In this post, I’m sharing with you how my fine arts canvas piece is dedicated to my maternal grandmother and how this ties back to Filipino American History Month in October. I also express gratitude for being a part of the Lumpia Fusion: Filipino Americans at a Crossroads exhibit at the Epiphany Center for the Arts in Chicago from September 19, 2025 – November 14, 2025.

Mixed Media on Canvas; Acrylic paint, paper, modeling paste, marker, raffia, pushpins, and cellophane on canvas; 24” x 30”; 2025

“The Filipino American experience is a story of cultural fusion. With a heritage woven from Malay, Chinese, Spanish, American, and indigenous influences, Filipinos have cultivated a rich cultural tapestry. As immigrants, Filipino Americans have further diversified this vibrant heritage, creating a natural predisposition to adaptation and an appreciation of inter-cultural exchange. This has led to Filipino Americans often finding themselves at a crossroads, negotiating change while maintaining deep-rooted cultural connections. This experience provides fertile ground for artistic exploration.”

This is the prompt that fueled my creative process when creating my art piece contribution to an art show at the Epiphany Center for the Arts to celebrate Filipino American History Month in October called Lumpia Fusion: Filipino Americans at a Crossroads.

Curated by artist and watercolor specialist Zarina Natividad Docken, Lumpia Fusion celebrates the beauty that emerges from the fusion of minds and cultures, sparking meaningful conversations.

{RELATED POST: Cultural Rediscovery & Personal Grief: Reigniting My Fine Art Roots}

Destination: Prosperity

To that end, my mixed media piece titled ‘Destination: Prosperity’ (2025) pays homage to my maternal grandmother. How can one woman turn the tide of a generation? This Philippines-born matriarch singlehandedly orchestrated the betterment of her lineage by being the crossroads for her 10 children. With a balance of tenderness and exacting, clear vision, she meticulously crafted each of their destinies for greatness, literally diverting them from poverty to prosperity. I explore themes of past, future, cultural and continental displacement, and ultimately, transcendence, by juxtaposing contrasts in materials, color, and texture.

This canvas piece is made with acrylic, paper, modeling paste, marker, raffia, push pins, and cellophane. Although my grandmother passed away when I was only five months old, she lives on through vivid stories from my mom. She told me how she was “the smartest woman I ever knew, even though she never finished grade school.” (This is how I learned the concept of “street smarts” vs “book smarts.”) I always got the impression that she was very tender and loving. My mom relayed how Mama (that’s what we grandkids called her), guided my mom and her siblings. I had always assumed this guidance was administered with a gentle hand.

But it wasn’t until I asked my mom for more information about this legendary, and dare I say, godlike matriarch (because that is often the kind of reverence my mom, aunts, and uncles spoke of her) that I learned that this guidance was executed more exactingly than I initially surmised.

I learned that Mama shaped the futures of my mom and her nine brothers and sisters by literally telling them, unflinchingly, what each and every one of them was to do with their lives.

“You will be the doctor,” she told my aunt.

“You will be nurses,” she told my mom and three sisters.

And so on.

Spoiler alert: They all were good kids and did what Mama told them to do.

Someone hearing this out of context – and heck, maybe even me ten years ago – might pass judgment on Mama for doing this. But me, as a Filipino American, I instantly felt that familiar, nuanced complexity that often comes with being a child of two worlds: As a headstrong, independence-loving American, I was shocked by the audacity of an authority figure daring to tell me what to do with my life. And as a family-oriented Filipino, I knew her directive came from a place of love.

You see, my mom and her family – comprised of her mother, father, and 9 brothers and sisters, were poor, living in a humble barangay in Manila, Philippines. But they did as well for themselves as a family of twelve (TWELVE!) could, through resourcefulness and frugality. They also ran a family business, a tailor shop, and everyone had a role in its operation. They got by.

But Mama had a vision and determination to see her kids do more than just get by. She wanted them to thrive beyond. To her, that meant setting her children’s sights on prestigious professions.

I wanted to dedicate an art piece that pays tribute to Mama’s monumental role in our family.

Exhibit Opening Reception

The exhibit kicked off on September 19th and showcased the vibrant and eclectic collection of 25 different Filipino American artists, all in the one-of-a-kind space that is the Catacombs Gallery. I enjoyed catching up with artists from last year’s Lumpia exhibit and meeting new artists for this year’s.

I basked in the love and support of family and friends who came out. And I became excited at the prospect of the Lumpia exhibit series branching out beyond Chicago, as I met an artist based in Los Angeles who caught wind of the Lumpia exhibit and submitted her piece for this year.

And exhibit curator, Zarina, shared a few celebratory and inspirational words.

The Catacombs Gallery is the perfect backdrop for this exhibit and reception.

“The Catacombs is a remarkably quaint, romantic retreat, certain to charm all who cross its threshold. Imagine a grand staircase leading to a vintage room with vaulted ceiling, stained glass windows, vintage chandeliers, a built-in stage, complemented by a private Niche Bar and The Lounge,” according to Epiphany’s website.

What the exhibit means to me as a mom

Seeing my 6-year-old daughter run freely throughout the Catacombs during the exhibit’s opening reception warmed my heart. With this being my second showing at the Epiphany, I hope this feels like home for her. I hope she can fondly recall attending exhibit openings with her mommy. I hope she remembers these moments and can proudly tell people, “My mommy is an artist.” I also hope that my Mama is watching from somewhere with pride. In my imaginative realm, I like to think that if it was me she was prescribing a life to when I was younger, I would ask her, “Should be a nurse, too, Mama?”

“No,” she would say, “You will be an artist.”

Thank you for getting us here, Mama. I hope you’re proud.

About the Epiphany Center for the Arts

Although the Lumpia Fusion exhibit has now ended, I invite you visit the Epiphany Center for the Arts. They always have thought-provoking exhibits by local artists that boast culture and community. According to Epiphany, “Our priorities are to present a dynamic and inclusive platform that amplifies the voices of underrepresented communities, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+, and artists with disabilities. Through exhibitions, artist talks, and a wide array of public programs, we strive to engage all of Chicago’s communities. We prioritize experiential learning, collaboration, and mentorship, fostering a space where established artists work alongside emerging artists and where diverse perspectives are celebrated.”

Epiphany itself is the perfect backdrop for such a culturally-inspired exhibit:

“Conceived with the vision to return Epiphany to a place for people to once again congregate in, the shuttered, historic Church of the Epiphany has been preserved and adapted into an iconic cultural hub ‘For the Good of Art, Entertainment and Events.’ Thoughtfully designed, the exemplary 42,000 square foot campus boasts three distinct venues and a stunning array of amenities, including art studios, classroom, exhibit space and gallery, a commercial and catering kitchen, café, VIP suite and a collection of artistically appointed outdoor spaces; a charming quarter-acre courtyard, spacious terrace and stunning patio. Epiphany’s diverse and inclusive art programming serve to unite community and artists alike while ‘Bringing Chicago Together.’

Plan Your Visit

Gallery visiting hours
Although the Lumpia Fusion exhibit has closed, I encourage you to come out and enjoy what the Epiphany has to offer, since they always have compelling exhibits by local artists on rotation. Most of the Epiphany Center for the Arts’ galleries are open to the public during their regular scheduled music events, including their free Golden Hour series Wed-Sat 5-8pm.

To schedule a viewing appointment, please reach out via email with a few preferred days/times for an appointment: art@epiphanychi.com

This post was all about my art piece for the Lumpia Fusion: Filipino Americans at a Crossroads exhibit at the Epiphany Center for the Arts in Chicago that is dedicated to my maternal grandmother and ties back to Filipino American History Month in October.