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1. Synergy Artists and curators; left to right: Jeon Minju, Cathy Medvigy, Laureline Claeys, Jordan L. Mathis, Kim Dohwi, Annie Bratko, Maia Gillet, Philippa Hodge, Aine Byrne. 2. Jessica Enrique and Ryne Santos 3. Emily Johnson selling her handcrafted prints on postcards, bags and accessories. 4. People viewing artwork 5 and 6. Person drawing on tattoo board
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5 songs are very famous in Korea, so in that case, it is familiar.” Kim’s friend Son Jae-hyun suggested a challenge for a future Synergy show: singing Korean songs together with foreigners.
For international audience members, Synergy can function as a way to find something familiar in a foreign environment. “It is a sense of home,” said Josh Garcia, a hagwon teacher and new Gwangju resident. “I am a musician. It is nice to find a place with art from around the world, something to connect with.”
Bratko is hoping that community members will replace the current international Synergy team after they move on to other places. Most importantly, she said: “Give us your art!” The final event of 2016, a release party for “Be Still,” Zilla’s book of collected prose and poetry which had a July 2016 release in the U.S., will take place sometime in December at the GIC, with a more visual art focus. For more information on Synergy and how to get involved, visit the Synergy: International Art Space Facebook page or Zilla’s website at: zilla101.com. 6
November 2016
Some Korean audience members find it a novel experience to interact with many international residents in one space. Elementary school teacher Kim Do-hwi, who had a painting included in the third installment, was introduced to Synergy through a foreign co-worker. “It is good because it is a special experience,” Kim said. “Korean friends feel shy because there are many foreigners. They cannot speak English. Some [performed]
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“This show will probably function after I am gone,” Zilla said. “It is a very build-able show. It can adapt. Someone who has a different style is more than welcome. I want to see it go for a long time.”