Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Inclined to Speak: Contemporary Arab American Poetry
Please join us Tuesday, March 17th in Mills Hall Living Room for...
Inclined to Speak: Contemporary Arab American Poetry
March 17, 2009
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Mills Hall Living Room
5000 Macarthur Blvd.
Oakland, Calif. 94613
Edited by poet Hayan Charara, Inclined to Speak (University of Arkansas Press, 2008) collects poetry from 39 contemporary Arab American poets. Marilyn Hacker writes, “Some of these poets can think and sing in more than one language; they all can think beyond monoglot frontiers.” Hayan Charara is the author of The Alchemist’s Diary (Hanging Loose, 2001) and The Sadness of Others (Carnegie Mellon University Press, 2006). Elmaz Abinader teaches at Mills College and VONA (Voices of Our Nations Summer Workshops), which she co-founded. Her books include Children of the Roojme (University of Wisconsin Press, 1997) and In the Country of My Dreams (Sufi Warrior Publishing, 1999). Fady Joudah is a physician, member of Doctors Without Borders, translator, and poet. His translation of Mahmoud Darwish’s recent works is collected in The Butterfly’s Burden (Copper Canyon Press, 2007).
Mills Alumnae Leila Abu-Saba will be introducing the readers.
The reading will be catered by La Med with a reception beginning just before the reading and continuing afterwards, please come by to enjoy the words, drink, and food with us.
This event is open and free to the public.
Please contact Kati Knox at kati_knox AT hotmail.com with any questions.
Thank you.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Saturday, December 06, 2008
The People for President: Inaugurate This!
I'm going to the inauguration in DC! Come support these events or let me know if you want to support in other ways. More info to come!
A Bay Area coalition of artists and activists create a visual and performing arts project to take to the Inauguration of President Barack Obama, as a way to inaugurate a collective vision for social change!
You can support this effort and add your ideas to the "Inaugurate THIS!" mural project at the following events at La Peña Cultural Center:
Dec 14 Sunday:International Food Tasting Event 7-10pm
Jan 14 Wednesday: Film Screening & Mural-Making Fundraiser, 8pm
We are looking forward to building with you at one or more of these events!
A Bay Area coalition of artists and activists create a visual and performing arts project to take to the Inauguration of President Barack Obama, as a way to inaugurate a collective vision for social change!
You can support this effort and add your ideas to the "Inaugurate THIS!" mural project at the following events at La Peña Cultural Center:
Dec 14 Sunday:International Food Tasting Event 7-10pm
Jan 14 Wednesday: Film Screening & Mural-Making Fundraiser, 8pm
We are looking forward to building with you at one or more of these events!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
poetry is an isosceles trapezoid or a mindless circus
This past week in a workshop I wrote a poem pushing myself to incorporate some of the critiques and challenges that I had been receiving as part of the practice of expanding on my artistry. When it came time for my critique, instead of feeling that the words were being considered, what I heard most reflected was that my experience wasn't theirs. I was asked "was this meant to be read aloud or performed?"
I couldn't help but get the feeling that the poem then and there was disregarded and somehow judged differently because I had chosen to write a narrative poem that was timely, relevant and meant to be understood and I wasn't interested in scattering the words across the page in some sort of cryptic design to be considered more "literary".
Tony Media points out in the introduction to Bum Rush the Page that "Serious poets who also happen to perform well on stage are constantly being called spoken-word artists and are not taken seriously as writers. Poets (especially those of color) who use the word (use language) to effect change are therefore ghettoized by those in the academy and those at the gates as solely (or "simply") oral, urban, or street poets." (xix) I am exhausted and frustrated by this experience.
Like a good friend said to me: "that page/stage conversation is tyyud, tired, seco, boring, exhaustive and really, when you look at it carefully, is more a conversation between the rich and the poor."
Well put friend.
While much of the poetry I write or like may have some relation to spoken word "that which lives in performance" poetry should always maintain as Medina says, "the integrity of the page, of the written word." punto. It's got to be about something and then each word has to be considered. Entendiste?
