Archive for the “General” Category

Support the Caravan to Cuba and Break the Blockade- Dinner & Awards
Location: Pacific Cultural Center, 1307 Seabright Ave. Santa Cruz
Friday March 16, 2012, 7:00p.m. to 10:00p.m.
At the Pacific Cultural Center,
1307 Seabright Ave. Santa Cruz

Entrance: $15-25 sliding scale
*Dinner: Vegetarian Dinner including Pozole, Tamales and Tres Leches Cakes. *Presentation* by Gail Walker, new Co-Director of Pastors For Peace. *Awards* to honor local activists Nancy Abbey and Lois Muhly. *Music* by Flor de Caña. *MC* Brett Taylor

Gail Walker will outline plans for this summer\’s blockade busting Caravan to Cuba. Come to this exciting evening to learn more about the project, support scholarships for people to go on the caravan, and have a good time!
Guests will need to take off their shoes in the performance hall to protect the flooring.
Sponsored by: Resource Center for Nonviolence, Watsonville Autonomous Brown Berets, Santa Cruz Cuba Caravan, Three Americas, Santa Cruz Women\’s International League for Peace and Freedom. For more info , call 831-750-8687.

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Title: Echoes of Vietnam, an inspiring evening of poetry and memoir
Location: Resource Center for Nonviolence, 612 Ocean St., Santa Cruz

The event will feature readings from the acclaimed poet Hoang Hung and Andrew Pham reading from his award-winning memoirs, and many others.

Tickets: Reading: $5-10 suggested donation (No one turned away.)  Reading and Reception: $20-40 suggested donation. For more information, email kimmahler@iplsf.com or call 408 480 1828. Advance tickets can be purchased at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/232242


Following a recent trip to Vietnam Santa Cruz poet Ellen Bass was introduced to Hoang Hung, whose work has been translated into English and published in many U.S literary magazines. Hung’s work has been repressed in Vietnam because he has written, in part, about his experiences imprisoned in re-education camps after the Vietnam-American war.

Following a writing residency in Chicago Hoang Hung will travel to Santa Cruz to read from his newer poetry that highlights his experience with Buddhist meditation. Bass says, ‘ ‘The community’s support is overwhelming. I am grateful that so many individuals and organizations have voiced their appreciation for the opportunity to hear this deeply moving and eloquent poet.

Along with Hoang Hung, will be award-winning poets Paul Hoover, Nguyen Do, and Ellen Bass who have translated some of Hoang Hung’s poems and will also read from their own work. Dick Guthrie will read from his memoir in progress and Mike Abkin will present drawings by Vietnamese children from Speak Peace.

Hosted by The International Poetry Library of SF and Innovent Transmedia, the event is co-sponsored by the Resource Center for Nonviolence, Poetry Santa Cruz, the National Peace Academy and the Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network. Hoang Hung’s arrival will be an introduction to the Vietnamese International Poetry Festival in San Francisco in April.

Hoàng Hung became one of the most valued poets of the “anti-American-War” generation in 1960’s. He has been a symbol of the spirit of renewal in contemporary Vietnamese poetry. His work includes six volumes of poetry and translation, including his latest book, Hanh Trinh (My Journey), 2006, which won the prestigious Poetry Award of the Hanoi Writers’ Association. His poems have been published in translation in France, the US, and other countries.

Andrew X. Pham is a writer and journalist whose award winning books include, Catfish and Mandala: A Two-Wheeled Voyage through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam (1999), The Eaves of Heaven: A Life in Three Wars (2008), and Last Night I Dreamed of Peace (2008), a translation of Dr. Thuy Tram’s diary that was written during the Vietnam War. His current book, A Culinary Odyssey: My Cookbook Diary of Travels, Flavors, and Memories of Southeast Asia, will be published in March 2012.

Paul Hoover has published numerous volumes of poetry, the most recent being Desolation : Souvenir (2012). With Nguyen Do, he edited and translated the anthology, Black Dog, Black Night: Contemporary Vietnamese Poetry (2008) and Beyond the Court Gate: Poems of Nguyen Trai (1380-1442), published in 2010. He has won the Frederick Bock Award and the Jerome J. Shestack Award. Professor of Creative Writing at San Francisco State University, he edited Postmodern American Poetry (1994), a second edition of which will appear in 2013.

Nguyen Do’s poetry collections include The Fish Wharf and The Autumn Evening (1988,) The Empty Space (1991,) and New Darkness (2009.) With Paul Hoover, he edited and translated Black Dog, Black : Contemporary Vietnamese Poetry (2008), Beyond the Court Gate (2010) 12 3 poetry of Thanh Thao (2008) and Returning to Con Son poetry of Nguyen Trai (2009.) With Hoang Hung he edited and translated Selected Poetry of Allen Ginsberg (forthcoming). The recipient of a grant from The Poetry Foundation “for his contribution to poetry of the world,” Nguyen Do now lives in San Francisco.

