As San Diego observes AAPI Heritage Month, the Pacific Arts Movement, known as PAC Arts, plays an essential role in celebrating and uplifting Asian and Asian American stories within the community.
Jade Hindman welcomed Carmela Prudential, the director of Marketing and Communications at PAC Arts, to discuss the organization’s mission and recent events aimed at promoting AAPI voices.
Carmela highlighted her role in storytelling through media arts, particularly film, making it her mission to amplify narratives from the AAPI community for the San Diego audience.
This month, PAC Arts has been incredibly active in its efforts to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, beginning with the conclusion of its spring showcase on May 1st.
In collaboration with MTS, PAC Arts has designed a new pronto card commemorating AAPI Heritage Month featuring local artists, which will be seen on a bus traveling around San Diego.
Carmela invited everyone to engage on social media by tagging PAC Arts if they spot the bus.
Additionally, PAC Arts is collaborating with local organizations like Viet Voices to present a film screening of the documentary “New Wave,” which explores the Vietnamese-American new wave subculture in California.
Previously, this documentary had a successful screening during last November’s San Diego Asian Film Festival, and Carmela expressed her excitement to bring it back to the community.
The San Diego Asian Film Festival, also referred to by its acronym, SDF, is a significant event in promoting AAPI stories.
Carmela shared insights from conversations with artists associated with the MTS bus wrap project,
stressing how these experiences connect her to her culture.
The artist Khoisan discussed how access to various Asian ingredients and cultures is vital to many individuals, including himself.
He explained that places like Seafood City and H Mart provide opportunities for him to connect with his culture through food, representing a safe haven in his identity.
Carmela shared her history of connecting with the arts community, noting her earlier experiences curating an exhibition for the Filipino American Showcase in 2019.
Her work with PAC Arts began after that exhibition, which caught the attention of PAC Arts representatives, leading to her involvement in a career fair for creatives.
With passion for both film and Asian cinema, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to curate events and screen films before they release to the public.
Growing up in an area with limited access to such cultural resources made Carmela appreciate the work being done in San Diego.
She elaborated on the significance of community spaces where she could relate to others with similar experiences,
which has influenced her current efforts in curation and community engagement.
Carmela mentioned the importance of fostering connections among AAPI creatives and artists.
By leveraging her strengths in marketing and event planning, she has created partnerships with various galleries and organizations to showcase local artists’ work.
This collaboration serves to highlight relatable stories through art.
One prominent initiative is the AAPI Emerging Artist Fellowship,
a program supported by Viet Voices.
Carmela underscored the importance of nurturing the next generation of creatives, emphasizing the need to explore complex cultural identities through art.
With her team, she is preparing for an exhibition set to launch in July featuring four artists from Southern California.
Amid the challenges faced by artists, such as the closure of crucial spaces due to rising costs and the impact of the pandemic,
Carmela stressed the need for innovative partnerships and creative solutions to keep AAPI stories alive in the community.
She acknowledged the decline of theater attendance and independent cinema as competition with streaming platforms has intensified, yet she sees a recent resurgence in local theater attendance.
The closure of independent theaters like Landmark and Redding Cinema highlights the dire need for spaces to tell these vital stories.
Carmela is optimistic that organizations like Digital Gym in downtown San Diego will continue to serve as crucial venues for storytelling through film.
She is dedicated to fostering environments where inclusion and belonging thrive, recalling her own experiences moving to San Diego and how the community welcomed her arts interests.
Recognizing her passion for making new connections, she aims to assist those new to the area, whether they are seeking to showcase their art or screen their films.
Carmela is inspired by the growth of unique markets and pop-up experiences that celebrate AAPI culture.
She highlighted a coffee pop-up by her friend Kristen Clevenger and noted how each drink carries a personal story that connects to community experiences.
Engaging with the vibrant arts scene in San Diego, Carmela Prudential illustrates the importance of amplifying AAPI voices through creative endeavors.
As AAPI Heritage Month continues, her narrative encapsulates the broader cultural celebration that PAC Arts champions year-round, strengthening communal ties and preserving rich histories.
image source from：https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpbs-midday-edition/arts-curator-amplifies-aapi-stories-and-voices-in-san-diego