I couldn't help but get the feeling that the poem then and there was disregarded and somehow judged differently because I had chosen to write a narrative poem that was timely, relevant and meant to be understood and I wasn't interested in scattering the words across the page in some sort of cryptic design to be considered more "literary".
Tony Media points out in the introduction to Bum Rush the Page that "Serious poets who also happen to perform well on stage are constantly being called spoken-word artists and are not taken seriously as writers. Poets (especially those of color) who use the word (use language) to effect change are therefore ghettoized by those in the academy and those at the gates as solely (or "simply") oral, urban, or street poets." (xix) I am exhausted and frustrated by this experience.
Like a good friend said to me: "that page/stage conversation is tyyud, tired, seco, boring, exhaustive and really, when you look at it carefully, is more a conversation between the rich and the poor."
Well put friend.
While much of the poetry I write or like may have some relation to spoken word "that which lives in performance" poetry should always maintain as Medina says, "the integrity of the page, of the written word." punto. It's got to be about something and then each word has to be considered. Entendiste?
Lesbian Feminist Strippers and Gay Chickens
Don't they know those chickens are gay?
Feminist Lesbian Stippers putting clothes back on. Love it.
Feminist Lesbian Stippers putting clothes back on. Love it.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Cooking show con Karimi
kaotic good productions Presents:
A community cooking ritual to honor our Ancestors before we change the President.
The Cooking Show con Karimi y Comrades
Sunday November 02, 2008. 8pm
$10 gen. $5 w/ canned food for shelters that are struggling
La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley.
510-849-2568 - www.lapena.org
The Cooking Show con Karimi y Comrades. Come and take a break from electoral politics madness with revolutionary chef Mero Cocinero Karimi and his special musical Comrades, as he teaches a community cooking ritual to honor ancestors that will make your stomach and corazon smile. The show features Mero Cocinero Karimi and Comrades. It is created by kaotic good productions. Fresh from sold out stops in Anchorage, Minneapolis, Houston, Sheboygan, San Francisco and Off-Broadway, the Associated Press called THE COOKING SHOWŠ "a globally flavored recipe that packs some punch lines." A graduate of the Paolo Freire Culinary Institute, Mero has cooked for luminaries such as author Michele Serros, activist Yuri Kochiyama, author Jeff Chang, and hip hop artist MF Doom. Come early for an extra taste! Free Samples! No one turned away for lack of funds because we know the economy sucks.
###
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Report back from East LA and beyond
So I've decided to get over my resistance to writing on my blog and start to write in this more public forum once again. we'll see how it goes.
We had an amaaazing time in East Los/Boyle Heights and the always lovely Long Beach. So many beautiful people, so much talent and inspiration and so much support, my heart is full. I don't exactly know how I made it through with this horrible flu (my ears are still plugged up from the plane) and actually with all the remedies I was partaking of, ginger tea, nasal washes (don't knock it till you try it. its like getting water up your nose in the pool but so so helpful it rocked my world) throat lozenges, throat coat, zinc, vitamins, kambucha (thanks Leah!) and finally some advil, dayquil, or theraflu when it got really rough..., who knows what was real and what was delirium...I didn't get to talk with as many folks as I wished because my voice wasn't there but man did I realize what a little adrenaline can do to get you through. And the folks of CASA 0101 are the best!
On to the next one. This weekend we will be in San Jose at Teatro Vision opening up before House on Mango Street 7:30 sharp so don't be late and there are still a few slots for the workshop with LM3 on Saturday 2-4pm if you know any women who would like to take the workshop. What a great month! Looking forward to some down time to write write write, apply for grants and plan for next year. Abrazos thank you all for your support and feedback!
Friday, October 24- Las Manas Tres: The all mujer hybrid performance troupe Las Manas Tres come down to San José for a special set full of the flava, conciencia, humor and style that is their work. 7:30pm in the Teatro lobby.
