e-culture: Honoring Cesar Chavez, Media Archeology, Houston Events
April 8, 2005


IN THIS ISSUE

Rathna Kumar Receives Title Nrithya Seva Mani
Parade Honors Legacy of Cesar Chavez
Media Archeology: A Live Cinema Festival
Topical Forums, Dance Programs, Star Gazing


Rathna Kumar Receives a Trio of Awards and Honors

For her 30 years of service to classical arts, Houston based dancer and choreographer Rathna Kumar was honored this year at the 28th Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival in Cleveland, with the title of "Nrithya Seva Mani", traditionally presented by the Bhairavi Indian Fine Arts Society on this occasion. Kumar is the second Indian dancer in the US to receive this honor. On May 20, Kumar will also be receiving an award in the Performing Arts category from the Asian Pacific American Heritage Society in Houston, along with former President, George Bush, Sr., who will be receiving the first Asian Pacific American Heritage Award.

Earlier this year, the Vice Chancellor and Registrar of the Telugu University, Hyderabad, named Kumar as the Chairman, Board of Studies, USA, for on-line courses in Kuchipudi, a first of its kind in North America.

____________________________________________________
Parade Honors Legacy of Cesar Chavez

The Sixth Annual Cesar E. Chavez Hispanic Pride Parade, sponsored by the Tejano Association for Historical Preservation, will recognize 70 years of achievement by LULAC Council 60. The parade marshal will be HISD Superintendent Dr. Abelardo Saavedra.

The parade will take place on Saturday, April 9, beginning at 9:00am at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Blvd. and Capitol in Houston's East End
http://www.tejanoahp.org


Timeline of Cesar Chavez's life:
http://www.houstonculture.org/hispanic/chavez.html

Photos from last year's parade:
http://www.houstonculture.org/hispanic/parade/index.html


Mark your calendar for these upcoming festivals, and stay tuned for our recommendations of some great live artists appearing at the International Festival and Jazz Fest:

Fiesta San Antonio, April 15 - 24
http://www.fiesta-sa.org

Festival International de Louisiane, Lafayette, LA, April 20 - 24
http://www.festivalinternational.com

Fiddlers Frolics, Halletsville, Texas, April 21 - 24
http://www.fiddlersfrolics.com

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, April 22 - May 1
http://www.nojazzfest.com

WorldFest-Houston Film Festival, April 22 - May 1
http://www.worldfest.org

Houston International Festival, April 23, 24, 30, and May 1
http://www.ifest.org

Bob Wills Day, Turkey, Texas, April 30

Asia Pacific American Heritage Month, May
http://www.apaha.org

Cinco de Mayo, May 5

Dragon Boat Festival, May 7
http://www.houstondragonboat.com

Art Car Parade, May 14
http://www.orangeshow.org

____________________________________________________
Media Archeology: A Live Cinema Festival

Media Archeology is Aurora Picture Show's annual festival highlighting artists and collectors who preserve, study, and/or re-use found media. Join us for five nights of live film and video mixing, looping, montaging, multiple projecting and scoring in real time at Aurora, Barnevelder, DiverseWorks, Mixture, and Orange Show.

$8 per performance or $20 for an all access pass
April 13-17, 8pm each day
713-868-2101
http://www.aurorapictureshow.org


Animal Charm
Open Soars
Wednesday, April 13, 8pm
@ Aurora Picture Show
800 Aurora, 77009; 713-868-2101

Animal Charm scrambles media codes, creating a kind of tic-ridden, convulsive montage, their disruptive gestures often re-investing conventional forms with subversive meanings.


Wet Gate
Thursday, April 14, 8pm
@ Barnevelder Movement/ Arts Complex
2201 Preston St, 77003; 713-529-1819

Using nothing but film projectors and loops and a handful of simple electronic processors, Wet Gate--Peter Conheim, Steven Dye, and Owen O'Toole - the San Francisco Bay Area's renowned all-16mm-projector performing ensemble, creates a vivid sound and visual montage of epic proportions.


Paper Rad, Extreme Animals and Cory Arcangel
HTM-HELL
Friday April 15, 8pm
@ Mixture Contemporary (Outdoors)
1709 Westheimer, 77098; 713-520-6809
Rain location: Aurora Picture Show

In this performance, Cory Arcangel, Jacob Ciocci, and David Wightman will be engaged in a LIVE HTML BATTLE to save the internet. Can Hypertext Markup Language translate into entertainment? Find out, as they explore the internet in new and exciting ways.


