Michelle Alba Michelle Alba is mainly a visual artist who has contributed drawings, photography and paintings to the various endeavors of the Asian American Artists Collective, from the literary journal MONSOON in 1995 to the Mediums and CHOP shows in 2001. In addition, she was co-editor of MONSOON in 1998. Currently, besides helping to build the artistic community of the collective, Michelle is part of the technical crew for the Mango Tribe and a creative mentor in the Redmoon Theater's Dramagirls program. Julius Cavira Julius Cavira is a grownup native Chicago city boy striving to be something like an icon of sorts, an underdog whom grown out of his juvenile roots to only tackle the one thing he dears the most, being an artist. One would guess that he's not from here, but from a far off land in a third world country; a bit exotic and a bit true. Julius Cavira is a first generation Filipino. He is currently studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and finishing his BFA degree within this year. His concern is learning more about the financial classes, the education of urban youth, and especially diversity. It is through this research and investigation where he finds specific subjects for his complex works of art. Identifying culture through landscape, figure, and events is where his work identifies itself. The politics of the duel identity that minorities struggle with, is a lasting argument that has been debated as much times internally as externally, with other peers. "…The business of being an artist is as much a gift as it is a curse, choose wisely." Sam del Rosario Sam del Rosario is a native Chicagoan and has never lived more than an hour's drive from where he was born. He is a graduate of the Second City Writing Program and has studied at the Improv Olympic, the Annoyance Theater, and the University of Chicago. He would like to give a shout out to his parents and asks that someone explain to them what a shout out is. Anida Rouquiyah Yoeu Esguerra Anida Rouquiyah Yoeu Esguerra is a visual artist, writer, performer and motivator. She strives to find an artistic, spiritual and political exploration of her identity as a non hyphenated Cambodian Malaysian Muslim American woman. Her curiosity with the creative world and American capitalism began when she won a pair of men's tube socks from a McDonald's sponsored coloring contest at the age of 9. Because she thrives on the creative process and believes in the power of collective creations she has founded organizations such as Mango Tribe, The Asian American Artists Collective--Chicago, and the MONSOON literary arts journal. She is currently the co-director of Sisters in the Smoke, a multidisciplinary production centered around the issue of personal and global violence as presented by Mango Tribe, an Asian American women's interdisciplinary performance ensemble. Marlon Unas Esguerra Marlon Unas Esguerra is a second generation Filipino American, born and raised in the Old Wicker Park area of Chicago. Raised in a strict Roman Catholic home, Marlon converted to Islam shortly after college. He is a co-founder of the Collective, and the National APIA Spoken Word and Poetry Summit. 2002 marks Marlon's third year teaching poetry and creative writing for Young Chicago Authors, implementing programs in the Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Alternative High School system, Gallery 37 Program for the Arts and the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center. In June, Marlon will launch YAWP: YOUNG ASIANS WITH POWER, a youth program for APIA teens sponsored by the Collective. Ryan "Offwhyte" Fernandez Offwhyte is a Filipino-American emcee and co-founder of the Chicago hip hop label Galapagos4. He released his debut album, entitled Squints, in 2000 and has since been performing around the country with his Galapagos4 label-mates. Look for Offwhyte on various Chicago hip hop compilations and a new album this summer. Ciara Intengan Ciara Intengan is a visual artist from here (Chicago). If you wanted another answer, ask a specific question. Remember semantics. She's got a BA specializing in painting from Columbia College circa 2000. Occasionally she is known to make good on presentation for what may or may not lack in content. Take that for what you will. This is her first onstage speaking performance. It is dedicated to Quasimodo because he can't talk at all.. Michael Joon Hyun Kim Michael Joon Hyun Kim was born in Seoul, Korea and moved to the US in the city of Euclid, Ohio when he was the ripe old age of seven. At an early age, he discovered his joy for creation as evidenced in the multitudes of battle armadas he would construct using Legos. He has since become a DJ, written, acted, produced and directed several plays and even ran a clothing label (albeit a rather unsuccessful one). In his spare time, he likes to complain about anything and everything and make people think he's completely lost his unstable grip on reality. You can stalk him at cekta.com. Laura Kina Laura Kina is a painter and a studio arts instructor. Kina was born in California and raised outside of Seattle. She moved to Chicago in 