Started in October 2005, the Sulu Series is a monthly showcase of the brightest Asian American talent locally and across the country.
Hosted by Regie Cabico , curated by Artistic Director Taiyo Na , with music by resident crowd mover DJ Boo , and brought to you by the Sulu Artist Network, the Sulu Series, named after Sulu of Star Trek - the first Asian American character to venture into unknown galactic quadrants - and a remote island in the Philippines, features Asian American performers in music, spoken word, video and multidisciplinary performances from the local and national scenes.
Regie Cabico, the series co-founder and host was inspired to start Sulu because New York lacked a gathering of emerging and established Asian artists. "When I started performing my work in the Nuyorican Poets Cafe 13 years ago there was no community or support." He is currently Artist-In-Residence at NYU's Asian Pacific American Studies Department and a Poetry Slam Icon having won top prizes in the 1993, 1994 & 1997 National Poetry Slam and has appeared on HBO's Def Poetry Jam.
"I was really impressed with the growing Asian American Renaissance in all of the major cities but realized that there was no center where we could gather at least on a monthly level. We, a collective of Artists at the Asian Spoken Word summit in Boston, gathered New York artists and did a Katrina benefit at Galapagos and at the ImaginAsian Theater. The energy was so good I wanted to keep it going. This is the only performance showcase of its kind with this scope."
"There are mostly Asian nights in New York comedy clubs but this will mix comedy with a strong political backbone and artistic styles. The fact that this series isn't named after a fruit, a beverage or anything edible in the Orient is already taking us light years ahead."
For Artistic Director Taiyo Na, Sulu is about creating a base. "Sulu is for keeping the community inspired through the arts and keeping the artists community-minded. You always need a hub where younger artists connect with older ones and vice versa. You always need that space where you feel a sense of community and legacy and remember to stay a part of it no matter where you go."
Recent artists featured include Michael Kang (The Motel), ApSci, Ishle Yi Park, Chan, The Ides, Beau Sia, Misnomer(s), Organic Thoughts, Koba, Kelly Tsai, Stone Forest Ensemble, Rain Noe, Wayne Hsu, Florence Yoo, Micheal Hsu, Kevin So, El-Gambina, Hanalei Ramos, Zach Lost, Adriel Luis, Red Doors: The Movie and many others.
SULU , formerly at Galapagos Arts Space , now at the Bowery Poetry Club every third Sunday now!
