Art & Activism

Tokyo November 2007

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:00:00 GMT

I returned from Tokyo a few days ago after being there for about 2 and a half weeks. This marked my 6th time visiting one of my favorite cities in the world. I would say this was the most interesting trip ever, as many of my worlds collided...relationships intersected.

Shortly after my arrival I was invited to a celebration party of SUBARU magazine. Three of my Japanese friends write for the literary magazine. The man in the center of this pic is Yoshi "Roberto" Koshikawa, a scholar of Chicano Studies and a big lover of Latino culture. Roberto-san speaks perfect English and Spanish. While I was visiting, he interviewed Chicano author Luis Rodriguez - more on that in a moment. The woman on the left is Yukiko Chino, also a writer and a great friend. She recently wrote an article in SUBARU magazine about visiting La Mission! Of course, I'm all smiles, I had enjoyed some of the complimentary wine and sushi AND we were partying the Tokyo's famous Imperial Hotel, located right next to the Imperial Palace. This magazine sure did it big! Que FANCY!!

On Friday, Nov 17th, I joined up with the Los Angeles delegation of activists and youth organizers. What were they doing in Tokyo? I had that question as well. Every year, Sanrio sponsors a Young Ambassadors Program, in which they take activists, community workers, and youth organizers from Los Angeles to Tokyo. The program has been around for 16 years. This particular year, my good friend Josh Parr was invited to join the delegation. So we caught up and enjoyed Tokyo, and I was treated to a buffet at the Sanrio Headquaters. Here's a shot of me next to Kitty-Chan (that is what they call Hello Kitty in Japan).

How do you say ORALE in Japones? Well I found it they say "Orale" too, and "Vato" and "Ruca" too. I had to stop in my tracks when I saw this flier. My good friend and professor in Tokyo, Shuzo Saito, invited me to see Quetzal perform in a neighborhood called Shimokitazawa. I could not believe my luck. An East LA Band in Tokyo! - Performing with one my favorite writers, Luis Rodriguez. Quetzal is a band committed to using art as a tool for social change. Aside from touring, the
band frequently engages in organizing and participating in opening
spaces for transnational dialogue.

The event was great, the place was packed. It was interesting to see how strong the influence of Chicano music is, extending past borders and past language to places across the globe. That is the power of culture. Later in the week I got to meet the person who brought the band to Tokyo, Shin Miyata of Music Camp, and I got to hang out with Luis Rodriguez. Thank you Sato-san for letting me know this was happening in Tokyo.

As I mentioned in the opening of this entry, this trip was one in which many of my worlds came together. In my work as a radio correspondant, I have had the pleasure to interview author Luis J. Rodriguez on KPFA's Hard Knock Radio, for his new historical novel, Music of the Mill. The son of Mexican immigrants, Luis J. Rodríguez (center) grew up in Watts and East Los Angeles. For thirty years he has worked with youth, prisoners, juvenile offenders, the homeless, men's groups and artists. His highly acclaimed memoir, Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in LA, is an international best seller with more than 20 printings and was designated a New York Times Notable Book. My friend Roberto-san (on the left) who I mentioned earlier, was delighted that Luis was visiting Japan, and both he and SUBARU's editor, Oki Kiyota, asked me to help them line up an interview with Luis. I was happy that I could help, both Kiyota-san and Roberto-san have always been extremely helpful to me during my many visits to Tokyo. Kiyota-san is also a fluent Spanish speaker and a great Salsero! (He is on the right)

SUBARU is one of Japan's leading literary publications.
Last year, they published a translation of Luis's short story "Las Chicas
Chuecas" from my short story collection, The Republic of East LA. The interview was conducted by Roberto-san and will be featured in next month's issue. Thank you to Roberto-san and Kiyota-san for being such great hosts and for spreading our cultura!

The next highlight of my trip was when I did a lecture at Aoyama Women's College. I presented my political posters and spoke about the context in which they were developed: the struggle for Media Justice in the US, Femicide in Juarez, the War in Iraq, the effects of globalization. The female Japanese students seemed interested in my work, as the picture they get about the United States is usually very white. I also spoke about the similiarites between how women are oppressed through mass media in Japan and in the United States. One of the students asked me what I thought about the current political situation in Japan - I responded that I thought Japan needed to adress the fact that immigrants are isolated and treated poorly.

