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A new art exhibition titled The Halo Halo Project opened on October 2 at the Harold Washington Library Center to mark Filipino Heritage Month. Curated by Oliver Aguilar of DesignDrop Studios, the exhibition brings together contemporary Filipino artists from the Chicago area and other regions. The show features a range of works including video art, sculpture, paintings, archival photographs, and artifacts.
The term "Halo-Halo," which means "mixed-mixed" in Tagalog, refers to a popular Filipino dessert and serves as a metaphor for the blending of Filipino and American cultures. According to organizers, the project celebrates the Filipino American experience, highlighting its traditions and evolution within the diaspora as well as its contributions to Chicago's cultural landscape. The exhibition explores themes such as foodways, labor history, and visual culture within the Filipino community in the Midwest.
Artworks on display include "Chicken of the Sea" by Lawrence Leopoldo; "Lola" by Michael Delvalle; "Lola’s Sunday Walk" by Megan Jedrysiak; "Facing Our Demons: The Great Dragon Bakunawa" by James R. Wilke; and an untitled piece by Myra Kalaw. Other featured items are dresses from Almira Astudillo Gilles' collection, works titled "Nurse Ka (Are you a nurse?) #1" and "#2" by Magdalena Arguelles, and an installation about Filipina nurses by Angel Abcede.
Additional pieces include "Inaugural Dance of the Philippine Women’s Club of Chicago, 1937" by Ashley Ashley Dequilla; "Handumanan" by Viola Comadizo Mayol; "Barong Tagalog with Knife" by Neal Oshima; "Grief, Promise, Rebirth" by Aireen Arellano; and "Untitled (Orange Tower)" by Gabriel Aguilar.
The Halo Halo Project will be available for public viewing in the first-floor Ida B. Wells corridor at Harold Washington Library Center until January 15, 2026.
