single mother. And, as an integral part of the Bay Area’s vital Pilipinx diaspora arts community, my passion lies in creating material and curating space for culturally relevant movement within theatrical plays, choreography pieces, and community workshops. I enjoy carrying a deep sense of curiosity in my projects by responding to the environment– the natural world and urban landscapes alike, the spectrum of human emotions, and real and imagined stories. In this way, I am guided by the creations of my ancestors and Pilipinx indigenous artists (past and present) whose movement practices include, but are not limited to, reflecting the elements and processes of nature, celebrating life transitions and gifts from the earth, and communicating with supernatural powers. I create bridges extending across the psychic oceans between motherland and current home, ancestors and descendants, and the world of spirits and the human experience.