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[ CURRENT ] [ ARCHIVE ]
e-culture: Cinco de Mayo, The Other Side, Who's Counting?, Voices of a People's History, More
May 5, 2006
IN THIS ISSUE
-Cinco de Mayo: A Struggle for Freedom
-The Other Side of Immigration
-Houston Latino Book and Family Festival
-Who's Counting? Marilyn Waring on Sex, Lies and...
-Cosponsored Film Screenings
-VBB: Voices of a People's History
-And More Houston Events
Thank you to all who attended our Open House in April. An interesting array of guests attended, included: Stephen Fox, architectural historian and author of the Houston Architectural Guide; Simone Swan, adobe construction guru and author of Adobe Building; David Courtney, classical Indian musician and recording artist; and Brenda Hart, from the UN Decade of Non-violence, Houston. We made many great contacts. One of our guests is a history student who is doing her dissertation on maquiladoras in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and she may be able to use information from our research and documentary projects on the Texas-Mexico border. We were also interviewed by a Houston Chronicle reporter.
And, thanks to Gislaine, who hosted a screening at our offices of "Invisible Children" as part of the Global Night Commute at Rice University. The film raises awareness of abductions of children who are forced into war in the armed conflict between Uganda and Sudan.
http://www.invisiblechildren.com
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Cinco de Mayo: A Struggle for Freedom
Happy Cinco de Mayo! Festivities are underway this evening at Miller Outdoor Theatre and at MECA, 1900 Kane, and a Cinco de Mayo Parade will take place in downtown Houston near the baseball stadium and convention center on Saturday, May 6, 2006, beginning at 10:00am.
Learn more about Cinco de Mayo, a struggle for freedom, on our website: http://www.houstonculture.org/mexico/cincodemayo.html
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The Other Side of Immigration
The recent protests in support of immigrant rights have raised the consciousness of many in the United States concerning the issues immigrants face, such as our economic instability due to the widening gap between rich and poor, as well as the split citizenship status of many of the immigrants' families. But little has been said of the forces that cause the immigrants to leave their lands. Houston Institute for Culture will screen a film about "The Other Side" at a KPFT film event this Sunday.
KPFT Dollar Cinema
Sunday, May 7, 2:00pm
MECA
1900 Kane Street
Houston, Texas 77007
Screenings will include:
The Other Side (provided by Houston Institute for Culture) 2002; Directed by Chris Walker; 27 minutes
Over the last century, hundreds of thousands of Mexicans have crossed the border to the United States in pursuit of permanent jobs, and a better life. But in the new millennium, that journey has become increasingly dangerous, and the costs are starting to outweigh the benefits.
This program from the City Life series reveals the devastating impact of Mexican-US migration. The people who attempt to cross suffer horribly and frequently die. The families and communities left behind are disabled and their languages and cultures are being destroyed. The Other Side tells the story of the villagers who have had enough - and now are trying to make sure their children will no longer have to migrate to realize their dreams.
S.P.I.C.
Animation and narration by Robert Castillo; 25 minutes
When Robert Castillo and his brothers were growing up in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the neighborhood kids gave them a "nickname" they didn't know was actually a racial slur. This candid documentary, which takes its title from that slur, recalls Castillo's 1977 arrival in New York from the Dominican Republic, where he was raised by his grandmother for seven years. When he returns to the United States and to his parents, he experiences quite a shock. This set of stories is described by Castillo as the storyboard of his life. Storyboards are the blueprint of a story or movie, he chooses to bring the unseen part of storytelling forward and create them as he tells you the story.
Oaxacan Hoops
20 minutes
The story opens in the Sierra Norte where playing basketball has been a tradition since the early 1930s. How basketball arrived in the mountain of Oaxaca remains a mystery. Some say teachers from Mexico City brought the sport to the Sierra Norte. Others say miners from Northern Mexico taught the sport to locals. They all agree, however, that in these isolated villages basketball has been an obsession for years and it is now a cultural tradition.
The film also takes us to Los Angeles, where thousands of Zapotecs have gone looking for work. It is here that the biggest Oaxacan basketball tournament outside of Mexico, the Oaxaca Cup, takes place.
Played over two full Sundays and with its final on Thanksgiving Day, the Oaxaca Cup brings together more than 40 teams every year. Most teams represent a village back home.