Ellen Bass\’s poetry books include The Human Line, named a Notable Book of 2007 by the San Francisco Chronicle and Mules of Love, which won the Lambda Literary Award. In 1973 she co-edited with Florence Howe the first major anthology of poetry by women, No More Masks! and she co-authored The Courage to Heal which has been translated into 12 languages. Among her awards for poetry are a Pushcart Prize, New Letters Prize, Larry Levis Prize from Missouri Review, and the Pablo Neruda Prize. She teaches in the MFA program at Pacific University.

Books and chapbooks will be available for sale.

Following a writing residency in Chicago Hoang Hung will travel to Santa Cruz to read from his newer poetry that highlights his experience with Buddhist meditation. Bass says, ‘ ‘The community’s support is overwhelming. I am grateful that so many individuals and organizations have voiced their appreciation for the opportunity to hear this deeply moving and eloquent poet.

Along with Hoang Hung, will be award-winning poets Paul Hoover, Nguyen Do, and Ellen Bass who have translated some of Hoang Hung’s poems and will also read from their own work. Dick Guthrie will read from his memoir in progress and Mike Abkin will present drawings by Vietnamese children from Speak Peace.

Hosted by The International Poetry Library of SF and Innovent Transmedia, the event is co-sponsored by the Resource Center for Nonviolence, Poetry Santa Cruz, the National Peace Academy and the Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network. Hoang Hung’s arrival will be an introduction to the Vietnamese International Poetry Festival in San Francisco in April.

Hoàng Hung became one of the most valued poets of the “anti-American-War” generation in 1960’s. He has been a symbol of the spirit of renewal in contemporary Vietnamese poetry. His work includes six volumes of poetry and translation, including his latest book, Hanh Trinh (My Journey), 2006, which won the prestigious Poetry Award of the Hanoi Writers’ Association. His poems have been published in translation in France, the US, and other countries.

Andrew X. Pham is a writer and journalist whose award winning books include, Catfish and Mandala: A Two-Wheeled Voyage through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam (1999), The Eaves of Heaven: A Life in Three Wars (2008), and Last Night I Dreamed of Peace (2008), a translation of Dr. Thuy Tram’s diary that was written during the Vietnam War. His current book, A Culinary Odyssey: My Cookbook Diary of Travels, Flavors, and Memories of Southeast Asia, will be published in March 2012.

Paul Hoover has published numerous volumes of poetry, the most recent being Desolation : Souvenir (2012). With Nguyen Do, he edited and translated the anthology, Black Dog, Black Night: Contemporary Vietnamese Poetry (2008) and Beyond the Court Gate: Poems of Nguyen Trai (1380-1442), published in 2010. He has won the Frederick Bock Award and the Jerome J. Shestack Award. Professor of Creative Writing at San Francisco State University, he edited Postmodern American Poetry (1994), a second edition of which will appear in 2013.

Nguyen Do’s poetry collections include The Fish Wharf and The Autumn Evening (1988,) The Empty Space (1991,) and New Darkness (2009.) With Paul Hoover, he edited and translated Black Dog, Black : Contemporary Vietnamese Poetry (2008), Beyond the Court Gate (2010) 12 3 poetry of Thanh Thao (2008) and Returning to Con Son poetry of Nguyen Trai (2009.) With Hoang Hung he edited and translated Selected Poetry of Allen Ginsberg (forthcoming). The recipient of a grant from The Poetry Foundation “for his contribution to poetry of the world,” Nguyen Do now lives in San Francisco.

Ellen Bass\’s poetry books include The Human Line, named a Notable Book of 2007 by the San Francisco Chronicle and Mules of Love, which won the Lambda Literary Award. In 1973 she co-edited with Florence Howe the first major anthology of poetry by women, No More Masks! and she co-authored The Courage to Heal which has been translated into 12 languages. Among her awards for poetry are a Pushcart Prize, New Letters Prize, Larry Levis Prize from Missouri Review, and the Pablo Neruda Prize. She teaches in the MFA program at Pacific University.

Books and chapbooks will be available for sale.

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*Two Human Rights ART Exhibits  ”Family Ties: Occupation Art” and “Art for the Sake of Humanity”

February 24–April 5, 2012 at Pacific Grove Arts Center, 568 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA

Hours: Wed-Sat. 12-5; Sunday 1-4; Closed Mon. & Tues.

PGAC Flyer web <— Click Here for a .PDF copy of the flyer for distribution online.

