Alliance for California Traditional Arts 03/01/2005 -- ACTA recognizes LIKHA for their contribution to the Parol concert in San Francisco
The Filipino American Development Foundation, in collaboration with Kulintang Arts, recently produced the Community Parol Stroll Lantern Parade and the San Fernando Giant Lantern Parol Concert featuring Filipino rondalla (traditional string ensemble) music and displays of parol (Filipino Christmas lanterns) in San Francisco's South of Market district. The events were part of a large scale project, partially funded by ACTA's Folk & Traditional Arts Mentorship Initiative, to increase community participation in Filipino traditional arts. ACTA's program is supported by the Walter & Elise Haas Fund.
2,000 parols, which were featured at the Lantern parade and placed on display at the Asian Art Museum, Zeum, the main branch of the public library, and Yerba Buena Gardens. Traditionally, artists created parol by fastening pieces of bamboo into the shape of a five-pointed star. They covered the frame with rice paper. Workshop participants learned how to use bamboo to create this traditional shape, which symbolizes the star of Bethlehem. They then decorated their parol with colored paper and cellophane.