1991 to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she received her BFA in painting and drawing in 1994. In 2001, she earned her M.F.A. in studio arts from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Kina has taught at DePaul University, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has received a number of awards including an Illinois Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award in 1997. Kina is represented in Miami by Diana Lowenstein Fine Arts. To see her work check out www.laurakina.com. gordon cc liao A product of enormously under-employed Taiwanese immigrants, gordon grew up in the Chicago southern suburbs of Park Forest, Chicago Heights, and Matteson. He is sometimes a playwright, poet, screenwriter, singer-songwriter, and actor. Gordon is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where he co-founded and directed MOTU Tsunami, the first Asian American acting troupe in Champaign-Urbana. Gordon's poetry has been featured in several compilations and he also had his play "hung bao" produced by the Asian American Theater Company in San Francisco in February 2000. Jay Monteverde Jay Monteverde is a native Chicagoan with a tainted suburban past. Since being empowered to speak with both tongues, Jay has worked towards equity and justice for several different communities, including Asian Americans, Chicanos/Chicanas, Arab Americans, refugees, and immigrants. Jay currently plays an inside agent at the University of Chicago's Office of Student Activities.. Jon Monteverde Jon Monteverde is super-ecstatic to be working behind the boards for the Asian American Artists Collective. Previous credits include sound mixer for the 1999, 2000, and 2002 Chinese New Year Shows at the University of Chicago, and videographer for "Mangoes, Cigarettes, and My Mama's Hands: Snapshots from a Mental Landscape," presented September 13, 2000 at the Chopin Theater, Chicago. Suraiya Nathani Suraiya Nathani is an Indian-American artist. In her work she explores iconic elements of South Asian and American culture; her goal is to promote positive representation of Asians and Muslims in western media. Along with working as a graphic designer, Suraiya teaches adult literacy. She is currently writing and illustrating a children's book featuring Muslim super-heroes. Her recent work is included in the upcoming Artwallah Festival in Los Angeles. Suraiya lives in Chicago and holds degrees in graphic design and photography. She is proud to be a part of the Asian American Artists Collective. Phloe phloe says that when people of non-melanined and ideologically patriarchial privileged skin ask her why she doesn’t ever use her last name she tells them that once they prove they can pronounce it instead of butchering it, she’ll think about it. She is a cofounder of LA-based pinaykalamansi and proud member of Mango Tribe and the Asian American Artists' Collective in Chicago. Ann Poochareon Ann Poochareon is of Chinese descent, born in U.S., raised in Thailand. She not only considers herself bilingual but also bicultural. Having spent a little more than a decade on each side of the world, Ann struggles to find balance between two cultures and is searching for her own style through art. She is one of the co-founders and editors of Lantern, an Asian American Arts & Literally Journal, a proud member of the Asian American Artists Collective, and is the Technical Director for Mango Tribe. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from DePaul University, and is trying to find ways to integrate technology and art to create new forms. This coming fall, Ann will be attending New York University for a graduate study in the Interactive Telecommunications Program. People find her at miserychick.net. Charles Queano Charles Queano is an NPR nerd, a cyclist, and he loves dogs. SAPAC Group Bio: The South Asian Progressive Action Collective (SAPAC) is a Chicago based collective that developed out of a common desire for a progressive forum to take up issues pertinent to South Asia and the diaspora through direct action, creative expression, and discussion. Issues addressed by SAPAC include community violence, social justice, immigration and naturalization, u.s. foreign relations, sexuality, HIV/AIDS, gender roles, hate crime, and collaboration with other progressive groups. Fu-Chung Wong Fu-Chung Wong is a second generation Chinese/Taiwanese American born and raised in the Chicago area. He is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he co-founded The Paradox Magazine and The Alliance for Chinese American Progress. He holds a degree in English and a certificate in Asian American Studies, and is a member of the Asian American Arts collective. Fu-Chung looks forward to pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in writing in the near future. Chien-An Yuan Chien-An Yuan busies himself by writing and performing music under the monikers, Jienan and Desk. When he's not doing that, he's busy running the record label, Actually Records. And when he's not working on that, he's busy eating tacos... man, does he love those tacos! Check his choons out at: http://www.actuallyrecords.com