Art and Culture
On Watching A Song for Ourselves: Chris Iijima
"A Song for Ourselves" (2009) by Tad Nakamura portrays the inspiring and poignant life of Chris Iijima. Iijima was a member of Yellow Pearl (along with Joanne Miyamoto and later Charlie Chin), a folk group that were troubadours for the early Asian American Movement. The group was based in New York and were particularly important for East Coast activists, who saw so few Asian American bands. Much of the poignancy of the film came from Chris' premature passing due to a rare disease and a defiant last interview even as he faced mortality.
Whitewashing Akira
Hollywood is planning a new film based upon the classic manga AKIRA. Guess what? The directors have taken steps to cast all whites as the lead actors in this Asian film. Kaneda and Tetsuo will probably be played by two people from the group, Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield, James McAvoy, Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake and Joaquin Phoenix. Joaquin Phoenix? Hollywood hasn't recognized the 22nd century as Asia's yet, but I guess they're not reading the newspapers.
Fight without Fear: GABRIELA, Fighting Patriarchy and Imperialism
by Amee Chew
On March 11, in honor of International Women's Day, INCITE! Boston Women of Color Against Violence held a film screening and fundraiser for GABRIELA, a mass-based women's organization in the Philippines. A packed audience of over 70 viewed a documentary on GABRIELA's activities, called "Fight Without Fear!," produced by local organizer Darlene Lombos.
The Asian American Comic Book
by Asian American Resource Workshop
Designed and Illustrated by Wen-ti Tsen
Poster Art: War Map
Art can "serve the people" and make statements relevant to our lives. Sarinya Srisakulis takes a stand on Sept. 11's effects.
Nothing Will Defeat The Spirit of This Land: Posters on the War in Viet Nam
Exhibition Critiques U.S. War Policies
This is a lightly-edited version of the exhibition's press release
The Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition Against War (APICAW) in conjunction with the Asian Resource Gallery and the All Of Us Or None archival collection of political posters is proud to present "Nothing Will Defeat the Spirit of This Land: Posters on the War in Viet Nam." APICAW is a Bay Area coalition of API individuals and organizations that believes true peace and security can only come through global justice.
"Laundry Day:" Talking with Vi Tri Quach, Visual Artist/Activist
Vi Tri Quach was born in Vietnam.
Poster Art
DESIGN BY MARY UYEMATSU KAO
UCLA Asian American Studies Center Press
ARTISTS FEATURED: (clockwise, starting upper left)
Jim Wong, Roz Payne, Malaquias Montoya, Nancy Hom, Tomie Arai, Steve Louie, unknown, Russell Leong, Saichi Kawahara (all rights reserved by artists/all work copyrighted)
For More Info:
http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/aasc/rdp2/pubsaafirsts.html
David Monkawa Day of Remembrance 2003 Poster Art
Poster Art
In organizing, posters have often been used as a form for artistic expression and to send a message. One recent example of how artists "serve the people" is David Monkawa's work below:
