Si Sirena ni' Matatse

The art scene on Guam has been growing in recent years, and I am excited that part of this is due to the work that we have been doing at the Guam Museum. The museum has been hosting, collaborating with and just in general creating more and more spaces large and small for non-profits, groups, individuals to showcase their artists work, sell it and just in general build more capacity within our island’s creative community.

Due to the unfortunate closure of the café and gift shop at the Guam Museum during the pandemic, the space was turned into a café art gallery through the work of artist Dawn Lees Reyes, the Guam Museum Foundation and the Flame Tree Freedom Center and since last year has been hosting almost monthly new art exhibits. Currently in the space you can visit the group show “I Tutuhon” which features works from almost a dozen local artists.

Across the lobby on the first floor of the museum you’ll find the rotating gallery, where we have a large exhibit that changes every three months or so. Earlier this month, an exciting new exhibit titled "Ta Nå'i Ånimu II: Sacred Waters” was launched. Hundreds attended the opening, which featured musical performances, chants, a fashion show and more. The exhibit features the work of more than 35 artists from across the Marianas and the Chamoru diaspora, all commenting on the importance of protecting our water resources. This exhibit was a follow-up to “Ta Nå’i Ånimu” which the museum hosted back in 2024, both are coordinated by Micronesia Climate Change Alliance and Hita Litekyan.

Among the 35 participating artists in the “Ta Nå’i Ånimu II: Sacred Waters” exhibit is The Guam Bus, which is my family. In the exhibit beside other amazing artists such as Joey Certeza, Roquin Quichocho Siongco, Josh Aggerstrand you’ll find a section featuring contributions from my brother Jack, my oldest child and even something by myself, although of a very different type.

As the exhibit is not only about the importance of water as a resource, but also the threats that our waters are facing today. From contamination in drinking water in Yigo, to what might happen when Marines are firing millions of bullets a year above the aquifer near Litekyan or even if the Trump administration ignores tens of thousands of protest signatures and comments and moves ahead with deep sea mining in the Marianas, we cannot sit idly by while one of the core parts of what makes life possible anywhere is being poisoned. The piece for the Guam Bus submitted is titled “si Sirena, i rainan i tasi, si Sirena, put i malabidan-ñiha matatse ( Sirena, the queen of the sea, Sirena, because of the terrible thing they’ve done she’s been poisoned)”

It includes a digital Illustration from Sumåhi. Illustrations from Guam Bus Children’s Books and Flash Cards by Jack. And Japanese and American artifacts from World War II in Micronesia that are from the Guam Museum's collection that I found and loaned for display.

Our artwork speaks to the dangers to our waters, both fresh and ocean, posed by deep sea mining and firing ranges, and strategic military planners, through the metaphor of Sirena, the queen of the sea. On the left we see how she has long appeared to children in the Marianas, through Guam Bus books and flash cards, as a story with lessons to be learned from, a way of connecting to nature and our ocean.

On the right, we see her drawn by Sumåhi in undead, lich-like form. Still beautiful and powerful, surrounded by fish irradiated by the terrible choices made by empires, militaries and corporations and without our consent. In the case beneath you can find relics from both Japanese and US militaries left behind on the beaches, in the waters and soils across Micronesia as a reminder of the persisting legacy of militarization to this region.

“Ta Nå’i Ånimu II: Sacred Waters” is free to visit and will remain open to the public until February 28th, 2026. Stop by and visit it and the Guam Museum, Tuesdays – Fridays from 9 am – 4 pm and 10 am – 2 pm.