Entry for January 16, 2009

VAALA shut down

Hello friends, family, artists, supporters and activists...

As some of you may or may not know, VAALA has been under the microscope for a couple of "pieces of contention" in the FOB II: Art Speaks! exhibit. We have decided to close the visual portion of the exhibit as of today in order to be sympathetic to the pain that the community feels as well as city pressures (logistics of impending protests).

This deeply saddens me because I still stand very firm on my stance on freedom of expression.

Ironically, they are protesting an anti-Communist piece created by a very anti-Communist artist. But all they see is the symbol of the Communist flag, Ho Chi Minh's bust, and that is enough to bring back the pain, anger, and picket signs. But are we to just face away from the past? We should open up dialogue, approach inter-generational issues, and just... talk.

We tried to talk today during a press conference and outside was an angry mob yelling "da dao... so and so" - ("Down with Communists, Down with -- etc etc".... ) my favorite was "da dao cuc cuc!" ("Down with Pieces of Shit!" - that i DO agree with)

Anyway, One Mic - an indie night of music, poetry and art, hosted by Mai Piece (AnhDao, Taylur and myself) is still going on tonight!! Let freedom of expression ring true =)

new location: 209 N. Broadway St, Santa Ana, CA 92704. 8pm-10pm. Please go to www.vaala.org for press release.

Tomorrow, Sat, Jan. 17 will be the last night of performances. .. at the same space.

12pm - tshirt workshop with Anh Oi (Tuan Nguyen)

8pm-10pm - Lan Tran's solo performance as well as the first Vietnamese Gay Musical (and they are so cute)

I hope you guys will come out to support....

and if you can't make it down to the OC... please SUPPORT OWL AND THE SPARROW - a feature film by Stephane Gauger that is premiering this weekend!!!!! www.owlandthesparro w.com

hugs,

jenni

Email of one of the artist in the show :

Folks,

In case you didn't know, the FOB2 exhibition has been officially shut down this morning, Friday the 16th, by the show organizers. It's 3 days prior to the scheduled closing time. VAALA have announced the news this morning in a press conference. The reason to shut down the show is 50% by having no license from the city of Santa Ana to do exhibition, another the 50% is because of the reaction from the protesters to a few artworks in the exhibition (?). As I know, even the exhibition is shut down today, the protest will be still taken place tomorrow as the protesters have planned.

Ysa, Tram, and Lan, I wished you could announce us about your decision earlier. We the participating artists don't want to be the last ones who know what's going on regarding our works. As the organizer, you owe us an announcement/ explanation regarding this matter.

Hope to hear from you all, the artists and the show organizers.