Saturday, October 25- Creative Writing/Performance Workshop: Led by Las Manas Tres and inspired by the work of Sandra Cisneros, this workshop is open to women aged 11-25 and is free with attendance to any performance of La Casa en Mango Street. 2-4pm at the Mexican Heritage Plaza. To sign up, contact Carlos Velázquez by email carlos@teatrovision.org.
http://www.teatrovision.org/english/?mission
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Epicentro Poetic Epidemic
CASA 0101 Presents:
Epicentro Poetic Epidemic
Friday Oct. 17, 2008
Doors open at 7:30 PM
Show at 8:00 PM
CASA 0101
2009 E. First St.
Los Angeles, CA 90033
For tickets: tickets@casa0101.org or 323-263-7684
More info:casa0101.org
myspace.com/casa_0101
(October 7, 2008) – Los Angeles, CA – Revolutionary Central American poets
and friends straddle the lines that divide in this evening of art and action. Why
blend in and give in to invisibility?
This night of music and poetry builds alliances with Bay Area artists, Tocayo; Las
Manas Tres: Maya Chinchilla, Milta Ortiz, Cruz Grimaldo; Ana Miranda
Maldonado and Leticia Hernandez-Linares author of Razor Edges of My Tongue.
LA cultural activist Raquel Gutierrez of Butchlalis de Panochtitlan joins other
Epicentro Poets including Jessica Grande, Karina Oliva-Alvarado, in this explosive night of poetry and performance.
This offering creates space for those who have lost their home, who were taken
from their home, who had it stolen, who decided it was time to leave and for
those who carry their home in their heart and need a place to rest. It is about
recovering, documenting and making personal histories and demanding rightful
place among cultural, political and literary movements. Testimony is given to
resurrect memory, inspire action, and laugh loudly to heal old wounds. This
fundraiser supports the publication of DESDE EL EPICENTRO: An Anthology of
U.S. Central American Poetry and Art, co-edited by Karina Oliva-Alvarado and Maya Chinchilla.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Mangos, Pinta & Junot
Get out and support some beautiful writers and artists in the Bay!
Mangos with Chilethis Thursday at La Peña in Berkeley,
Pinta tu Propio Mundo Saturday@ Galeria de la Raza in the Mission in SF,
and Junot Diaz at several locations in the Bay...
See you there!
QTPOC Traveling Cabaret
Encuentros 2: Dispatches from the Queer Borderlands
Thursday September 18, 2008
$10-$15 sliding scale - 8pm
Mangos with Chile Productions presents: Encuentros 2: Dispatches from the Queer Borderlands. Curated by Ms. Cherry & featuring tales from immigrant & first generation queer & trans artists. Through story, hip hop, dance, burlesque & theater, artists reveal the queer sides of immigration and the struggle to survive these war years.
**************
Sat., Sept 20
Time: 7:30pm
Admission: $15 General $10 Students & Galeria Members
Pinta Tu Propio Mundo
Hosted by Leticia Hernández
Featuring: Raquel Gutierrez, Lysa Flores, Kirya Traber, Kim Addonizio, Amie Suzara, and DJ La Rumorosa
For seven years, the Pinta tu Propio Mundo/Create Your Own World series has gathered cutting edge artists that celebrate the creative expression and resistance of women. Founded by spoken word artist Leticia Hernández, this event has grown from a reading among friends to a multidisciplinary gathering of established and emerging women artists. This year, DJ La Rumerosa will open the doors to the voice of slam champion Kirya Traber, Butchlalis de Panochtitlan founder, Raquel Gutierrez, Chicana rocker, Lysa Flores, award winning novelist and poet, Kim Addonizio, East Bay phenom Amie Suzara, and Mission poetista and host, Leticia Hernández. Amelia Berumen of Izpapalotl Clothing, will sell her one of a kind cloth poems at the event.
************
Junot Diaz readings in the Bay (I hope to be at the Oakland one!)
September 18
City Arts and Lectures, In conversation with Paul Lancour, Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 8:00 pm.
September 19
Barnes and Noble, 98 Broadway, Jack London Sq., Oakland, CA, 7:00 pm.
