Creative Expression
Traditional and contemporary arts and artisans.
Arts like song, dance, pottery, body ornamentation and other forms of Creative Expression have always been a way for CHamoru/Chamorro cultural heritage to be expressed, celebrated, and perpetuated. Across the Pacific, a diversity of art forms speak to the beauty of Indigenous cultures and connections to the lands and oceans which shape us, and are also evidence of exchanges with other native Pacific Islanders. Traditional Chamorro practices, such as weaving, navigation, and jewelry carving from natural resources like clam and turtle shells require artistry, discipline, and skill to execute. These recognized art forms can teach us about how Chamorros perceive the world through the use of natural resources in the environment. Ancient Chamorro pottery and other forms of storytelling can reveal the cultural values and knowledge of Chamorro ancestors. In more contemporary times, Creative Expression has been an important way for Chamorro to perpetuate cultural practices — for example, Chamorro music has been a source of cultural activism and a way to pass down the Chamorro language to future generations.
- All Art Entries
- People of Pacific Cultures (POP Cultures)
- Artists
- Traditional Craft
- Contemporary Art
- Performance
e-Publications
Other entries
Interpretative Essay: Guam Women in Art
Body Adornment
Entries
- Ancient CHamoru Body Modification
- Ancient CHamoru Concepts of Beauty
- Ancient CHamoru Jewelry: Manmade Accessories and Body Coverings
- CHamoru Jewelry
- Contemporary Tattoo
- Hima: Conserving a Cultural Heritage
- Interpretative Essay: On The Question of Tattoo by Ancestral CHamorus
Biographies
Masters of Tradition
Masters of Tradition celebrates cultural practitioners who use their artistry and craftsmanship to perpetuate Guam’s history and unique cultural traditions.
- Clotilde “Ding” Castro Gould
- Elena Cruz Benavente
- Floren Paulino
- Frank Rabon
- Joaquin F. Lujan
- Julie “Jill” Quichocho Benavente
- Leonard Iriarte
- Lucia Fernandez Torres
- Maria Yatar McDonald
- Robert Taitano
- Segundo Blas
- Vince Reyes
Contemporary Artists
Many artists draw from Guam’s rich traditions to reinterpret and celebrate contemporary Chamorro identity and life in Guam. In this section, you can browse through contemporary artist profiles and get inspired by their unique visions and methods of incorporating Chamorro language, cultural iconography, island landscapes, and cross-cultural exchanges that have come to characterize contemporary island life.
- Adriano Pangelinan
- Ariel Dimalanta
- Ben “Sinahi” del Rosario
- Evelyn Flores
- Father Marcian Pellet
- Filamore Alcon
- Flora Baza Quan
- Genevieve Perez Ploke Snow
- Greg B. Flores
- Herman Crisostomo
- James Murray Stewart
- Johnny Sablan
- Jose B. Babauta
- Joseph “JD Crutch” Duenas
- Judy Flores
- Kie Susuico
- Manny Crisostomo
- Mark Dell’Isola
- Melvin Won-Pat Borja
- Moe Cotton
- Monica D. Baza
- Peter Onedera
- Richard “Ric” Castro
- Ron Castro
- Victor Consaga
Music
Chamorro music has served as a powerful medium for language expression and cultural resurgence. Across genres, local music expresses the themes of Chamorro life.
- Musicians
- Belembaotuyan
- Clotilde “Ding” Castro Gould
- Kantan Chamorita
- Audio: Recording Artists
- CHamoru Comic Strip: Juan Malimanga