PHILADELPHIA — Asian Arts Initiative, a community-based arts center located in Philadelphia’s Chinatown North (1219 Vine St.), hosts two monthly community events that encourage conversation about the diverse experiences of Asian-Americans: Family Style Open Mic, held the third Friday evening of every month, and KinoWatt: Film and the Power of Change, held on First Friday evenings. Both events continue through May.
Family Style Open Mic, hosted by Michelle Myers and Catzie Vilayphonh of the spoken-word duo Yellow Rage, invites the sharing of stories, song, dance and poetry among Asian-Americans and extended “family” from all communities and cultural backgrounds. Open mic spots are open to the public, and each performer is given up to 5 minutes on stage. Family Style Open Mic also features special guest performances by celebrated Asian-American artists of many disciplines. On March 16, the Washington, D.C.-based South Asian dance troupe Dakshina | Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Co. will perform as guests; the season will close on May 18 with a special appearance by performance artist and activist Robert Karimi. (For more information on Yellow Rage, which has for the past eight years sought to make a positive impact through poetry and spoken word, visit www.yellowrage.com.)
Curated by interdisciplinary artist/producer Maori Karmael Holmes and artist/educator Sara Zia Ebrahimi, KinoWatt: Film and the Power of Change features documentary and narrative films that seek to illuminate injustice, spark debate and incite action. Entertaining as well as insightful, this series (which has in the past included such films as Cultures of Resistance and My Tehran for Sale) explores the struggles and contributions of marginalized peoples and their communities around a multitude of issues, including economic justice, racism, homophobia and classism. Upcoming screenings include episodes from FutureStates TV (April 6) and the 2011 feature film The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 (May 4).
“Asian Arts Initiative strives to present the stories of Asian-Americans and the diverse communities they are part of,” says executive director Gayle Isa. “These programming series allow a broad audience to watch, listen, learn and, most importantly, engage in dialogues of their own.”
Family Style Open Mic: Schedule of Events*
Friday, April 20
7:30-9:30 p.m., $5-$10 (sliding scale)
Pre-show reception begins at 6:45 p.m.
Through curated performances and a special presentation by students enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania undergraduate “Asian American Activism” course, the April 20 open mic night will explore the present-day resonances of the “bamboo ceiling” and how it affects Asian-Americans today.
Friday, May 18: With special guest performance by Robert Karimi
7:30-9:30 p.m., $5-$10 (sliding scale)
Pre-show reception begins at 6:45 p.m.
Robert Farid Karimi is an interdisciplinary playwright, humorist, activist, poet and artistic director of kaotic good productions. A San Francisco Bay Area native, son of Iranian and Guatemalan parents and a UCLA graduate, Karimi has had his work featured everywhere from Alaska to Australia; he is a National Poetry Slam Champion and Def Poetry Jam performer whose writings have been published in Callaloo, Latino Literature Today and Total Chaos: The Art and the Aesthetics of Hip Hop by Jeff Chang. A 2009 Creative Capital grantee, he is currently developing The Cooking Show con Karimi y Comrades: Diabetes of Democracy, which comes to Asian Arts Initiative May 13-19. (Biography via www.kaoticgood.com.)
*Family Style Open Mic participants are highly encouraged to sign up in advance online.
KinoWatt: Schedule of Events
Friday, April 6: FutureStates TV digital shorts: “Remigration,” “That Which Once Was,” “White”
8 p.m., $8 ($5 for students)
What will become of America in five, 25 or even 50 years from today? The Independent Television Service (ITVS) asked renowned and emerging filmmakers to imagine the U.S. in the not-so-distant future. The result is FutureStates, a series of groundbreaking digital shorts. Each episode presents a different filmmaker’s vision of American society projected forward, fusing an exploration of social issues with elements of speculation and science fiction. For details on the digital shorts, visit kinowatt.wordpress.com.
Friday, May 4: The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975
8 p.m., $8 ($5 for students)
The Black Power Mixtape examines the evolution of the Black Power Movement in the black community and Diaspora from 1967 to 1975. The film combines music, startling 16mm footage (lying undiscovered in the cellar of Swedish Television for 30 years), and contemporary audio interviews from leading African-American artists, activists, musicians and scholars. (Film description via www.blackpowermixtape.com.)
KinoWatt and Family Style Open Mic take place at Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine St., Philadelphia, PA 19107. In addition to these monthly programs, Asian Arts Initiative hosts exhibitions and ongoing youth workshops; gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, noon-6 p.m., and by special appointment. Admission to the gallery is free. For more information, call 215-557-4055 or visit www.asianartsinitiative.org.