September 20
MACLA (Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Americana), San Jose, CA, 8:00 pm.
Mangos with Chilethis Thursday at La Peña in Berkeley,
Pinta tu Propio Mundo Saturday@ Galeria de la Raza in the Mission in SF,
and Junot Diaz at several locations in the Bay...
See you there!
QTPOC Traveling Cabaret
Encuentros 2: Dispatches from the Queer Borderlands
Thursday September 18, 2008
$10-$15 sliding scale - 8pm
Mangos with Chile Productions presents: Encuentros 2: Dispatches from the Queer Borderlands. Curated by Ms. Cherry & featuring tales from immigrant & first generation queer & trans artists. Through story, hip hop, dance, burlesque & theater, artists reveal the queer sides of immigration and the struggle to survive these war years.
**************
Sat., Sept 20
Time: 7:30pm
Admission: $15 General $10 Students & Galeria Members
Pinta Tu Propio Mundo
Hosted by Leticia Hernández
Featuring: Raquel Gutierrez, Lysa Flores, Kirya Traber, Kim Addonizio, Amie Suzara, and DJ La Rumorosa
For seven years, the Pinta tu Propio Mundo/Create Your Own World series has gathered cutting edge artists that celebrate the creative expression and resistance of women. Founded by spoken word artist Leticia Hernández, this event has grown from a reading among friends to a multidisciplinary gathering of established and emerging women artists. This year, DJ La Rumerosa will open the doors to the voice of slam champion Kirya Traber, Butchlalis de Panochtitlan founder, Raquel Gutierrez, Chicana rocker, Lysa Flores, award winning novelist and poet, Kim Addonizio, East Bay phenom Amie Suzara, and Mission poetista and host, Leticia Hernández. Amelia Berumen of Izpapalotl Clothing, will sell her one of a kind cloth poems at the event.
************
Junot Diaz readings in the Bay (I hope to be at the Oakland one!)
September 18
City Arts and Lectures, In conversation with Paul Lancour, Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 8:00 pm.
September 19
Barnes and Noble, 98 Broadway, Jack London Sq., Oakland, CA, 7:00 pm.
September 20
MACLA (Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Americana), San Jose, CA, 8:00 pm.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Las Manas Tres on KPFA TONIGHT
KPFA La Raza Chronicles Tonight 7pm 94.1 www.kpfa.org
Tuesday Sept. 9, 2008
La Raza Chronicles fills the airwaves with its Spanglish enchantments with public affairs, news sin fronteras, musica y poesia. Nina Serrano interviews the dynamic poetry trio Las Manas about their original poems and spoken performance-art pieces- are you ready to be shocked with what is innovative and fresh in feminista Latina thinking? We will also hear from C`tone about the latest La Raza Chronicles Blogspot and the story of his involvement in community media. Mr Chuch brings us the buzz from the Streets of Aztlan. Emiliano Echevarria shares his expertise and fabulous collection of Musica de Cuba.
Tuesday Sept. 9, 2008
La Raza Chronicles fills the airwaves with its Spanglish enchantments with public affairs, news sin fronteras, musica y poesia. Nina Serrano interviews the dynamic poetry trio Las Manas about their original poems and spoken performance-art pieces- are you ready to be shocked with what is innovative and fresh in feminista Latina thinking? We will also hear from C`tone about the latest La Raza Chronicles Blogspot and the story of his involvement in community media. Mr Chuch brings us the buzz from the Streets of Aztlan. Emiliano Echevarria shares his expertise and fabulous collection of Musica de Cuba.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Negotiating the Weary
Negotiating the Weary
How to read poetry indeed. I wanted to share first off that the anxiety of returning to school to be and do Poetry with a capital ‘P’ has me all wound up. I am facing down some demons of sorts by entering into the academy as a POET. A poet who only believed she could write poetry because she learned of adults in Central America learning literacy and revolution through poetry. Because of poetry with no rules, but baptized in the comfort of oral tradition. Because of community based poets telling it like it is from the heart. Only learning of poetry from living poets mouths.