That evening, I met up with Toshiyoshi Imura (sitting next to me), also a scholar in Chicano culture (one of the most knowledgeable in the field), and Takumah Higashi (far left), a scholar in Puerto Rican studies and big fan of Hector Lavoe! I had met the two of them at the Quetzal concert, and I am very thankful to have met them, since they turned out to be two of the most politically progressive people I have met in Japan. Takumah-san is currently part of a group that is working to remove US Military bases from Asian lands, such as Okinawa, Korea, and the Phillipines. I met up with them at a gallery called Promo-Arte,
which features Latin American artists. Promo-Arte
Gallery, established in 1988, is the first and only gallery in Japan to specialize in Latin American art and to offer exclusive
representation for its leading artists. Located in
Tokyo's trend-setting Omotesando neighborhood, Promo-Arte Gallery is
ideally situated at the crossroads of contemporary culture and the arts. Of course, I was extremely surprised such a
gallery existed!

At the gallery, Imura-san and Takumah-san introduced me to Kaoru Kato, a professor and specialist in Latin-American, Carribean, and Latino Art. Kato-san was at the gallery to introduce a Bolivian artist who was
exhibiting, Mamani Mamani. Kato-san is pictured here with a Japanese musicians who play Andean music. Kato-san was the first in Japan to exhibit Chicano artwork (in 2003), from his collection which features distinguised artists such as Juan Fuentes, Yolanda Lopez, Leo Limon and Pattsi Valdez. He is also the first to write a book about Chicano Art in Japanese. Turns out the cover photography is of a mural which was done by my partner Estria over 10 years ago. What a small world!! I was very happy to have been introduced to him, since most of the folks I've met in Japan who are specialists/scholars/fans of Chicano/Latino culture are in the field of literature and music. I met up with Kato-san the following week to get his advice on my artistic goals in Japan. Thank you to Imura-san and Takumah-san for introducing me to Kato-san!

Another highlight of my trip was that I was able to meet up with my future mentor, UG Sato. I have been reaching out to UG Sato for a while now because I want him to be my teacher/mentor when I go live in Japan next year. UG Sato had just returned from a poster festivals: Festival International de l'affiche et des arts graphiques.

On my last day in Tokyo, I accompanied my friend Yukiko-san to Shinjuku for a festival celebrating the upcoming year of the boar. I don't remember the name of the festival, but there was street vendors throughout the celebration area, it reminded me of Mexico City. (see pics below) Overall, this was one of the most memorable trips to Tokyo. Arigatou for reading!

You can check out more of my photos by visiting my photo album. (click here)

Daniel Alarcon, one of America's Best Young Novelists

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:00:00 GMT

I went to see my buddy and neighbor Daniel Alarcón read at City Lights bookstore this evening, I have known him for over a year and interviewed him twice, but sadly I had never attended a reading before. I was very impressed! Daniel published his first novel in February 2007, entitled Lost City Radio. With the publication of Lost City Radio, he is off and running. His collection of short stories, War by Candlelight, was published two years ago to deservedly high praise. Daniel has an unusual background which you can hear all about in an interview I conducted with him in January 2007 on KPFA's HardKnock Radio, click here to hear it.

Daniel recently received the honor of being named a Best American Young Novelist by Granta . His bio reads - "Daniel Alarcón was born in Lima, Peru in 1977 and raised in the Southern United States. He is associate editor of Etiqueta Negra, a monthly magazine based in Lima. His short story collection, War by Candlelight (Fourth Estate/HarperCollins), was a finalist for the 2006 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award. His first novel, Lost City Radio, is published by HarperCollins in the US and will be published in the UK by Fourth Estate
in July. He currently lives in Oakland, California, where he is the
Distinguished Visiting Writer at Mills College. Though hampered by a
nagging ankle injury, Alarcón still plays soccer three times a week,
striking fear into the hearts of defenders and goalkeepers everywhere."