TV Sheriff and the Trailbuddies
Saturday, April 16, 8pm
@ Orange Show Center for Visionary Art (Outdoors)
2402 Munger St, 77023; 713-926-6368
Rain location: Aurora Picture Show

The MVP Network Stars will be performing their current live musical video mixing cavalcade showdown, TV Sheriff and the Trailbuddies. These wild western videomaniacs will be playing synchronized audio/video clips on their TV Instruments from what they consider is the best and worst in television, film and video media.


People Like Us
Sunday, April 17, 8pm
@ DiverseWorks Art Space
1117 East Freeway, I-10 at North Main, 77002; 713-223-8346

This live cinema performance is an exploration into the world of cut and paste audio/visual collage, where found footage is recontextualized with a surrealistic edge.



Mondays in April at Dean's Credit Clothing (316 Main), 9:00pm
Illegal Art: Freedom of Expression in the Corporate Age
Organized by Stay Free! Magazine
Illegal Art celebrates what is rapidly becoming the "degenerate art" of a corporate age: art and ideas on the legal fringes of intellectual property. Whether through the use of found footage, image and music sampling, or appropriation/recontexualization of existing material, the films and videos in this program resist the silencing effect of threatened litigation, and advance the free exchange of ideas.

Visit http://www.illegal-art.org for the full line-up.

____________________________________________________
Topical Forums, Dance Programs, Star Gazing

Please tell others about these Houston activities and recognize the hard work the organizers put into them. And stay tuned to the calendar for more upcoming events:
http://www.houstonculture.org/events

====================================

Singing Agent David Lippmann

Billed as "the world's only known singing C.I.A. agent", David Lippmann, political satirist and songwriter/musician, will perform at a benefit for Houston Peace and Justice Center.

Friday, April 8, 8:00pm
Suggested donation $10
The Artery
5401 Jackson at Prospect (entrance on Prospect)
http://www.arteryhouston.org

====================================

Culture of Peace lecture Dr. Jay McDaniel

Dr. Jay McDaniel, Professor of Religion at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, will offer a process approach to world religions, discussing ways of promoting peace between religions by creating a "culture of peace" in which Christians and non-Christians undertake sympathetic readings of other religions.

Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9
$36 ($10 students); includes lunch on Saturday
Great Hall of Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal)
1117 Texas Ave.
713-590-3300
Email: office@christchurchcathedral.org

====================================

Wine and Stars Party

The NASA Club will bring about 20 telescopes to the winery to view the galaxy, and they love telling you all about it.

Saturday, April 9, starting at dark, ending about 9:30pm
Haak Vineyards and Winery
6310 Avenue T
Santa Fe, Texas 77510
409-925 ­1401
http://www.haakwine.com

====================================

Tribal Feat Workshop and Performance

Urban Gypsy is bringing Tribal Feat [http://www.tribalfeat.com] to Houston for a Saturday workshop on April 9th. There will be four hours of instruction where they will share their very fun, sharp and HOT approach to the tribal style of belly dance.

Tribal Feat is planning a pretty rigorous workshop, so be prepared for a workout! TF will be covering some combinations and some of their signature moves... and maybe a spicy choreography, too! So, if you have some knowledge of bellydance movement, that's great. If not, you will still be Okay - Beginners are welcome! This workshop will not be tribal-specific, but suitable for any type of dancer wanting to add strength and heat! Bring water, kneepads, and a yoga mat and be prepared to sweat. The workshop will be held at 4400 Memorial (at Shepherd) in the Fitness Center at Bayou Park.

Tribal Feat was founded in San Luis Obispo, California in July of 2001 by four women wanting to explore tribal fusion bellydance. Since then, the troupe has expanded to include a branch in Fort Worth, TX. Tribal Feat has performed and taught around the country, appeared on Belly Dance TV and Urban Ghawazee, and has been featured in IAMED's This is Bellydance.

