11/1/12 Union Power, Critiquing the Nonprofit Industrial Complex, and Day of the Dead

Phuong Dang and Colleen Lee from ACMHS, new members of SEIU 1021

Click here to download the audio file.

This week, we have an eclectic show looking at Asian Community Mental Health Services campaign to join SEIU 1021. Then we take a critical look at the nonprofit industrial complex through a queer and trans people of color cabaret. And finally, we wrap up the show by exploring the Day of the Dead tradition and Asian American artists Choppy Oshiro and Cece Carpio who are participating in the Day of the Dead exhibitions at SOMArts Cultural Center and Oakland Museum of California.

Phuong Dang and Colleen Lee from ACMHS, new members of SEIU 1021

Cece Carpio draws parallels between Braceros and Sakadas (Filipino agricultural workers)

Choppy Oshiro’s installation honoring labor struggles

Community Calendar
Our favorite kid-friendly punk band, The Little Bits, are playing at the Youth UPrising Skate Park this Saturday. You can Tons of space to run, ride, climb, bounce, rock, skate and roll at this East Oakland Community Playdate! Bring your helmet and protective gear. Water and healthy snacks available for children.

On Saturday at 1 p.m. at the San Francisco Symphony, catch their Dia de los Muertos concert with pre-concert festivities including an altar curated by Rene Yañez. Sunday meet Days of the Dead artist Cece Carpio at the Oakland Museum at 2 p.m.

Tuesday, November 6 is election day. There are a number of important local and statewide measures that affect funding for schools, who will be sent to our jails, and our ability to organize in the workplace.

Next week, there’s the seris of films featuring The Films of Kidlat Tahimik at the PFA.

Catch Agency: Nonprofit Dreams and Disasters which you can catch next week at the La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley on Thursday and Friday November 8th and 9th at 730 pm.

5/12/11 Nancy Hom, a leader in our community

Continuing with our Leaders in the Community Series for pledge drive, we feature Nancy Hom.

Nancy is an artist, writer, organizer, and arts administrator who has created numerous images for community events, political and social causes, and children’s books. After exploring silk screening and illustration, she is now a mixed-media artist and for the past two years has ventured into large-scale sculpture work.

The themes of her artwork – women, family, culture, protests, and celebrations – are universal. Her experience as an immigrant, mother, administrator, community activist, and spiritual seeker continues to provide the framework for her creative endeavors, which include writing as well as visual art.

For the pledge drive, Nancy has generously donated greeting cards made for the historic Asian American Dance Collective. These four-color silkscreen prints were hand-pulled by the artist and are the last remaining copies of this run. The card comes with an envelop and is wrapped in a plastic sleeve.

Her upcoming exhibitions include:
A Place of Her Own
May 5 – May 26
SOMArts Cultural Center
934 Brannan Street, SF
Closing Reception: May 26, 6-9 PM
Presented by AAWAA, Nancy exhibits a large-scale sculpture.

Asian Art Museum Free Day
Saturday, May 21, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
200 Larkin Street
The public is invited to co-create site specific artwork with Nancy Hom on the front steps.

ARTIST FROM THE HEART: Creativity, Celebration and Compassionate Action for Japan Disaster Relief
Saturday, May 21
5 p.m. Marketplace and food vendors open
7 p.m. Performances
Nihonmachi Terrace: 1615 Sutter Street, SSF
Donation sliding scale: $10- $100 (benefit for the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund)
Nancy will read along with Leon Sun, Bonnie Kwong and Tsering Wangmo for “Karma Intertwined: Words & Images of Aspiration by Tibetan and Chinese American Artists.”