China Blue, Iraq in Fragments, Jena 6, Day of the Dead, Diwali, and more
Mark Lacy
cosponsoring two important film events. China Blue is an inside look
at labor conditions and the large underage workforce that supplies
much of the world's consumables. The film Iraq in Fragments is the
inauguration of Project Iraq, a yearlong effort by Artist Rescue
Mission to raise awareness about Iraqi art and culture.
China Blue
Tuesday, October 30, 4:45pm
Cullen Performance Hall
University of Houston
Houston, Texas 77004
Houston Institute for Culture and the Global Studies Department of the
UH Bauer College of Business present "China Blue" on Tuesday, October
30, 4:45pm, in the University of Houston Cullen Performance Hall. The
screening is free and the public is invited.
Directed by Micha X. Peled, "China Blue" received the 2007 PBS
Independent Lens Audience Award.
"Micha X. Peled's marvelous documentary about the young women who work
in a Chinese jeans factory is an empathetic and revealing study. With
probing access and a level of detail similar films have failed to
obtain, the film doesn't just describe the tough working conditions of
these factories - it draws vigorous, charming portraits of the women
who work there. This is one of the best of many recent documentaries
about globalization." NEW YORK MAGAZINE
"China Blue is more than an exercise in cinematic activism... the film
develops a natural dramatic structure that's profoundly affecting. Mr.
Peled doesn't just record the girl's indignities, he listens to their
dreams... "China Blue" examines the plight of the world's largest pool
of cheap labor and traces its exploitation to a retail outlet near
you." THE NEW YORK TIMES
The film explores the issues within the factories - health and safety
standards, and the demand for lower costs by buyers - and the lure to
factory towns for rural Chinese youth, but audience members may also
consider the ramifications of forcing down labor costs in distant
markets as energy supplies decrease and shipping costs rise. China
Blue is an important film for the buying public.
Cullen Performance Hall is located on the University of Houston Main
Campus. From downtown, take I-45 South and Exit Spur 5. Take the first
exit to the right, University of Houston Entrance 1. Turn right. There
is an information booth ahead and a parking garage to the left.
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Iraq in Fragments / Project Iraq
Friday, November 2, 7:30pm
Station Museum
1502 LaBranch
Houston, Texas 77002
On Friday, November 2 at 7:30pm Artist Rescue Mission (ARM) and the
Station Museum initiate Project Iraq with the film Iraq in Fragments.
Project Iraq is a yearlong project to raise awareness about Iraqi art
and culture, and to render assistance to artists affected by the war.
Presentations about the project will be made by artist Gertrude
Barnstone and Jame Harithas. The evening features the film Iraq in
Fragments, a film of modern day Iraq told by Iraqis living in war and
occupation, nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary, and winner of
the Sundance Awards for Best Director and Best Cinematography. A block
party outside the Station Museum with free food and music concludes
the evening at the Station Museum, 1502 LaBranch. Call 713-529-6900 or
email threet...@yahoo.com.
Rothko Chapel, Voices Breaking Boundaries, Houston Institute for
Culture, and others are supporters of Project Iraq.
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Lack of Diversity in Jena Protest
By Guest Columnist Nick Cooper
On July 31, and again on September 20, people arrived in Jena,
Louisiana from all over the country to protest. In July, several
hundred arrived, but by September there were between 20 and 60
thousand. Within those weeks, mainstream America had heard of this
small town. The case caught the public imagination because of many
factors, especially the indelible image of the nooses.
When I attended the rally in July, I was impressed by the racial
diversity, but in September, I was depressed by its absence. While the
protesters and alternative media focused on the not-so-shocking
statistic that Jena is 85% white, the movement for justice in Jena had
become close to 99% black. A more racially diverse protest in Jena
could have shown Jena, the media, and the protesters themselves a
vision of what an alternative to racial separation looks like.
The lack of diversity at the protest in Jena is not unique. At least
in my experience in Houston, I saw few whites at the pro-immigrant
rallies of 2006, and I read a report about a lack of whites at the
Muslim protests against the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. The same
Southern white activists who complain that there aren't more people of
color at anti-war protests failed to come to Jena. The whites that
arrived weren't ostracized by the black protesters, but the failure of
big numbers to show up had its own isolating effect.
It seems that the networks of interpersonal and informal communication
through the internet are largely segregated. The word that Sept. 20
was not to be missed might not have reached many whites. The lack of
coverage before and after the protest in the liberal white blogosphere
shows our awkwardness about engaging the issue of racial violence.
Many whites can agree that there was a disparity between the treatment
of the black kids and the white kids who attacked one of the Jena 6
earlier, but the deeper injustices elude them.
Guilt and responsibility is not limited to those who attacked. It
extends to the teachers and parents who allowed a segregated tree to
exist on their school grounds without doing anything about it for
years. It extends to the repeated actions (or inactions) of the DA and
others in the criminal justice system. Our culture doesn't punish
these actions and inactions. Our system is not even set up to deal
with adults who don't do the bare minimum to raise conscientious
children. This is not a crime, but the results can be more serious
than some crimes. If a teacher graduates a whole class that thinks it
is ok to have segregated spaces to hang out under trees, it will cause
future problems for them and society much greater than a concussion.