In the United States, a country that prides itself on its democracy, it is ironic that it also is one of the most active abusers of human rights, most recently seen in the treatment of Iraquis at Abu Ghraib prison, as well as in the ongoing unwavering financial and political support by the U. S. for Israel and its occupation of Palestine.

The goal of this exhibit is to represent the lives of people in human struggle in ways that are humanistic and informative, and to tell important stories not told by the traditional western media.

Human Rights Watch says that there is now overwhelming evidence that U. S. mistreatment and torture of Muslim prisoners took place not merely at Abu Ghraib but at facilities throughout Afghanistan and Iraq as well as at Guantanamo and at “secret locations” around the world, in violation of the Geneva Conventions and the laws against torture.

“Family Ties:  Occupied Art” features work by Arizona artist Suzanne Klotz, whose art is inspired by The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Her provocative work cuts against the cultural grain that accommodates and rationalizes the military occupations of Iraq and Palestine. Klotz arranged collaborative exhibitions between Israeli and Palestinian artists at Mishkenot Sha’ananim, a non-governmental, non-political, International Cultural Center, Jerusalem, Israel, where she became aware of the plight of the Palestinians

”Art for the Sake of Humanity” – a group exhibition: Mohammed Al-Sadoun witnessed the destruction of Baghdad during the Iraq-Iran war. His work is a protest to censorship and the lack of freedom of expression and human rights in the Middle East. Brenda Louie’s painting “Warring States Series II” protests the cruelty of war and its aftermath. John Takami Morita’s etching “House Demolition II” details conditions in the Jenin Refugee Camp, West Bank. The Palestine-Israel Action Committee’s “Wall of Flags” remembers children’s lives lost to the Occupation. Vanessa Stafford highlights Abu Ghraib prison abuses. Jack Howe, Ian Everard, Lynn Guenther, and Salvadoran-born pop artist Gerardo Gomez display art expressing political themes that question our notions of  “occupation” and, ultimately, war.FMI:  831-423-1626×101

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Resource Center for Nonviolence to host “New World Border” poster art show. “First Friday” March 3rd through March 30th Special Reception opening night presentation with Francisco Dominguez, Photographer, Artist and co-organizer of “New World Border” at 5pm.

Click Here for a Flyer for the show.

To raise awareness about the human rights abuses, environmental destruction, and gross violation of civil rights along the US/Mexico Border and establish our new facility as one that is supportive of the arts, the RCNV is hosting the “New World Border” traveling art show. “New World Border” is a collaborative effort from 30 artists throughout the U.S. to express concern about the US/Mexico Border Fence between the two countries both the sections already constructed and the newly proposed routes. Opening Night will feature a special photo slideshow presentation with Francisco Dominguez, artist and co-organizer of “New World Border” on the effects of the US/Mexico border wall.

From the artist’s collaborative statement: “The wall, now being constructed across the length of the US/ Mexico border is like a knife cutting off neighbors, wildlife, indigenous people, and families. The wall is inflaming hatred and contributing to an atmosphere of vigilantism and oppression. While the US walls itself off from the world in the name of “security” what is it sacrificing? A group of artists respond to the wall with imagery from a variety of viewpoints. This is a touring exhibition that is being shown simultaneously at galleries, cultural centers, schools and other venues across the country…. …The wall is destroying and dividing families, communities, ecosystems, and indigenous lands. The wall is part of a national move towards increased militarization of all aspects of society. The time to speak out against it is now.”

The Resource Center for Nonviolence has long been an ally and advocate for the undocumented and greater Latin American community. We take an organizational stance against the US Government’s inhumane and destructive immigration policies. Please come learn more about how you can participate in the newest manifestation of the civil rights struggle. Opening Reception Friday March 2nd at 5pm At NEW Resource Center for Nonviolence, 612 Ocean St.

Sponsored by: The Resource Center Nonviolence, Immigration Action Group of SCCCCOR, the Watsonville Brown Berets, Barrios Unidos

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Title: Occupation Art: Untold Stories, Eyewitness Accounts
Location: Pacific Grove Art Center, 568 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove, CA
Description: Occupation Art: Untold Stories, Eyewitness Accounts featuring  Nora Barrows-Friedman & others and video featuring artist Suzanne Klotz. SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2-4 p.m. Come starting at 1:00 to see the exhibits!. Pacific Grove Art Center, 568 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove, CA. Nora Barrows-Friedman is a staff editor and reporter with The Electronic Intifada. She has been regularly reporting from occupied Palestine since 2004, and worked with youth in broadcasting and photographic arts at the Ibdaa Cultural Center in the Dheishah Refugee Camp in the West Bank for several years. .
Start Time: 1:00 -see the exhibits; 2-4 Presentation
Date: 2012-03-04

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