MANILA, Philippines – Art markets have been a big part of the local art scene over the years, often happening multiple times each month. They’re a fun way for artists to showcase their creations to the public, so these events are usually anticipated by both creatives and art enthusiasts alike. There’s a new one happening in January 2025, and let’s just say that it’s not your ordinary art market, as it shifts the focus from mere buy-and-sell to community-building.
It’s none other than Kittybug & Friends Pop Up + Art Market, a community-based event that, through a series of programs, aims to push Filipino female and LGBTQ+ artists to try independent publishing, zinemaking, and new creative mediums like risograph (riso). It also hopes to make riso more accessible through free workshops, tutorials, and risograph printing, and the implementation of sliding-scale prices.
“As organizers and fellow creatives, we have gotten feedback from both younger and older artists in Manila that they are looking for more community-focused events and education talks on newer mediums like Riso. Riso is still a growing craft in the Philippines that requires more financial investment than other printmaking mediums,” Kittybug Press shared.
The event will be run by Manila Comics Fair and Kittybug Press — a New York City-based independent micropress and artist collective run by Anna Marcelo and Rice Gallardo — whose goal is to champion Filipino female and/or LGBTQ+ artists in the Philippines or in the diaspora.
Kittybug & Friends Pop Up + Art Market has a loaded lineup of activities in store for attendees. Here’s what you can expect!
Schedule, venue, fees
The event will be held on January 11, 2025 at Imperial Mow’s, located inside Kowloon House along Matalino Street in Quezon City.
Entry into the venue will be on a pay-what-you-want basis, following a suggested donation ranging from P100 to P300, which will be collected at the door.
“Kittybug Press believes in financial accessibility for the creative community so both the products in our booth and our organized events have sliding scale prices or entry fees,” Kittybug Press told Rappler.
Note that from 2 to 5 pm, masked hours will be implemented to ensure everyone’s safety. Masks will be available at the event.
Jam-packed program
The first tranche of the whole program will happen from 2 to 7 pm, with a wide array of activities happening back-to-back and alongside each other.
Artists market
Of course, it’s not an art event without an artist market, so you can expect to be able to purchase merch from a curated pool of Filipino female and/or LGBTQ+ artists from both New York and Manila! The artist market will run from 2 to 7 pm, all throughout the main event.
See the full lineup here:
New York
Manila
Zine library
Also happening throughout the main event is the zine library, where attendees can read and browse through a collection of books and printed matter from the organizers’ and exhibitors’ personal collections — with reads ranging from rare, experimental, LGBTQ+, and international art books, among others.
Workshops
Meanwhile, from 2 to 4 pm, there will be two riso workshops that will both focus on teaching attendees how to prepare the artwork they want to print.
“We are focusing on demystifying this step so that we can encourage and inspire artists to kickstart their risograph journey,” Kittybug Press said.
Set to be held from 2 to 3 pm, the “No photoshop? Coding for Riso” workshop will be led by Kittybug Press co-owner Rice Gallardo, who will “introduce creative coding as an art-making practice.” In this workshop — which will be a demonstration and talk in one — attendees will be taught how to format their riso printing work and prepare riso files using Javascript. This is a beginner-friendly workshop, so you don’t need to have coding experience to join!
According to Kittybug Press, this is perfect for artists who want to try riso but don’t have access to programs like Photoshop or Spectrolite. Each participant will also be given a free guide to help them apply these new coding techniques when they begin doing their riso prep.
Right after, from 3 to 4 pm, attendees can also join the “Risograph for Illustration and Photography” workshop, which will be held by Kittybug Press’ founder, Anna Marcelo. Participants will be introduced to the basics of risograph as a medium, as well as the best practices for illustration and photography via a talk on the history of riso, and a demonstration on the different techniques you can apply to creating riso work.
Marcelo will also teach attendees about the common mistakes artists usually make, and how to fix them. Similar to the previous workshop, each participant can take home a free handout on the lecture.
Both workshops are free if you already paid the pay-what-you-want fee at the door. Interested participants just need to RSVP through this link to reserve a spot!
Live comics reading, author panel Q&A
If you’re looking for an immersive experience, you might want to catch the live comics reading and author panel question-and-answer session from 5 to 6 pm.
Cloie Hilomen and Osh San Juan will bring several Filipino comics to life with a live reading of Numbers by Rice Gallardo, Sci-fi Comic by Elle Shivers, and Time Dilation by Diigii Daguna. This performance will also integrate sound design by Cristian Ayala, a two-time Webby Award-winning sound designer.
Marcelo will then moderate a Q&A panel after the live reading to talk more about the featured works and the cast’s performance. Audiences will then be given the opportunity to ask questions.
Seats will be on a “first-come, first-served” basis, with additional spots in the standing area. However, physically disabled attendees may email kittybugpress@gmail.com or send a message to @kittybugpress via Instagram to reserve a seat.
Kittybug rave!
The fun doesn’t have to end there, though. Kittybug Press is aptly closing off the night with an afterparty for both exhibitors and attendees in celebration of the independent micropress and artist collective’s first anniversary. Music and beats will be taken care of by DJs BEDSPACERS (Mich Cervantes) and Jer Dee!
Which part of the Kittybug & Friends Pop Up + Art Market are you most looking forward to? – Rappler.com
Rappler is an official media partner of Kittybug & Friends Pop Up + Art Market. Follow our coverage of the event on January 11, 2025!
