“Let the plants guide us in how to heal ourselves and the world.”
BACKGROUND
Holly Calica is co-founder of Luna Nueva Wellness Collective and Kalingafornia Laga, the Bay Area’s weaving circle dedicated to preserving traditional Kalinga backstrap weaving (laga). For 40 years, she’s been active as a practicing visual artist, an educator and a published poet. Her experience as an educator, artivist, dancer and herbalist influences her current work. She promotes healers of color, traditional arts and practices, and budding herbalists. She focuses on ancient healing practices as a means to bring balance, clarity and strength to individuals and communities. Her collaborative work centers on creativity, community building and guiding people towards wellness through the arts and in holistic private practice, clinical work and educational forums.
EDUCATION
Holly holds a BA in Social Sciences from UC Irvine, and a BA in Liberal Studies with a teaching credential from San Francisco State University. She taught all levels of elementary and high school for 30 years in San Francisco. In Aotearoa and Hawaii, under the direction of Manu Koreha and Atarangi Muru, along with other Maori Healers, she studied ancient wisdoms through “Te Rongopae – A Clear Bright Horizon” and and the “Kawa Ariki – The Goddess Returns.” Her training continues through Atarangi’s tutelage during her annual international visits. She is a graduate of the California School of Herbal Studies’ Roots/Foundations and their Clinical Training Program. She also attended the dhyana Center’s Ayurvedic Clinical Foundations and Nutrition Program.
CULTURAL WORK & THE ARTS
The foundation of her well-being is grounded in traditional Philippine and African Diaspora dance, her on-going community involvement and her international solidarity work. She dedicated years of performing with Palibuniyan Kulintang Ensemble and dancing in San Francisco’s Carnival with Fogo Na Roupa and other contingents. Her leadership in preserving ancient traditions is integral to the progress of promoting laga (Kalinga backstrap weaving) in the San Francisco Bay Area and the building of traditional canoes alongside California Natives and Bangka Journey: Balik Sa Dagat. With a 40 year history of visual arts in the community, her latest work was exhibited at “Guardians of the Waters” in 2019.
HONORING THE ANCESTORS
Many elders and teachers made a huge impact on her life’s direction and work. At this time she would like to publicly thank these Ancestors: Mestre Carlos Aceituno, Master Danongan Kalanduyan, Andrea Jeffreys, Manang Maria Bawer of Mabilong, Lubuagan, Philippines, Akon Darryl “Babe” Wilson and Manu Koreha of the Maori Healers.
PEOPLE TO SEE, PLACES TO GO & STORIES TO TELL
Plant Stories https://herbamordays.blogspot.com/
Pinay Travels https://pinaymujer.blogspot.com/
TESTIMONIAL & LETTER TO THE CAC
April 1, 2021
Aloha e California Arts Council-
Writing from the center of Moananuiākea, the great expansive body of water a direct connector between the East and West on behalf of matriarch, mentor, co-creator and dearly beloved, living legacy Holly Calica.
As an active, intuitive, mindful advocate and activist she is often boldly and bravely been on the front lines with unwavering commitment to social justice, truth-telling and peacebuilding. She is a modern medicine woman whose training is rich, diverse and built upon the foundation of compassion, balance, joy and prosperity.
Most humble in her practice she embodies the layers and complexities of life, through surrendering herself to creative process she gifts the world with a deeper sense of compassion and understanding. Her ease and gentleness offer invitation into the deepest, often darkest parts of ourselves. She skillfully merges disciplines by remaining anchored within her roots, lineages, and birthrights. She is highly attuned to the vibrations of place which directly translate into to shared works of living art, embodiment and practice.
I liken Holly to a healthy river; fresh, buoyant, flowing, clear, with fluid propensity, both a force to be reckoned with and an ever-lasting sustainer and protector of life. Her keen sensibilities and natural state of elasticity call forth threads of resiliency, rejuvenation and restoration where ever she goes. Similar to water the arts are pathways, they are the remedy. The question is whether or not we can dedicate ourselves to the continual path of integrity, forgiveness and reconciliation, all of which reside at the core of Holly’s continuously unfurling expressions.
Most recently she and I have had the pleasure of connecting via her finely curated 2020 6-month series entitled ‘Thriving in Beauty,’ a virtual exposé and suggestive guide to sustained self-care during times of upheaval and transition. Holly’s learned, lived and expanding knowledge around plant medicine and healing arts is amplified by (community) care.
Much like her loom and many threads woven together, she has the capacity to work, play, speak, dance through many mediums, forms, disciplines and modalities.
Through architecting modalities of expression, healing and transformation she freely offers inspiration for our unique creative blueprint to blossom in relationship specific to eco-system, environment, place and space. Seasoned in curriculum design and facilitation, she intuitively crafts material as a reflection of her own needs which often reflect needs of the greater whole; reminding me of the central principal that my wellness is your wellness and vice versa; while context and circumstances vary we ultimately are reflections of one another.
Becoming a fellow is on par with the digestion and composting of the electric times and dissolving, shifting structures, identities and roles we find ourselves in. As a bridge between realms, her life’s work encourages us to literally step outside, to deeply embrace the rhythms’ and pulses of life, synchronizing to our natural state and spiritual aspirations. Like a multifaceted diamond, her wisdom, beauty, versatility, shine and sheer strength solidifies her devotion to elemental communion, cultural proliferation, sustained well-being and quality of life for all.
In the spirit of reciprocity receiving CAC’s fellowship at this particular juncture would greatly gift Holly the space and resources to nourish her practice. It’s also worth noting that with her comes a mighty, often inaccessible network and potential invitation to wider circles of elders and wisdom-bearers. Relationships I strongly urge the State to cultivate with integrity, respect and reverence should interest be mutual and consensual.
Mahalo nui loa for your consideration, time and energy vested in public service, the creative sector and for your great care for our light-bearers and living legacies. I greatly look forward to body of creation that is birthed from Holly thanks to this opportunity for partnership, collaboration and way-finding.
In trust, respect and solidarity we move forward, together!
Kind regards,
Marissa Abadir
mother, community arts administrator + conduit