Daniel Alarcón at City Lights Bookstore

from Left to Right: Favianna (me) and Daniel

New Work March 07

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:00:00 GMT

I recently was accepted to the Artist in Residence program at Kala Art Institute. This is great news. Artists at Kala are
      encouraged to produce innovative artwork of the highest quality, and are
      given total freedom to realize their artistic vision using media that
      span the Gutenberg to digital eras. Artists are also provided with a number
      of professional development opportunities, and a spirit of exchange and
      education is nurtured through artist involvement in exhibitions, special
      events, lectures, teaching, and classroom experience.

Although my residency does not begin until May of this year, I have already began taking classes in Large Scale Digital Printing. Here is some of the stuff I have been doing. These pieces are in conceptual mode.

New Print

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:00:00 GMT

I realize I have been out of the blog loop for a while, but I have been occupied with my company, TUMIS, as I am now working full time. But I did want to share a recent print I completed this month. The print is entitled Separacíon, and it narrates an emotional transition in my life. I began this piece in Provincetown when I was there for a 1 month residency. But I did not complete it until this January. The piece was handprinted by Master Printer Joe Alpuche of Self Help Graphics. The size of this limited edition is 85. Joe also did an interesting thing and applied a yellow run as an experiment.

New Year's Eve Party

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:00:00 GMT

Please join us for the GRAND OPENING of the EASTSIDE CULTURAL CENTER - NEW YEAR'S EVE GRAND OPENING PARTY

Sunday, December 31, 2006
2277 INTERNATIONAL BLVD
9pm - 2am
$10
Families Welcome!

DAVID MURRAY & THE FREEDOM NOW BAND

Celebrating a year of struggle, growth & Imagination And
Celebrating the 70th Birthday of former Chairman of the Black Panther Party Bobby Seale

The Freedom Now Band features:
David Murray - tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, Howard Wiley - saxophone, Geechi - trumpet, Muziki - piano. Ranzel Merritt - drums, Mingus Murray - electric guitar, Dennis Smith - electric bass
Guest Performances by Ishmael Reed, Ntozake Shange, Traci Bartlow, Marcel Diallo, and Dohee Lee.
Opening drum ceremony by Tacuma King and drummers.

The Freedom Now! Band, in the spirit of Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln’s monumental recording “Freedom Now Suite�? , calls forth the spirits of change to conjure up a new day of politically conscious art and culture . The opening of a new cultural center in the heart of Oakland is a significant step in this direction.

Finally, after several years of planning and preparation, the new EastSide Cultural Center is opening in the San Antonio neighborhood of East Oakland. EastSide Arts Alliance (ESAA) will continue its grassroots programs in the renovated and expanded space with music concerts, dance, theater, poetry, video screenings, town halls, forums, hands-on art making and ongoing youth workshops.

The Grand Opening of the EastSide Cultural Center will be a New Year’s Eve gala featuring a the debut of a new jazz and funk band led by jazz saxophonist great David Murray. The December 31st evening will also celebrate the 70th birthday of former Black Panther chairman Bobby Seale, an active ESAA Advisory Board member. Bay Area native DAVID MURRAY is widely recognized as one of the most innovative and prolific jazz musicians in the world today. (He now resides in Paris).

The 70th birthday of former Black Panther Chairman, BOBBY SEALE, is also a very significant occasion for ESAA. Seale has consistently worked to empower and lead a movement for justice and self-determination. Recently returned to the Bay Area he has been working actively as a member of ESAA’s Advisory Board, connecting the struggles and lessons learned to the current state of the movement. We are honored to acknowledge the long history of this tireless activist.

Come help ESAA bring the music back to its roots!
Check out David Murray and Bobby Seale on DECEMBER 31and celebrate a new beginning!

New Print for Winter Portfolio

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:00:00 GMT

The TUMIS tradition continues this season with our annual Winter
Portfolio. Every year, TUMIS designers (including myself) create a small handprinted art
piece. The completed limited edition prints are numbered, signed, and
assembled into a portfolio.
The porfolios
are given to our ongoing clients each year as a symbol of our
appreciation.

This year's Participating artists were Jesus Barraza, Tony Carranza,
Favianna Rodriguez, Gabriela Silva, and Estria. Portfolios will be
mailed in early January.

Here is my print (see below). This year we had to limit it to two colors. I chose a song from Aterciopelados entitled "Rompecabezas." The lyrics read...