The Oaxaca Cup is one of dozens of basketball tournaments that take place in the greater Los Angeles area throughout the year. In this city, where basketball is king, the sport has helped Zapotecs build community, find something familiar and stay connected to their roots.
Learn more about cosponsoring films with Houston Institute for Culture below.
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Houston Latino Book and Family Festival
The 4th Annual Edward James Olmos Houston Latino Book & Family Festival hosted by Nuestra Palabra will be held on Saturday, May 6th, 11:30 AM to 6 PM and Sunday, May 7th 12 noon to 6 PM. Authors will include: Laura Esquivel, author of "Like Water For Chocolate", launching her new novel, "Malinche", Esmeralda Santiago (author of "Almost A Woman"), Maria Elena Salinas (author of "My Father's Daughter"), Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez (author of "Make Him Look Good"), and Jackie Guerra (author of "Under Construction: How I've Gained and Lost Millions of Dollars and Hundreds of Pounds"). Other authors include: Hernan Moreno-Hinojosa, Diana Davila Martinez, Sarah Cortez, Gwendolyn Zepeda and many more will also participate.
The Children's/Young Adult Village of the book festival will include interactive workshops for parents and students, as well as story time for the children.
The festival will be located at the Central Campus of Houston Community College at 1300 Holman. For more information, please visit: http://www.nuestrapalabra.org
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On Saturday, May 6, from noon to 1:00pm in room 105, the festival will feature a panel discussion by authors and publishers from Literal, Latin American Voices magazine, including Rose Mary Salum, Ingrid Hansz and Dr. Rima de Vallbona, which will be moderated by Diana Caicedo.
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You can also hear Alisa Valdes Rodriguez, author of "The Dirty Girls Social Club", "Playing with Boys", and "Make Him Look Good", on Saturday, May 6, 5:00 - 6:00pm in the Auditorium and Sunday, May 7, 5:00pm during the Women's Roundtable Discussion in the Auditorium.
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Who's Counting? Marilyn Waring on Sex, Lies and Global Economics
WORLD CULTURE movie and discussion series continues Sponsored by Houston Institute for Culture and University of St. Thomas-Modern and Classical Languages
Tuesday, May 9, 7:00pm
Who's Counting? Marilyn Waring on Sex, Lies and Global Economics
Produced by The National Film Board of Canada; 52 minutes
Marilyn Waring is the foremost spokesperson for global feminist economics, and her ideas offer new avenues of approach for political action. With persistence and wit she has succeeded in drawing attention to the fact that GDP has no negative side to its accounts - such as damage to the environment - and completely ignores the unpaid work of women. "Why is the market economy all that counts?" Ms. Waring asks.
In 1975, when she was just 22 years old, she was elected to the New Zealand parliament. She was re-elected three times and eventually brought down the government on the issue of making New Zealand a nuclear free zone.
When she was chairperson of the Public Expenditures Committee, she perfected what she calls the "art of the dumb question." Ever since she has challenged the myths of economics, its elitist stance, and our tacit compliance with political agendas that masquerade as objective economic policy.
This film has inspired many people, notably the Who's Counting Project, to work on human-scale economic alternatives, local currency exchanges, and more humane ways of measuring the quality of life.
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Cosponsored Film Screenings
Houston Institute for Culture will screen the following films from our library during cosponsored events for organizations, community centers and education departments. These films are licensed for public performance during events which are free to the public. The organization prefers to cosponsor events that offer opportunities for audience discussion. More titles are available.
Affluenza (:56, 1997) - Economy, Consumer Issues
Argentina: Hope in Hard Times (1:14, 2004) - Local Economy, Globalization Issues
Drumbeat for Mother Earth (:54, 2000) - Environment, Indigenous Issues
Hopi Land (:29, 2001) - Energy, Indigenous Issues
The New Rulers of the World (:53, 2001) - Globalization, Labor Issues
The Other Side (:27, 2002) - Immigration, Free Trade Issues
Pavements of Gold (:27, 2002) - Globalization, Urban Poverty Issues
Thirst (:62, 2004) - Privatization Issues
Who's Counting? Marilyn Waring on Sex, Lies and Global Economics (1:34, 1995) - Economic, Labor Issues
And more.
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WORDS FOR PEACE 4 ¡Voices of a People's History!
