TODOS: a film about artists and philosophy
The concept of the film, TODOS, proposes the coalescence of political philosophy with the prerogatives and skills of artists. It suggests that political theory, rather than solely art theory, can better serve as a framework for socially conscious artists, socially engaged art projects and social practices.
TODOS’s experimental cinema incorporates and collaborates artist’s narratives, with classical and contemporary political theory. Five artists are individually featured on screen as they philosophize about their respective roles in society as artist. They describe how their art practice enables them to have agency in life, and to become more fulfilled citizens. TODOS is a medium length, bilingual film available in Spanish and English translations.
Each artist in the film wears a customized blue and red PPE mask with embroidered terms that relate to the stories and themes about their “internal” agency as artists in society.
The cinematic scenes of TODOS begins in the book stacks of the Holocaust Museum Houston Library with the librarian, Joel Bangilan. Joel serves as the segue host between each scene while he is debating the merits of the artist’s testimony with a puppet. Jeremy, the puppet segue co-host, is skeptical of an artist-centered philosophy about expansive and inclusive human rights. The film first scenes are filmed in the gallery space of the Museum with art displays from three separate artists, Gerardo Rosales, Tere Garcia and Stephanie St. Sanchez. Each artist ruminates about their concepts of citizenship and societal responsibility from a personal perspective. The last two scenes feature two preeminent dance teachers from Texas; Mauro Marcone, maestro of Argentine Tango, and nationally recognized choreographer Jennifer Mabus, (founder of the Modern Dance program at the University of St. Thomas). Both evoke political concepts through dance movements and styles. TODOS was to originally premier at the Holocaust Museum Houston from an offer made in 2021.
TODOS is a new iteration of my previous successful project called Patriot Game (2018), a series of participatory videos in collaboration with members of United We Dream Houston. Patriot Game was a solo exhibition of my work hosted by Civic TV, curated by Terry Suprean. Patriot Game exhibited prerecorded videos and live streamed new recordings for visitors during open exhibition hours.
TODOS was awarded a 2023 City Initiative grant from the City of Houston, administered by the Houston Arts Alliance. The film was first awarded a 2021 Idea Fund grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, administered by a partnership of DiverseWorks, Project Row Houses, and Aurora Picture Show. Projects were selected by a panel of arts professionals and a past Idea Fund grant recipient. The round's jurors were Roya Amirsoleymani, Leslie Moody Castro, and Harrison Guy. For more information, visit theideafund.org.
