MEMORIES OF HOME. "Postcards From Afar," a group show at the City of Gresham Visual Arts Gallery, offers a variety of Asian- themed work. Pictured is Kathy Delumpa Allegri next to her work, "Bahay Kubo." The artworks are on display through January 24. (Photo/Susan Larson)

From The Asian Reporter, V18, #2 (January 8, 2008), page 15.

By Josephine Bridges

Postcards From Afar," a group show at the City of Gresham Visual Arts Gallery, offers a variety of Asian-themed work, from a portrait of a Balinese dancer to photographs of Chinese baskets to ceramic ikebana. The Philippines are particularly well-represented in the show with watercolors by Kathy Delumpa Allegri and artifacts from as far back as 1937 presented by Dorothy Dungan. Most of these greet you as you enter the exhibit, but one watercolor has mysteriously migrated across the room, so be sure not to miss "Philippine Jeepney."

Kathy Allegri is a Filipina with a passion for her native land. While she also enjoys painting the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, and Provence, her watercolors of the Philippines on display in Gresham are particularly close to her heart. "Babalik Ka Rin" is the title of both a popular romantic song and Kathy Allegri’s vision of heaven, in which her mother runs across a bridge spanning a waterfall toward her father. Allegri’s father was an early advocate of legislation to reverse the Rescissions Act of 1946, "which took away promised benefits to our Filipino soldiers who were recruited in 1936 by the United States to fight in the Pacific War. Filipino veterans here in America and in the Philippines, my father among them, have died without realizing the restoration of dignity and justice for their sacrifices." In addition to urging support for new legislation (Senate Bill 1315), Kathy Allegri expresses her pride in her heritage with images that "some say are too bright to be watercolors."

"Carabao" is a painting of two boys riding water buffaloes on a sugar plantation. "They worked hard but had fun," says Allegri. "The Philippines shouldn’t even exist as a nation. We’re too diverse, too geographically divided, but we find the joy in situations; that’s what makes us so resilient."

A nipa hut in a fishing village is the subject of "Bahay Kubo," which means "My Little House" and is also the name of a folk song. Surrounding the thatch-roofed structure is a garden with coconut palms, bamboo, gardenias, opo (a light green squash), ampalaya (bitter melon), and talong (eggplant). Look for the artist climbing a mango tree beneath a luscious purple sky.

Below Kathy Allegri’s paintings are Dorothy Dungan’s garments and dolls, which are not only beautiful but educational. Look for a yellow, green, red, and black striped pattern, which indicates work by the Ifugau, an animist ethnic minority from the mountain province. The fabric that looks like organza is in fact piña, or pineapple fiber. When the Spaniards required Filipinos to wear transparent garments so no weapons could be hidden inside clothing, the creative and resourceful people decorated the sheer fabric with colorful embroidery. Two dolls from Mindanao in the southern Philippines show an Arabic influence in their clothing and an "elegant demeanor" typical of that especially proud province.

Enjoy the rest of the show on your way to the far side of the room to see Kathy Allegri’s "Philippine Jeepney," a turquoise and royal blue Mercedes bus that stands out as vivid even among Allegri’s vibrant work. The artist remembers the day she saw this vehicle as she points out the background of the painting: "It’s a rainy day. There’s no traffic control. The streets are packed and bustling."

"Postcards From Afar" runs through Thursday, January 24. The City of Gresham Visual Arts Gallery is located at 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway, and is open from 8:00 to 5:00pm weekdays. To learn more, call (503) 618-2360 or visit <www.ci.gresham.or.us> or <www.kdallegri.com>.