Presented by Voices Breaking Boundaries
Sunday, May 7, 2006, 7:00pm
DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway, Houston, TX 77002
Admission $5 (no one will be turned away)
For reservations, call 713-524-7821
www.vbbarts.org
Featuring local artists/ activists rendering a dramatic version of Howard Zinn's Voices of a People's History. Artists include: Paula Anicete, Hitaji Aziz, Duane Bradley, City Council Member Ada Edwards, Chuck Jackson, Autumn Knight, Vivek Mittel, John Pluecker, Sehba Sarwar, Anita Wadhwa, students from Lee High School and Community Builders' Cadre.
Talk by Anthony Arnove, editor of Terrorism and War by Howard Zinn. Open mic, graffiti art by Hyroglifx Koncepts, capoeira by Grupo de N'Golo, music by Free Radicals, poetry by Equality, refreshments by Nusrat Malik, drinks and much more.
Houston Institute will present an informative table display during this event.
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More Houston Events
Shine: Rice Sstudent Art Exhibition 43
Through May 13, 2006
SHINE: Rice Student Art Exhibition 43 will feature works in a variety of media created by graduating visual arts majors. The guest curator for this exhibition is artist Christian Eckart. Many student works will be available for purchase.
Rice University Art Gallery
6100 Main Street
Houston, Texas 77005
These events are free and open to the public.
For more information, please visit http://www.ricegallery.org, or call 713-348-6069.
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Blues on the Bayou
Saturday, May 6, 5:00 - 9:00pm
Bayou Buddies Host and Continental Club Presents, The 2nd Blues on the Bayou fundraiser along Buffalo Bayou in Downtown Houston. The Buddies will be rockin? out to the tunes of the legendary I.J. Gosey and Little Joe Washington. All Proceeds will benefit the redevelopment and conservation efforts of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership.
The new downtown park along Buffalo Bayou
Sabine-to-Bagby Promenade (behind the Hobby Center)
Bayou Buddies Members - $10
Non-Members - $15
For more information, contact Trudi Smith 713.752.0314 ext. 3
http://www.buffalobayou.org
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Yale Streert Arts Market
May 6, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Artists on a Roll at Market.The Yale Street Arts Market welcomes bike riders at the May 6 monthly market where Riders stopping at the info booth can pickup complimentary water bottles and City of Houston Bikeway maps. Riders will be greeted by more than 60 artists, jewelers, and fine craftspeople at the Heights monthly event; held on the first Saturday of each month at 548 W. 19th St.
The Yale Street Arts Market is located at 548 W. 19th Street between Shepherd and Yale next to Wind Water Gallery.
For more information, contact Mitch Cohen 713-802-1213 or 713-305-2758 (cell)
info@yalestreetmarket.com
Visit http://www.YaleStreetMarket.com
or call 713-802-1213
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Sacred Sound Concert
Gus Buzbee and Jodi Roberts with her 23 Tibetan singing bowls
May 12, 2006, 7:00- 9:00 pm
Experience the primordial vibration of virtual sound as it turns into melody and celestial harmony. Let the healing waves of harmonic overtone singing carry you into the soul's delight and beyond the borders of the spheres. Merge with the magic of sound healing as the Tibetan singing bowls lift you to new levels of awareness and light.
NIA MOVES
3221 Houston Avenue
713-864-4260
$20.00 at the door
Dress for comfort and bring something to sit upon
http://www.gusbuzbee.com
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The Art Car Parade
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Allen Parkway (between Waugh Drive and downtown) Downtown Houston
http://www.orangeshow.org
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Zen meditation classes at the Zen Center are going on through July 23, 2006, with Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Youth meditation evening classes, plus Saturday morning sessions. The classes are taught by ordained monks from Taiwan who are offering the classes for free (donations are welcome).
http://www.cthouston.org
More information about the lecture topic and the Zen Master (JianLiao, monk over 15 years, and Abbot of the Chung Tai Zen Center), who will give the lectures, is available at: http://www.cthouston.org/cominglecture.htm
He has also been invited to speak at the Houston Chinese Culture Center on May 20, 2006 and at the Jung Center on June 16, 2006.
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M a r k @houstonculture.org
Houston Institute for Culture
Havens Center
1827 W. Alabama Street
Houston, Texas 77098
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