Saturday, April 9, 9:00pm
Fitness Center at Bayou Park
4400 Memorial (at Shepherd)
713-862-8707
Workshop registration at http://www.urbangypsy.cc


There will be a dance showcase Saturday night at 9:00pm. We will be the opening act for Beans Barton & the Bi-peds [http://www.beansbarton.net]. Come enjoy some fabulous dance numbers... and then stay for Rock & Roll Theatre Under the Bars.

Saturday, April 9, 9:00pm
Dan Electro's Guitar Bar
1031 E. 24th (Just blocks east of North Main in the Heights)
713-862-8707
http://www.urbangypsy.cc

====================================

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture
Presented by Peter G. Rowe

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) is the world's largest prize for architecture. Presented every three years, the AKAA was established in 1977 to enhance understanding and appreciation of Islamic culture as expressed through architecture. Unique among the major architectural awards, the AKAA not only rewards individual architects for exemplary contemporary work, but also recognizes projects that propose original, replicable solutions that satisfy physical, social, and economic needs. Winning projects have included social housing developments, restoration of individual buildings, area conservation projects, innovative landscape designs, and urban development programs.

Dr. Peter G. Rowe, a member of the 2004 AKAA Steering Committee, will discuss the 2004 winning projects, the significance of the award, and its history. Dr. Rowe is the Raymond Garbe Professor of Architecture and Urban Design and Distinguished Service Professor at Harvard University. He also currently serves as Education and Culture Program Director for the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. Prior to joining the Harvard faculty in 1985, Dr. Rowe was Director of the School of Architecture at Rice University.

Sunday, April 10, 2:00pm
Brown Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts
1001 Bissonnet

Admission to the April Special Lectures is open to the public and free with general museum admission. Admission is free for members of the Ismaili community, Asia Society Texas, and the MFAH. A reception follows lecture.

====================================

Asi Nacio el Flamenco

Del Espadin Baile Espanol's spring concert entitled, "Asi Nacio el Flamenco", (translated, "That's how flamenco was born") will trace the roots of flamenco from its birth to the height of its popularity in the 19th century.

In addition to the fiery tempos contrasted with mournful songs that characterize flamenco, the show will also have Hindu and Arabic dancers, who will demonstrate the early development of the art. It is believed that the first gypsies came to Spain from India in the 15th century, bringing with them their ritualistic Hindu songs and dances. Here they came into contact with the Arabic culture of the ruling Moors and the songs of the Spanish Jews. This clash of musical and cultural influences gave rise to the first flamenco songs and dances.

Gabriella, "La Tempestad", is the featured dancer in Asi Nacio el Flamenco. Gabriella will perform a number of flamenco dances to live guitarists, including the Zambra, a transition dance between the end of the Moorish period and the beginning of the flourishing of true Flamenco in Spain. Marco Eduardo is the lead guitarist.

In addition to Flamenco, performers will dance a Spanish folk dance, the Sevillana, which is well-known throughout Spain and is performed regularly at festivals and parties.

Sunday, April 10, 3:00pm Houston Community College Heinen Theater http://www.flamencohouston.com

====================================

Saving the Jewish Soul: Israel/Palestine Today

Sponsored by Tikkun-Houston

Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein, who lost both her parents in the Holocaust, believes that, as a result of the Israeli occupation, the situation on the ground in Palestine today very much resembles the situation in Nazi Germany in 1939.

Wednesday, April 13, 7:30pm
Central Presbyterian Church
3788 Richmond (near Weslayan)
713-524-9839
Email: alicemcc@earthlink.net

====================================

Seize the Media! Films of Media Pirates
Presented by Houston Indymedia

Radio Insurgente: La Voz De Los Sin Voz
Produced by Kino Kiptik
2003, 12 minutes (Spanish w/English subtitles)

The voice of the voiceless, indigenous Radio in Chiapas, Mexico, breaking the silence and crashing the airwaves with rebel dignity. An inspiring new video documenting how the indigenous of Chiapas are using FM radio to spread resistance and community.
http://www.radioinsurgente.org

Telestreet
Directed by Andrew Lowenthal
2004, 8 mins

A short documentary about the Italian Telestreet movement, a network of over 200 pirate television stations which have appeared in the last ten years to counter the media monopoly of Silvio Berlusconi. Sponsored by Undergrowth Digital Magazine, produced by Tim Parish, music by Combat Wombat.
http://www.archive.org/movies/details-db.php?collection=opensource_movies&collectionid=Telestreets

