Lao American Storyteller Festival coming to Minneapolis

On February 21st-23rd, the Lao Assistance Center will be presenting the Lao American Storytellers Festival at the Harrison Neighborhood Center at 503 Irving Avenue N. in Minneapolis, MN. The festival will include formal presentations of traditional folk tales, oral histories, worship sessions and cultural exhibits from 1pm to 4pm each day. Free and open to the public. Further schedule details will be announced on the Lao Assistance website (www.laocenter.org) and social media such as twitter: @laocenterMN.

Among the guest presenters will by Lao Minnesotan Storyteller Fellows Saymoukda Vongsay, Phouthakannha Nantharath, Sue Veerasaeng, Saphaothong Komany, and David Zander. The festival will also be presented in conjunction with Bryan Thao Worra's summit, Beyond the Other Side of the Eye: Discussions in Southeast Asian Futurism.

This activity was made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Metropolitan Region Arts Council, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

In the United States there are approximately 200,000 Lao with the largest populations residing in California, Texas, and Minnesota. Minnesota has the 3rd largest Lao refugee population in the US with 12,000 to 25,000 residents. There are still many gains to be achieved in both education and the arts. Many members of the community expressed concerns regarding the preservation and transmission of traditional culture to the youth.

The Lao American Storytellers Festival is a key outcome of a year-long intensive apprenticeship program of the Lao Assistance Center to encourage the next generation of Lao American storytellers. This is the first year such a program has been implemented.

Established in 1983, the mission of the Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota (LACM) is to increase the capacity of the Lao-American population in Minnesota by responding to community-identified needs. This is done through developing programs and services to promote the well-being of families and children while retaining their cultural heritage. Later this year, many additional events are being planned to celebrate the journey of Lao Minnesotans. For further information you can call or visit the Lao Assistance Center at 503 Irving Avenue North in Minneapolis.

Eye to the Telescope: Asian American Speculative Poetry Issue is live!

Bryan Thao Worra guest edited an Asian American issue of Speculative Poetry at Eye to the Telescope, which officially went live this week. The contributors came up with some very interesting responses to what we might consider Asian, American and both. The nice thing about this was being able to challenge what we consider Asian American and what it could be. We tried to be very flexible about what qualified.  But see what you think!

Beyond the Other Side of the Eye, Lao American Storytelling Festival coming to Minnesota

The "Beyond the Other Side of the Eye" exhibit of Lao American speculative poetry, art and futurism will be taking place between February 21st-23rd in Minneapolis along with the Lao American Storytelling Festival. This activity was made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Metropolitan Region Arts Council, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
This exhibit will feature the work of Saymoukda Vongsay, Mali Kouanchao, Seth Lyons, Vongduane Manivong, Bryan Thao Worra and other artists, with workshops presenting a historical overview and consideration of future directions.

This program will take place at the Harrison Neighborhood Center at 503 Irving Avenue N., Minneapolis, MN with formal sessions, workshops and performances from 1 to 4 each day. Free and open to the public. Further schedule details to be announced.

Home Sweet Home Again: An Exhibition of Art & Poetry

Intermedia Arts and the Family Housing Fund invite you to experience "Home Sweet Home Again: An Exhibition of Art & Poetry" featuring visual artwork and poetry by local artists and poets on homelessness, affordable housing, and the meaning of home.

This incredible and moving exhibit travels around the Twin Cities to various locations and helps underscore the continued need for safe and affordable housing for all individuals and families in Minnesota. The exhibit first opened at Intermedia Arts in 2005 and we are proud to bring it back with new and never before seen work in celebration of Intermedia Arts' 40th Anniversary Year.

The exhibit is curated by Shawna Nelsen and Theresa Sweetland. It's worth checking out!

Exhibition Run: January 24 - March 30, 2013
Opening Reception: 6-9PM, January 24; 7PM Program and Poetry
Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday 10-6PM; Saturday 12-5PM

Intermedia Arts is where the Lao Minnesotan artist Malichansouk Kouanchao and many others have exhibited their work in the past, including for the HOME SWEET HOME AGAIN exhibit. It was also the host of the 2010 Legacies of War: Refugee Nation Twin Cities multimedia exhibit and festival featuring the work of Lao American artists across the country. Lao Minnesotan writer Saymoukda Vongsay currently serves on their board of directors.