300 artists join hands to uphold human rights and stop political killings

More than 300 artists belonging to tutoK Karapatan (tutoK) have joined hands and set a series of art exhibit and performance to drumbeat the importance of upholding human rights. They are also asking the government and authorities to take steps in stopping the political killings happening nationwide.

The group will hold a press conference at Newsdesk Café on Tuesday, November 7 at 11:00 in the morning.

Newsdesk is located at the corner of Sct. Tobias and Sct. Madriñan Streets, Timog Avenue, Quezon City. The art events and performances are:

3rd NEO-ANGONO PublicArt Festival ("Publikhaan: Making Human Rights Issue Public) November 16-22, Angono, Rizal andco-presented with NEO-ANGONO Artists Collective

"tutoK: Perspektiba 1," November 21-December 2, BeatoAngelico Gallery, University of Sto. Tomas and co-presented with Collegeof Fine Arts and Design

"Dos por Dos," December 2-30, Boston GalleryCubao, Quezon City
tutoK: Perspektiba 2," January 2007, Amrhein Gallery, St.Scholastica' s College and co-presented with Department of Fine Arts

'tutoK: Perspektiba 3," February 2007, UP Faculty Center Gallery and co-presented with Department of Art Studies, College of Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines

"Re-view: Pasang Masid," February 8-April 1, 2007, CulturalCenter of the Philippines. This is tutoK's project for National Arts Month.

tutoK Karapatan is an artists' initiative for human rights and had its beginnings in November last year during a workshop-conference on women, art and healing in Sambalikhaan, Quezon City.

During a loose discussion of recent news about a spate of killings of members of militant groups, some artists came up with an idea to memorialize these victims through a series of portraits.

"Essentially, the project stands from a point of inquiry, and all art activities emanating will point to and represent the diversity of directions that the inquiry can lead to," says Karen Ocampo Flores, project director of tutoK Karapatan.

Apart from Flores, the other members of the group's steering committee are Ruel Caasi, Mideo Cruz, Noel Cuizon, Boy Dominguez, Racquel de Loyola, Cap Reyes, Raoul "Iggy" Rodriguez, Wire Tuazon, Ramon "Chitoy" Zapata, Mike Muñoz, Noell El Farol, Ferdie Montemayor, Alfredo Juan Aquilizan, writers Lisa Ito and Richard Gappi, and Arlene Brosas of Musicians for Peace. Emmanuel Garibay and Jose Tence Ruiz are the project's chairman and adviser, respectively.

The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines serves as tutoK Karapatan's media partner.