Free Radio: A Documentary
Directed by Kevin Keyser
2000, 100 Minutes

Free Radio travels across the United States taking an in-depth look at the underground world of "pirate radio." Interviewees such as Michael Moore, Ralph Nader, Ben Bagdikian and others (from Texas, Florida, Washington, New York, San Francisco, etc.) talk about free speech and access to the FM airwaves while representatives from the FCC and NAB discuss their reasons for shutting the stations down. The film also takes a look at how "pirate radio" played a role in the anti-WTO rallies in Seattle in 1999. Keyser visits with the true father of U.S. free radio, Mbanna Kantako, who's been running Human Rights Radio in Springfield, IL straight on since 1986. Also included are perspectives on the movement from other instrumentals like Stephen Dunifer of Free Radio Berkeley, "Captain Fred" of Berkeley Liberation Radio, "Skidmark Bob" from Free Radio Santa Cruz, and two members of Free Radio Austin - just to mention a few from an incredibly diverse cast of rogue radio personalities. One Keyser thinks especially highly of is Micro KIND Radio in San Marcos, Texas. Run by Joe Ptak and Zeal Stefanoff, the station ran 24-7 in two-hour increments, with the microphone open to all, until it was silenced by court order in September, 2000.

Thursday, April 14, 8:00pm
Rice Cinema
Rice University Campus (entrance #8 at University Blvd. and Stockton Dr.)
For directions: http://ricecinema.rice.edu
Email: houston@indymedia.org
http://www.diymedia.net/feature/fkeyservideo.htm

====================================

Promises
Presented by Houston Peace Forum

"Promises" tells of the journey of one of the filmmakers to a Palestinian refugee camp, a West Bank Israeli settlement, and to neighborhoods of Jerusalem. He met seven Palestinian and Israeli children who lived apart and existed in separate worlds, but they dare to cross lines and meet their neighbors. We see the results of their meetings.

Thursday, April 14, 7:00pm (screening begins at 7:15pm)
First Unitarian Universalist Church
5200 Fannin, Room 302

====================================

Ghetto Passport

"Ghetto Passport" probes the psyches of young and desperate African Americans. The play aims to promote perseverance, resilience, and the need for intercultural philanthropy.

Friday, April 15 - Sunday, April 24, 7:30 - 9:30pm
1103 Chartres Street
http://www.mikemckenzieonline.com

====================================

Celebrate the Restoration of Buffalo Bayou's Tapley Tributary
See the newest enhancements of this picturesque site: wetland and pond creation, native Texas Prairie, wildflower and tree plantings, riparian development to improve water quality.

In the late 1970s, Houston landscape architect Charles Tapley designed an innovative and inspiring tributary along Buffalo Bayou's western sector that featured riparian plantings, attractive granite steps and several seating areas. After years of neglect, Buffalo Bayou Partnership began restoration work in the spring of 2004 to reflect Tapley's original design.

Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership for the celebration along the north side of Buffalo Bayou just west of Sabine Street between Memorial and Allen Parkway. Travel east on Memorial Drive. Exit Sabine Street to feeder road at I-45/Houston Ave. Take a right onto I-45 south feeder road. Make an immediate right into Theater District Parking Lot H (free parking, check in with attendant). Once you have parked, walk toward the Sabine Street bridge and follow the trail on the north side of Buffalo Bayou.

Saturday, April 16, 2005, 11:00am
Free -- Charles Tapley will be included in our program
713-752-0314
Email: tsmith@buffalobayou.org

====================================

Ad Deum Presents 4 Premiere Works by 4 Choreographers

Caleb Mitchell's ­Testament, a new work by this titan choreographer exploring the dimensions of power, presence and grace revealed in sacred scripture and made known to contemporary man.

Loreen Fajgel's ­Gloria-a look at the intervention of the divine within the framework of the mundane as common ground becomes holy ground.

Laura Morton's ­ Where Two or More-where Brazil meets contemporary ballet.

Randall Flinn's - Against the Flow-set to the music of male vocal virtuoso Josh Groban.

"The flow of human life must be examined and each individual need ask if they are caught up in a stream that is taking them away from themselves."