I sit down to read poetry. Even though the words like to dance out of place when I read or hold them down for enough time to get a sentence out.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Flor y Canto en el Barrio: A Celebration of Latino Poetry
Date: Thurs., July 24
Time: 8pm
Admission: FREE
Brave New Mundo
Featuring: Javier O Huerta, Alejandra Mojica, Marc Pinate/Tocayo and Las Manas Tres.
Join us at Galeria de la Raza, in San Francisco, one of six venues participating in the Flor y Canto en el Barrio kick off and Lit Crawl, on Thursday, July 24. Translated to mean "Flower and Song in the Neighborhood," the festival brings young, unpublished poets alongside authors such as two-time winner of the American Book Award, Alejandro Murguía, and San Francisco Poet Laureate Jack Hirschman for poetry readings, workshops, and a special exchange of culture and history. "Flor y Canto is about the pursuit of peace through the celebration of poetry, art, culture, and friendship," said the event's curator and critically acclaimed poet Alejandro Murguía.
The Festival will begin on Thursday, July 24 with a kick-off party at 6:00pm in Balmy Alley (24th St. between Harrison and Folsom) and a Lit Crawl of both established and emerging poets. The Lit Crawl will take place at over six different venues on 24th Street (between Mission and Bryant). Poetry readings and workshops for various ages and interests will continue throughout Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26. For locations of the poetry crawl or for more details visit the Friends' website at www.friendssfpl.org.
Thursday, July 24
Event 1:Festival kick-off party and Lit Crawl with young poets
6:00 pm; Balmy Alley, 24th St. between Harrison & Folsom; Lit Crawl locations include:
7:00 pm—"Other Voices/Many Americas"
Café La Boheme
3318 24th St.
(415) 643-0481
7:00 pm—"La Nueva Flor"
Philz Coffee
3101 24th St.
(415) 282-9155
7:00 pm—"El Corazon de la Misión"
Sundance Coffee
3000 24th St.
(415) 824-1706 8:00 pm—"Breaking Borders"
Accion Latina (El Tecolote Headquarters)
2958 24th St.
(415) 648-1045
8:00 pm—"Fuerza: From Sor Juana to the Mission"
L's Café
2871 24th St. 8:00 pm—"Brave New Mundo – Cutting Edge of the 21st Century"
Galería de la Raza
2857 24th St. @ Bryant
415.826.8009
Event 2:Reception for young poets
9:00 pm; Casa Sanchez, 2778 24th St
Contact: Katie Ambellan
(415) 626-7512 ext. 123
Katie@friendssfpl.org
Friday, July 25
Event 1: The Word From The Street (Tomas Riley of Youth Speaks hosts teen reading)
2:00 pm; Mission Branch Library, 300 Bartlett St. @ 24th St.
Event 2: Nuestra America I (Main Reading featuring six poets)
7:00 pm; Mission Cultural Center, 2868 Mission St.
Saturday, July, 26
Event 1: The Word Made Perfect: The Art and Craft of Translation (Translation reading/workshop)
2:00 pm; Mission Branch Library, 300 Bartlett St. @ 24th St.
Event 2: Nuestra America II (Main Reading featuring six poets)
7:00 pm; Mission Cultural Center, 2868 Mission St.
Featured Poets
v Lorna Dee Cervantes
v José Montoya
v Mamacoatl
v Roberto Vargas
v Jackie Mendez
v Alfredo Arteaga
v Nina Serrano
v Alejandro Murguía
v Cipactli
v Norman Zelaya
v Melissa Lozano
v Javier O Huerta
v Kim Shuck
v Francisco X Alarcon
v Victor Valle
v Naomi Quiñonez
v Marc Piñate
v Milta Ortiz
v Darren de Leon
v Las Manas Tres
v Alejandra Mojica
v Tomás Riley
v Barbara Jane Reyes
v Jack Hirschman
v Leticia Hernández
v Alfonso Texidor
v Catrióna Rueda Esquibel
v Jorge Argueta
v Janet J Cruz
v Adrian Arias
v Noelia Mendoza
v Walter Huracan Gomez
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
LM3 @ La Peña Hip Hop Theater Festival
We've been working hard adding some new spices here and there to bring our fuerte flava out in full effect. This will be the culmination of a lot work on our current piece and after this we will be moving on preparing for a full length show with La Peña's experimental Teatro in June and then on to Milta's obra maestra in the fall. So don't miss this show this friday! It's going to be so much fun and we go on first so don't be late! (and FRIDAY is MILTA's B-day so lets party!)