Whatever the reasons whites failed to show up in great numbers, that
failure has caused more problems. Blacks there were not made to feel
that white activists cared about the things that matter to them. We
indeed have a long way to go in struggles against racism if we can't
even consensually integrate our causes. But to fix any root problem
means that this extra work must be done. I believe that once activists
start to experience anti-racism and learn how it works, causes like
the Jena 6 can become part of a movement, instead of just isolated
events.
Anti-racism is a powerful force that many are afraid to use. It can't
be tamed, or co-opted, but it can re-shape society. Politicians who
use it don't win elections. People who fight for it often face
brutality. Activists who engage it often find things they don't want
to see in themselves. Groups that practice it often find themselves
far outside their comfort zones. But Americans have already sacrificed
more than enough for comfort and we can no longer ignore the tools we
need to transform our malicious culture.
Nick Cooper is a musician, independent journalist, filmmaker and
activist. [nickcooper.com]
________________________________________________
Celebrating Day of the Dead
November 1 and 2 are widely acknowledged throughout Latin America as
the Days of the Dead. There are celebrations and commemorations as
people remember deceased family and friends with altars in the home
and visits to the cemetery, similar to Memorial Day in the United
States. But the Days of the Dead are generally celebrated with greater
reverence and traditions that go back hundreds or thousands of years.
Day of the Dead festivals and altar displays take place at several
arts and community center locations throughout Houston from late
October through early November.
MECA
1900 Kane Street
Houston, Texas 77007
713-802-9370
http://www.meca-houston.org
MECA celebrates Day of the Dead with a festival on Saturday, October
27, 11:00-7:00pm, and Sunday, October 28, 11:00-6:00pm, featuring
Mariachi MECA, MECA dancers and Ballet Folklorico, and many citywide
arts organizations and food vendors. There are activities for children
and altars on view throughout the old Sixth Ward Dow School building.
==========================
Lawndale Art Center
4912 Main Street
Houston, Texas 77002
713-528-5858
http://www.lawndaleartcenter.org
October 22 - November 7
20th Annual Dia de los Muertos Retablo Exhibition
Saturday, November 3, Noon - 4:00pm
Family Day Fiesta, with music by Mariachi Hermosura Juvenil and dance
by Mixteco Ballet Folklorico, and traditions of Mexico, such as sugar
skulls, papel picado, paper mache skeletons, retablos and altars.
Thursday, November 1, 7:00pm
Sugar Skull Workshop
In conjunction with its 20th annual Dia de los Muertos celebration,
Lawndale Art Center is offering a sugar skull making workshop. Stop in
for a quick lesson, or stick around and help us make skulls to be
decorated at our Family Day Fiesta on Saturday, November 3rd. The
workshop is free and open to the public. All participants may take
home one sugar skull and a printed recipe. To pre-register or for more
details contact Mat Wolff at mwo...@lawndaleartcenter.org.
==========================
Bohemeo's
708 Telephone Rd. inside the
Tlaquepaque Plaza
Houston, Texas 77023
http://www.bohemeos.com
Wednesday, October 31
Dia de Los Muertos Party and Art Show
Friday, November 2
First Friday Cinema - Dia De los Muertos
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Casa Ramirez
241 West 19th Street
Houston, Texas 77008
713-880-2420
http://www.casaramirez.com
For El Dia de los Muertos (All Souls Day) November 2, the store is
adorned with 14 altars honoring the deceased, complete with calaveras
de azucar, votive candles (to light the way for the souls), incense,
yellow flowers called Xempoaltxochitl (similar to the African
marigold) pan de muerto, the deceased's favorite food and or favorite
drink, their photo and favorite toys or items. It is an educational
experience and cultural enrichment to learn from his exhibits how
death is realistically accepted without fear.
Learn more about traditions of El dia de los muertos at:
http://www.houstonculture.org/mexico
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Diwali: The Indian Festival of Light
Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated in most all regions of
India as the beginning of the New Year. In the Hindu tradition,
prayers and blessings are offered for Lakshmi for five continuous days
in the month of Kartik (usually late October or early November).
Diwali celebrations take place in Thailand, Siam, Malaya, Trinidad and
Kenya, with varying traditions. A celebration for Diwali will take
place on Saturday, November 4 at the Sugarland Town Square.
Diwali Festival
Saturday, November 4, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Sugarland Town Square
281-277-6874
Find more cultural and performing arts events at:
http://www.houstonculture.org/calendar
Stay tuned to our newsletter for information about the Partnership
Walk, taking place on Saturday, November 10 in Sam Houston Park, and
go to the website to register individually or form a team:
http://www.partnershipwalk.org
Thank you for supporting educational events in Houston.
____________________________________________________
M a r k @houstonculture.org
Houston Institute for Culture
Havens Center
1827 W. Alabama Street
Houston, Texas 77098