FEATURED ARTISTS WORKSHOPS AT GEF PA’GO

EVERY SATURDAY IN JULY – AUGUST 1

Our island has many talented artists of both traditional and contemporary artforms. During the month of July, local artists will be displaying and selling their art and giving a 3-hour workshop at Gef Pa’go Chamorro Cultural Village each Saturday. This year, the featured artists are:

• Judy Flores, Guam’s well-known batik artist who shows her appreciation of Guam’s scenery and Chamorro culture through brilliant paintings on silk, using the wax resist method of batik. Classes are open to ages 8 through adult, who will learn how to draw with hot wax using the tjanting, and to create layers of color to create a colorful silk sun catcher.  July 4, 10 am to 1 pm.

• Tony Paulino, a woodcarver who uses both traditional and contemporary tools and methods to create uniquely Guam designs of flowers, the Guam seal, latte and other decorative icons. Classes are open to ages 8 to adult, who will be taught carving or just finishing methods, depending on the age and skill of the participant.  July 11, 10 am to 1 pm.

• Tony Mantanona, a multi-talented cultural artist, will teach Coconut Leaf Weaving, including selection of leaf for particular projects, and will show participants how to weave simple decorative fish, shrimp, stars, and the traditional little rice lunch bags, called katupat. For more patient and experienced participants, he will provide lessons in weaving baskets and hats. Classes are open to ages 8 to adult.  July 18, 9 am to 12 noon. 

• Connie Garrido, our Traditional Teacher, will share her Chamorro cooking skills with participants, featuring the concept and methods of cooking with coconut milk. Participants will learn how to husk and grate the coconut, squeeze the grated coconut to produce the creamy “milk”, then show how this is used to cook starchy local foods such as breadfruit, bananas, or tapioca, depending on what is in season. Classes are open to ages 8 to adult.  July 25, 10 am to 1 pm.

• Connie Garrido will provide a second cooking session, to feature the concept and methods of making kelaguin. A Chamorro meal is comprised of the starchy food, such as rice, titiyas, or breadfruit, called “Agun” and the protein food, such as fish, meat, or kelaguin, called “Totche.”   She will show participants how to prepare kelaguin using chicken, beef, or shrimp.  Classes are open to ages 8 to adult.  August 1, 10 am to 1 pm. 

Cost to register for each workshop is $15, which includesall materials to create your art to take home (or to eat the food on site ortake home).  Other artists are invited to offer workshops on any of these days.  To register or for more information, contact the Historic Inalahan Foundation office at 828-1671, or email historic@teleguam.net.  Morei nformation is available on our website at GefPagoGuam.org.