La Peña Hip Hop Theater
Las Manas Tres, Delina Brooks & El Teatro Campesino
Friday May 16, 2008
$10 - 8pm
Las Manas Tres "Mi Espacio" pokes fun and peels back the layers of community building and relationships, speaking from the in between spaces as hi-tech aztecs, cyber mamas and spiritual beings. Delina Brooks "Beauty, The Beast", a biographical dance-theater play of poetry, song, & dance. Guerrilla Radio by El Teatro Campesino is an acto tackling media reform and the National Association of Broadcasters.
Las Manas Tres (Maya, Milta and Cruz) are hybrid poetas bringing the fuerte flava, heating the heart and melting the mind from the Bay to L.A. Their stilo is characterized by a mixture of theater, spoken word and movement, centered around themes of social justice, sexuality, motherhood and the relationship between first and third world women. Born from the Las Manas Sisterhood Circle, individually these women are accomplished in their own right. As a trio they take their creativity to new heights using sisterhood and storytelling to inspire collaborative pieces that delve into pain, injustice, love, family, community, and identity, which conjure a potent potion to fend off the plague of self-sabotage. Their newest work pokes fun and peels back the layers of community building and relationships, speaking from the in between spaces as hi-tech aztecs, cyber mamas and spiritual beings. LM3 are always ready to bring the hotness. Yaddamean?
La Peña Hip Hop Theater
Las Manas Tres, Delina Brooks & El Teatro Campesino
Friday May 16, 2008
$10 - 8pm
Las Manas Tres "Mi Espacio" pokes fun and peels back the layers of community building and relationships, speaking from the in between spaces as hi-tech aztecs, cyber mamas and spiritual beings. Delina Brooks "Beauty, The Beast", a biographical dance-theater play of poetry, song, & dance. Guerrilla Radio by El Teatro Campesino is an acto tackling media reform and the National Association of Broadcasters.
Las Manas Tres (Maya, Milta and Cruz) are hybrid poetas bringing the fuerte flava, heating the heart and melting the mind from the Bay to L.A. Their stilo is characterized by a mixture of theater, spoken word and movement, centered around themes of social justice, sexuality, motherhood and the relationship between first and third world women. Born from the Las Manas Sisterhood Circle, individually these women are accomplished in their own right. As a trio they take their creativity to new heights using sisterhood and storytelling to inspire collaborative pieces that delve into pain, injustice, love, family, community, and identity, which conjure a potent potion to fend off the plague of self-sabotage. Their newest work pokes fun and peels back the layers of community building and relationships, speaking from the in between spaces as hi-tech aztecs, cyber mamas and spiritual beings. LM3 are always ready to bring the hotness. Yaddamean?
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 07, 2008
New favorite blog
I was stumbling around the cyber queerway and found this blog Blabbeando. It's worth a holla.
Monday, March 03, 2008
The Art of Political Murder
I've been meaning to read this book: The Art of Political Murder by Francisco Goldman one of my favorite writers, especially since I have a little more time to read for pleasure since I am not reading as much heavy theory or graduate school assignments. I'm beind though because I am still reading his previous book "the Divine Husband" a work of historical fiction inspired by Jose Martí poem La niña de guatemala. In the meantime here is a link to a blog about The Art of Political Murder and how Junot Diaz
(another favorite of mine) was so inspired by the book that he said this:"Goldman is a genius. After reading his work, I threw all my Mario Vargas Llosa books out the window. That guy is a criminal."
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