Filipina-American Artists Weave Identity, Memory, and Heritage in “Fabricated Boundaries” at American University Museum

Washington, D.C. — In celebration of Filipino American History Month, the Katzen Museum of Art at American University hosted a moving artist talk on Saturday, October 25, 2025, featuring Mic Diño Boekelmann, Jeanne Jalandoni, and Patricia Orpilla—three Filipina-American artists whose work examines the evolving intersections of identity, memory, and migration.

The discussion accompanied the exhibition Fabricated Boundaries, which explores the Filipino diaspora through painting, sculpture, printmaking, and textile arts. Utilizing traditional materials such as abaca and piña fibers, embroidery, crochet, and weaving, the artists transform threads, textures, and techniques into contemporary narratives that speak to heritage, resilience, and belonging.

“At the center of this exhibition is habi—the Filipino art of weaving,” said Dr. Tiffany Lynn Hunt, curator of the show. “Each artist weaves together threads of history, culture, and lived experience, creating a dialogue that honors the past while shaping a more inclusive present. The exhibition demonstrates how material processes can embody migration, adaptation, and the continuous redefinition of identity.”

Art as Connection, Memory, and Transformation

Jeanne Jalandoni, a New York–based visual artist, combines weaving and painting to push the boundaries of both mediums. Though born and raised in New York City, she reflects deeply on her Filipino roots through the stories of her mother and extended family. “I’ve never been to the Philippines,” Jalandoni said, “so much of my perception of it comes from stories, colors, and images passed down through my family. My works reimagine those memories into personal mythologies.”

Her piece Hold Your Horns depicts a water buffalo figure carrying the psychological weight of cultural heritage. “She holds her horns as a symbol of strength and responsibility,” Jalandoni explained. “It’s a response to how Filipino-Americans navigate identity—balancing pride in our origins while forging our own paths in America.”

Patricia Orpilla, a multidisciplinary artist, brings a tactile and symbolic approach to fabric. Her works, such as Opening a Loop and Rewired, use fabric painting, staining, and dyeing techniques to express the fragility and transformation of identity. “I was inspired by crochet and weaving,” Orpilla shared. “When a knot unravels, the structure falls apart—just like how habits and memories shift over time. The threads in my works symbolize neural pathways, connecting past and present through constant change.”

Meanwhile, Mic Diño Boekelmann’s hand-stitched canvases merge elements of fashion, anatomy, and abstraction. Her series—featuring pieces such as Titicaca, Dancing Couple, and If You Have to Go, Go Now—sits at the crossroads of 1970s feminist art and postmodern textile experimentation. Boekelmann’s works challenge conventional boundaries between fine art and craft, transforming sewing and garment-making into a metaphor for female identity and creative endurance.

“Each stitch is a mark of memory,” Boekelmann said. “My work explores how materials—fabric, thread, metal—become metaphors for the body and for how women build, protect, and reimagine themselves across time and culture.”

Celebrating Filipino Heritage and Cross-Cultural Ties

In a statement, the U.S.–Philippine Society praised the artists for highlighting the creativity and resilience of the Filipino-American community.

“From the first Filipinos who arrived in North America in 1587 to today’s leaders, professionals, and artists, we celebrate their contributions to communities across the United States,” the Society noted. “We are honored to support this exhibition, which raises awareness of the shared history and enduring friendship between the Philippines and the United States.”

The event concluded with traditional Filipino merienda—a selection of light refreshments that encouraged dialogue and connection among attendees. Guests, curators, and artists mingled in an atmosphere that celebrated not only artistic achievement but also cultural pride and community spirit.

“These works offer both comfort and truth,” said Dr. Hunt in closing remarks. “No matter how far our culture travels, it remains woven into who we are and what we create. These artists remind us that the act of weaving—habi—is both a craft and a philosophy. It shows how migration and memory shape our lives, and how art becomes a thread that binds communities together.”