The Collective hosts 3rd annual Stories From Below art festival

Vocalist Ira Sullivan / Courtesy of Mallory Dowd

By Chantal Terblanche

This weekend, The Collective will host the holiday edition of its Stories From Below arts festival, featuring a day of standup comedy, theater, drag performances, spoken word, live original music, a DJ, craft and visual art (which will be available for purchase) and more.

This is the third such event from The Collective, a performance arts and production company, which has been hosting the Stories From Below festivals since 2019.

"These events give us the opportunity to showcase musicians, spoken word talent, drag performers etc. while we fundraise to secure performance rights and venue space for upcoming full-stage productions," the organizers told The Korea Times, adding that this year's event is also meant to bring a much-needed safe space for healing after what has been a very difficult period of downtime for so many in the creative arts scene.

The Collective was born out of the desire to highlight artistic expression from underrepresented communities in a variety of creative platforms, with an emphasis on live theater. "We strive to collaborate with diverse, marginalized groups in the dynamic environment that is Seoul," organizers said.

It was founded by Kim Schroeder, a Seoul-based performer who works full-time doing children's musical theater and hails from the sunny South African city of Cape Town; Alameen Saidu, a Nigerian actor, director, playwright and an active member in the Seoul expat theater community since 2016; and Ray Salcedo, an award-winning director and playwright who has worked with various theater companies in multiple main-stage productions in Korea since 2012.

The event will be held at emu Artspace. The Collective has fostered a years-long relationship with Emu with a shared focus on presenting the work of independent Korean and international creatives. The venue is centrally located and is versatile, flexible and offers incredible technical and logistical support.

Panta Garage, the main-floor art space, will be open from 2 p.m. to kick off the performance festivities with tarot readings, baked goods and a craft market featuring Yo-gi-Yo Accessories, zero-waste lifestyle product company Wasteupso and artwork and goods by a number of local artists. Raffle tickets are sold for fabulous prizes, courtesy of various establishments located in Seoul's Haebangchon area.

At 6 p.m., Schroeder will host the performance showcase including a drag performance, live music, theater, spoken word, and much more.

There will be a bar, and the EMU coffee shop serves food such as paninis, sandwiches and hot dogs.

Here is a list of participating vendors:

Mallory Dowd: For the second year in a row, Mallory Dowd is offering three-card intuitive tarot readings, with all proceeds to benefit The Collective's fundraising efforts. For 10,000 won, one can receive a brief, potent and focused reading. An experienced professional reader, Mallory's readings are rooted in the present moment and aim to foster dialogue with our deepest selves.

Wasteup: Wasteupso is a zero-waste lifestyle brand with a single mission: to provide eco-friendly everyday home and travel products for an affordable price. Wasteupso was the first foreigner-owned zero-waste brand in South Korea as well as the third zero-waste shop in the country. Wasteupso develops its own products to keep prices low, ensure product quality and certify fair trade.

Jenny Lee Robinson: Jenny Lee Robinson is a Minnesotan born, mixed-race artist of Korean descent working and residing in Seoul for the past 10 years. She creates work related to storytelling, folktales, myth, womanhood and identity, in various media including printmaking, installation, book art, collage and painting.

Yo-gi-Yo Accessories: Yo-gi-Yo Accessories is a company mostly based out of Seoul that makes funky kitschy handmade accessories and jewelry.

Yo-gi-Yo Accessories products for sale / Courtesy of Mallory Dowd

Teri T-bot: An established events manager and community artist from Scotland, Teri T-bot will be displaying and selling artwork at the craft market. Teri aims to develop pieces that are thought-provoking and uncomfortable enough to give the viewer a chance to take a second look at subjects that are either not seen from a personal angle or are completely filled as unacceptable or taboo. Work created by Teri has an edge of some surrealism to it and has the intention to push boundaries to uncomfortable limits through dark humor.

The live performances starting at 6 p.m. include the incredible vocalist Ira Sullivan returning to the stage, as well as Tomie, one of the most talented drag performers in the community. Ray Salcedo, one of the founding members of The Collective, will be showcasing another short piece featuring Alameen, another founding member. Finally, the live performances lineup is rounded out with a great jazz band, City Park Trio, as well the new group, Bahay Kubo.

Payment is cash only at the door, but tickets need to be reserved in advance. General admission costs 20,000 won, and student tickets are 15,000 won. A table for five people can be booked for 50,000 won. COOV vaccination passes are necessary for entry. Visit discoverthecollective.com for more information and to book a ticket.

Chantal Terblanche, from South Africa, lives here with her dog, Samsung. She runs the blog ClumsyinKorea.com and the Korea Events group on Facebook.