Barnevelder is located at the intersection of Preston and Hutchins, three blocks from Minute Maid Park on the other side of Highway 59. From Hwy 59 N, take the Polk St (convention center) exit. From Hwy 59 S, take the Hamilton St (baseball stadium) exit.

Friday, April 16, 8:00pm and Saturday, April 17, 3:00pm
Barnevelder Movement Complex
2201 Preston Street
Houston, TX 77003
713-626-5050
Email: info@danceaddeum.com

====================================

"A Discussion on the Similarities/Differences between Muslims and Non-Muslims"

Guest speaker Muhammed Cetin, president of the Institute of Interfaith Dialog, will present "A Discussion on the Similarities/Differences between Muslims and Non-Muslims" at its Third Monday Forum to bring the different religions together.

Monday, April 18, 7:30pm
St. Anne's of Tomball
281-300-1584

====================================

Cultural Narrative: Tariq Ali and Laura Flanders
Presented by Voices Breaking Boundaries and Friends of KPFT Houston

The 2005 recipient of the Lannan award, Tariq Ali will be delivering an address on Tuesday April 19th at 7:30 PM at Rice University, Grand Hall in the Student Center. Appearing with Ali for a book signing will be Laura Flanders, author of BUSHWOMEN: Tales of a Cynical Species and host of "The Laura Flanders Show." Ali will be presenting his two new books, Street Fighting Years: An Autobiography of the Sixties and Speaking of Empire and Resistance. At a special "Meet and Greet" prior to the talk, hosted by activist Sissy Farenthold, guests will get an opportunity to directly interact with special guests Ali, Flanders and host Farenthold along with other local artists and activists.

Radical icon and charismatic polemicist, TARIQ ALI remembers his formative decade in a new edition of Street-Fighting Years. Ali's journey takes readers from his childhood home in Lahore, Pakistan to his arrival in Great Britain in 1963, where he became a fixture in the emergent New Left. At the legendary leftwing newspaper The Black Dwarf, Ali encountered some of the periodıs most alluring figures: Malcolm X, Marlon Brando, Bertrand Russell, Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave, Stokely Carmichael, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. This compelling new edition contains "Power to the People!", the famous song with John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1971. Ali has written a substantial new introduction, shedding light on his continued political life, his work in film and television, and his close affiliations with Edward Said, Derek Jarman, Terry Eagleton and Abdelrahman Munif.

In Speaking of Empire and Resistance, a series of stirring conversations between Tariq Ali and Alternative Radio's David Barsamian, Ali's startlingly sharp observations turn an eye on the American and British invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. His provocative ideas explain not only Anglo-American motivations, but the sense of betrayal and powerlessness that has led to the international surge of terrorism that Americans now claim to fight. "In order to justify infinite war, they have invented this enemy, which--I'm almost tired of pointing this out--they created themselves at the height of the Cold War..." says Ali.

LAURA FLANDERS is the host of "The Laura Flanders Show" heard weekends, 7-10pm on the Air America Radio network. BUSHWOMEN, her new book, is an investigation into the women in George W. Bush's Cabinet. Publisher's Weekly called Flanders' best-selling book, "fierce, funny and intelligent." Flanders writes regularly for Tompaine.com, the Nation, Ms. Magazine and Znet.

SISSY FARENTHOLD was the first woman to be elected to the 150 seat Texas House of Representatives in 1968, where she served two terms. Farenthold has served as Wells College's first female President from 1976-1980. She gained national recognition as the founding president of the National Women's Political Caucus and for her nomination in 1972 for the vice presidency of the United States at the Democratic National Convention.

Funds raised by this event will go to support Houston Indy Media, KPFT Pacifica, Houston Global Awareness, Houston Peace and Justice Center, the University of Houston's Young Democrats and Voices Breaking Boundaries.

Tuesday, April 19, 2005, 7:30 pm
General admission $5 - $10 (no one will be turned away)
Grand Hall, Ley Student Center, Rice University
http://www.rice.edu/maps/buildings.html
713-524-7821
Email: info@voicesbreakingboundaries.org



Thank you for supporting great educational and cultural activities.

____________________________________________________
M  a  r  k @houstonculture.org


Hispanic Experience:
http://www.houstonculture.org/hispanic

Latino Music Initiative:
http://www.houstonculture.org/musica

Texas-Mexico Border Issues:
http://www.houstonculture.org/border