[MPLS] 2nd annual Dead Poets & Writers Halloween Party

Here ye all dead poets, writers and spooky story tellers! All writers are welcome to the Loft's 2nd annual celebration of all things literary -- and spooky!

Come dressed as your favorite dead writer and bring something to read. (Can’t muster a costume? Come anyway.) The event is early, so party-goers are encouraged to bring their children prior to trick-or-treating. This will be a night full of words, memories, and fun.

Cosponsored by the Loft and Kieran’s Irish Pub. At Kieran’s Irish Pub, 600 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis

Family Style Open Mic: Yellow Rage 10-Year Anniversary Show and Fundraiser for the Fong Lee Family

Catzie Vilayphonh and Michelle Meyers celebrate 10 years of Yellow Rage on Friday, November 19 at 7:30pm at the Asian Arts Initiative. This will be at Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine Street in Philadelphia.

That's during their Family Style open mic, except in November, there will be no open mic. Instead, they're putting together a showcase of amazing artists who will come to Philly and reminisce/celebrate with them. Unfortunately, I'll be in LA at that time, but I strongly encourage everyone in the area to go and support them.

In addition to being their 10 year anniversary show, November 19th will also be a fundraiser for the Fong Lee family. As some of you may know/remember, over the past year, organizers in Minneapolis/St. Paul have been working tirelessly to mobilize around the Lee family as they pursue justice. Fong was a Hmong youth who was murdered by Minneapolis police officer Jason Andersen. Andersen was later acquitted of his murder although the evidence appeared to indicate that some shady handling of the crime scene took place, that the incident was misrepresented in court testimony, and that discriminatory and prejudicial information was highlighted throughout the case.

Mai Neng Moua reading October 30th in Minneapolis.

Franklin ArtWorks is presenting readings by Mai Neng Moua and Marlon James on Saturday, October 30, 2010, 2pm at Franklin ArtWorks, 1021 E Franklin Ave in Minneapolis. This event is free and open to the public, and I'd recommend it.

Mai Neng Moua's writings can be found in publications such as Bamboo Among the Oaks and Where One Voice Ends Another Begins: 150 Years of Minnesota Poetry. Her awards include the Bush Artist Fellowship, the Jerome Travel Grant, and the Loft Literary Center’s Mentor Series in Poetry & Creative Prose.

Marlon James was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1970. His first novel, John Crow’s Devil (Akashic Books, 2005) was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the Commonwealth Writers Prize and was a New York Times Editors’ Choice. His most recent novel, The Book of Night Women (Riverhead, 2009), was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, The NAACP Image Award, and The Minnesota Book Award, and was New York Magazine’s third best book of the year.

Reading Tuesday, October 26th

As part of Intermedia Arts new Beyond the Pure reading series, I'll be reading at Color Theory for the 21st Century: Readings by Writers of Color on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 7PM at Intermedia Arts. They're asking for a $5 suggested donation to support the series.

This reading will also feature some of my favorite Twin Cities writers including Sha Cage, e.g. Bailey, Beverly Cottman, Ibé, Rodrigo Sanchez-Chavarria and May Lee Yang. I'll also have copies of BARROW available at this reading.

This will also be the last day you can see the Legacies of War exhibit, which will be having its closing reception from 3 to 5PM with guided tours and reflections from everyone who's been involved, and some great refreshments. I hope you'll join us!

As Minnesota's premier multidisciplinary, multicultural arts center, Intermedia Arts builds understanding among people by catalyzing and inspiring artists and audiences to make changes in their lives and communities. They are a nationally recognized leader in empowering artists and community leaders to use arts-based approaches to solve community issues. From graffiti art to digital technology to performance art to spoken word, they work from the community up to unearth and enliven new and emerging artists and art forms while challenging and exploring the role of art in our lives.  Intermedia Arts is a catalyst that builds understanding among people through art.

Refugee Nation closes this weekend

The last four Refugee Nation shows begin Thursday night in Minnesota. This is the only nationally touring Lao American play in over 35 years.

And, this is the only production in the country to feature the full cast of the play as it is meant to be seen. People have come from across the country just to see this production in Minnesota, including California, Milwaukee and Iowa. It has received great press, but more importantly great audiences here in the Twin Cities who've helped make it not just a play but an experience. It has touched the lives of over four hundred people already through workshops, special performances and across the airwaves.

Don't miss it, and a big thank you to everyone who's been a part of this journey and who helped to spread the word!

Thanks from Legacies of War: Twin Cities

A big thanks to everyone goes to everyone who was involved in the installation of Legacies of War at Intermedia Arts, which opened successfully on Thursday, September 30th with over 120 people in attendance.


This includes the help of Channapha Khamvongsa, Mali Kouanchao, Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay and DJ Kool Akiem, Shannon K Peterson, Mike Davis, Jaysen Saly, Malisamai Vue, Amie Hauer, Theresa Sweetland and Wes Sweetland, Jake Davis, Ethan, Hugo Cardona, Linda Wu, Ping Kanya Nitchin Kongsiharath, Sakuna Thongchanh, Bop Phothisane and many others.






A big thanks goes to our guest speakers and performers including Chomsy Kouanchao, Sunny Chanthanouvong of the Lao Assistance Center, the Lao monks of Minnesota, Kek Nachampassak and the Lao Women Dancers of Minnesota, and Ova Saopeng and Leilani Chan of Refugee Nation.




Additional thanks were extended to: AlliantACTION, Arts Midwest, the Asian Pacific Endowment, Bryant Lake Bowl, the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, the Lao Student Association, the Lao Women Association, The Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, the Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers, the Mines Advisory Group, the Minnesota State Arts Board, Pangea World Theater, Women Against Millitary Madness, Congresswoman Betty McCollum,  Ben Kohler, Jim Harris and Helping War Victims Foundation, Linda Chandavong, Helly Lee, Virgil Wiebe, Chanida Phaengdara, Kaysone Saly, May Lee Yang, Saengmany Ratsabout, David Zander and the Laotian community of Minnesota


This has been an energizing and fascinating learning experience and I look forward to sharing more reports with you in the coming days ahead. For more details: http://legaciesofwar.org/events/national-traveling-exhibition-midwest-premiere-in-minneapolis/