Afiladas fueron tus miradas

Quedé destrozada y en llanto inundada

Roja y loca la flama de tu boca

Me quemó y apagarme me toca

Empiezo una nueva vida

Un rompecabezas que tendré que armar

Completed new poster and billboard for Just Cause Oakland

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:00:00 GMT

I just completed a billboard and poster commissioned by Just Cause Oakland, a grassroots membership organization based in West Oakland that organizes workers and tenants
for a more just city and region.

Shortly after voters passed Measure 1C and rejected Proposition 90 in early November 2007, West Oakland residents and Just Cause Oakland held
a rally in an empty lot at the site of their new billboard to offer a new direction for community development in Oakland. The election results were a clear statement
from voters that developers must not be allowed to treat neighborhoods as their playground, and that more must be done to build affordable housing.

"My neighborhood needs more affordable housing," said Felisha Lee, a Just Cause Oakland Member. "This election shows that Oakland residents believe we need more money for
housing, and less for developers' pocket books. And that's what we're fighting for."

The Just Cause Oakland rally, entitled "West Oakland: Our Way" was held in West Oakland and was attended by School Board Member Greg Hodge, County Supervisor Keith Carson's office, and several other community members and leaders.

Bond Measure 1C provided an influx of money for housing construction, much of it going directly to affordable housing. Proposition 90 was intended to compensate private property owners for future profits and equity lost through government action, including legislation that might force developers to include less-profitable affordable units in developments.

New Poster for YBCA's "Oakland: EastSide Story"

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:00:00 GMT

I developd this poster in September 06 for "Oakland: EastSide Story," and exhibit at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The exhibit runs through December 31, 2006.

"The artists in this show live and work amidst Oakland's vibrant history, culture, politics and communities-its beauty, its stories, its decay and neglect. The City and its drastic divisions provide not just constant inspiration, but also literal source material for the artists who call it home. Curated by the founders of artist-run venues such as Mama Buzz, Ego Park, Lobot Gallery, and The Black New World performance space and gallery, East Side Story showcases artworks "made out of Oakland" and the communities that create them."

- Taken from YBCA.com, the website of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

My partner, Estria Miyashiro, also developed a poster for the show based on the legendary side shows that Oakland is known for. His piece is the one with blue and burgundy tones.

Images from Oaxaca - Boycott on 11/20

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:00:00 GMT

Communique from the Clandestine Indigeneous Revolutionary Army - General Command of the Zapatista National Liberation Army - Mexico (October 30, 2006)

To the people of Mexico:
To all the peoples of the world:
To every body from la otra campaña in mexico and north of the rio grande:
to everybody from the international sexta:

Brothers & Sisters
As it is publicly known, on the 29th of October the federal government of Vicente Fox attacked the people of Oaxaca and the Popular Assembly of the Oaxacan People (APPO).

The government has assasinated at least 3 individuals (one which was a kid) and has injured dozens of people including women. Many have been arrested and taken away illegally to military prisons. And yet the people of Oaxaca continue to resist.

No honest person can remain silent or immobile while people continue to get assasinated, beaten up, and incarcerated [as we speak] in a predominantly indigenous community.

As Zapatistas we stand with our brothers & sisters in Oaxaca and have decided the following:

* Prepare for a boycott on November 20th AND

* Make a call out to all those in la otra campaña in mexico and in the north [and all of our supporters] to mobilize where ever possible TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 1ST!!! TO CLOSE TOTALLY, PARTIALLY OR
TEMPORARILY...symbollically or realistically....ANY STREETS, HIGHWAYS, FREEWAYS, AIRPORTS, OR ANY MEANS OF COMMUNICATION!!!

As Zapatistas we want to sent only one message to Oaxaca : YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Indymedia Journalist, Brad Will, killed in Oaxaca

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:00:00 GMT

(from Democracy Now!) Indymedia journalist Brad Will had been covering the situation in Oaxaca
for four weeks. In his last dispatch from Oaxaca, he wrote about a
demonstrator named Alejandro García Hernández who was killed on the
barricades.

Brad wrote "one more death... one more martyr in a dirty war... one
more time to cry and hurt... one more time to know power and its ugly
head... one more bullet cracks the night."

On Friday, Brad died at those same barricades. He had his videocamera
in his hand. His camera kept recording even after he was shot.

Read full story on Democracy Now!