I had an inspiring evening on October 27, seeing Dutch percussionist Han Bennink - a legend in European free jazz / improvised music circles. I've heard Han play before, introduced by my husband (saxophonist Jorrit Dijkstra), but he certainly impressed me anew. A lanky, white-haired man in his late 60s playing with such a high level of energy, intensity, and humor... it convinces me again that half of being a good artist is remaining committed to one's ideas, carrying them through as purely and consistently as possible.
Dynamic Report on After School Time
I was just looking at the website of one of my clients - the Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time - and noticed that they had done a great job integrating the several videos I made for them in an interactive report. The report includes data, anecdotal evidence, and videos about the importance of after school activities for the state's children. I produced video interviews with the Commission co-chairs, portraits of three strong after school programs, and a montage of testimonies from several hearings across the state.
Very satisfying to see the media I produced being put to good use, in an accessible way.
In Memoriam Sokhorn Sem
I am sad to report that Sokhorn Sem, mother of Monkey Dance film subject Samnang Hor, passed away on October 4 after a long battle with cancer. Services were at the Khmer Temple (Wat Triratanaram) in Chelmsford yesterday and today. A survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide, Sokhorn worked for years at Cambridge Tool and as a wedding planner. She leaves behind a large and loving family, including Samnang, his wife Yary Na, and their daughter Jarronai.
Labor & Dreams Festival
My short video 25th & Mission will show at San Francisco Video Fest Thursday, October 15 at 8pm, at Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, 2868 Mission Street, San Francisco (around the corner from where the piece was shot).
And while we're talking about 25th & Mission, here are some pictures of the installation version of this piece, that ran August 4-10 in 25th Street Cleaners:
Capitalism Sold Out
Went to see Michael Moore's new film, Capitalism: A Love Story, last night. Amused by the sign we saw upon arrival (luckily, we had bought our tickets online).
Documenting the Struggle for Health Equity
I'm very excited to be working with the Center for Health Equity & Social Justice at the Boston Public Health Commission on a multi-year documentation project of their fantastic work towards eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities. We're starting off with filming their New England Health Equity Summit September 23-25, 2009 - a second gathering of community leaders from around the region around this issue.
Video and Pie in a Laundromat
My other upcoming show is an installation of my video 25th and Mission in the laundromat where it was partially filmed: 25th Street Dry Cleaners, 3416 25th Street (at Mission), San Francisco. The show will be up August 4-10, with an opening reception Wednesday, August 5, 5-7pm (when else can you have wine and cheese and Mission Pie pie in a laundromat)?
The piece looks abstractly at what the four delightfully diverse shops on this block have in common: namely, a rootedness in their community and the work of transforming and beautifying surfaces.