Reflection: Tuesday Night Project’s National Poetry Month Show

We are a little behind on reflections but bear with us… (grr)

Almost a year ago in June when we were first starting out we featured at a Tuesday Night Show and it made our life.  We had heard about TNP and were familiar with their history so featuring there felt like we were entering the big leagues.  This year TNP invited us back to feature for National Poetry Month on April 17 and it made our lives again!

This was a special show for us because we were featured in celebration of National Poetry Month and that’s what we do!  It felt good.  Eddy and Stephanie performed “Are You Listening Now?”, Stephanie did “Chalk Days” which you can find in our chapbook, Mark did the classic “Realization” (on our CD), and we closed with our Asian American group piece which we have finally named!  Curious as to what it’s called… come to a future show and talk to us!

Major props to the other poets, Cold Tofu, and Dawen who brought the music!  Special shout out to Zulay and Allan.  Their set was so cool and Zulay and I had a shouting contest after the show about who was more awesome.  She totally rocked it with the sign language to Allan Aquino’s poetry.  All in all a really good night… a night in which our lives were made.

Tuesday Night Project is a very, very, very cool open mic venue that takes place in the courtyard of a church converted into a theater.  They always feature very talented Asian American folks so go to there.  Actually, the next one, June 5th is going to be featuring common ground so I will be there fosho!  Come out and support local talent and if you cannot go, stream them live online.

[ Posted on 5.25.12 / 2 notes ]
Tags:   #Tuesday Night Cafe    #tuesday night project    #spoken word poetry    #venue    #National Poetry Month    #asian american

Reflection: APSA’s Pass the Mic: Reclaim Your Roots

On April 27th at UC Irvine, there was an inspiring culmination of creative energy and social activism through spoken word, Hip Hop, and workshops. We are UC Irvine alumni, so it always feels homey to be back on the old “breeding” grounds where we as Uncultivated Rabbits frolicked over two years ago. Stephanie and I were there to represent forWord. An interesting fact is that Stephanie is also an alumnus of APSA. Generations bridged!

So we performed alongside a good friend of ours who we have known since he was a freshman, Nghiem Le, of Uncultivated Rabbits. He got jokes for days and also ran a workshop inspired by Sarah Kay.
Hoodini and King! came from the Valley to share with us some Hip Hop. The current ASUCI president, Traci Ishigo, facilitated a workshop about how to promote activism through art. Last but not least, Andy of APSA hosted the entire night and it is all thanks to him and the APSA board for organizing this to get all our minds thinking critically!
APSA currently have a set of events this month to celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month! So if you are near UC Irvine, please be sure to check them out and reclaim or discover your roots! The next event is THIS FRIDAY which is APSA’s 3rd Annual Talent-Art Show: ACYD: ALWAYS CHASE YOUR DREAMS.

This event is absolutely FREE! They are also taking donations for Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches, which seeks to diversify the bone marrow registry for underrepresented groups, particularly APIs.

THERE ARE NO TICKETS. Seating is open at the Student Terrace so make sure you come early to get a good view of the stage!

SPECIAL GUEST JUDGES AND PERFORMERS
- dumbfoundead
- Karen Song
- DANakaDAN (afterschoolspecial)
- Andy Chi-an Chen
More info can be found here: http://clubs.uci.edu/apsa/Home.html

- Eddy M. Gana Jr.
[ Posted on 5.23.12 / 5 notes ]
Tags:   #apsa    #roots    #asian american    #uci    #uc irvine

The Asian American Literary Review: Spring 2012: forWord in the Forum

New AALR issue is here! if you don’t have a copy coming, order here: http://aalrmag.org/get-involved/membership-subscription/. forWord is published in the Forum section with a transcript that details our thoughts on Asian-American literary generations!

With a forum on “Generations” with Genny Lim, David Mura, Velina Hasu Houston, Neelanjana Banerjee, Fred Wah, Sunyoung Lee of Kaya Press, and many more. Maxine Hong Kingston interviewed by Min Song; new writing by RZ Linmark, Ed Park, Ed Bok Lee, Wing Tek Lum, Hiromi Ito, and more.


[ Posted on 4.16.12 ]
Tags:   #asian american    #asian american literary review    #english    #literature    #interview    #forum    #forword    #aalr

AALimelight Interview with UCI’s APAAC

aalimelight:

By Steven Cong 


Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Elaine Won and I’m from the Bay (YAY!) Area. I’m currently the Programming Coordinator for the Asian Pacific Student Association (APSA) at UC Irvine, which means I coordinate, with the tremendous help of APSA staff, the annual Asian Pacific American Awareness Conference and Asian Pacific-Islander Heritage Month at UC Irvine. I’m also a music, art, fashion, and food junkie so I like to incorporate those aspects into the programs that I propose and coordinate.

What is APAAC?

APAAC stands for the Asian Pacific American Awareness Conference and this January 28th will ring in the 27th annual. The conference’s purpose is to educate the UC Irvine and greater Orange County community about Asian Pacific-Islander issues, politics and culture through speakers, workshops, and performances. APSA hopes to provide an open environment where attendees can foster a sense of community, network with other student organizers, and educate themselves by listening to and discussing the new perspectives that their peers have to offer. Hopefully the dialogues that happen at APAAC will inspire every individual to carry back their knowledge to each of their spaces so they can start or continue their work for the API and People of Color community.

Continue reading →

Continue reading to see what to expect at tomorrow’s (technically today’s) 27th APAAC at UC Irvine. Come through!

[ Posted on 1.28.12 / 3 notes ]
Tags:   #asian american    #forword    #forword news    #uc irvine    #apsa    #apaac    #uci    #forword collective

The 27th Annual Asian Pacific American Awareness Conference

TOMORROW! Come through and stay up to date with current issues in the APIA community! forWord will also be closing the conference with Beau Sia, SKIM, Nghiem Le of Uncultivated Rabbits, and Andrew Figueroa Chiang!

Student Center, UC Irvine
January 28, 2012
8 AM - 7 PM

The 27th Annual Asian Pacific-Islander American Awareness Conference (APAAC) is a day-long conference hosted by the Asian Pacific Student Association at UC Irvine.

APAAC is devoted to addressing the issues and redressing the questions raised in the contemporary society of the United States. This year’s theme is “The Movement: Then and Now.” This year they will explore cross-cultural activism, intersections of struggles faced by People of Color, and the need to bring back the foundations of the Asian Pacific-Islander American Movement to address the issues that pervade our communities today.

This conference will be held January 28th, 2012 at the Student Center of the University of California, Irvine and filled with speakers, workshops, performances, and peer and community organization facilitated discussion and education.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW. Discount available for delegations from campuses and organizations.

Check out the APAAC website at www.apaacuci.org for more information about the conference, registration, etc.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Glenn Omatsu
OPENING PERFORMANCE: Hoodini and KinG!


“RECLAIM THE BEAT” | Art Activism in Concert
https://www.facebook.com/events/268455026550266/)

Andrew Figueroa Chiang
Beau Sia
forWord
Nghiem Le (Uncultivated Rabbits)
SKIM

[ Posted on 1.27.12 / 1 note ]
Tags:   #asian american    #spoken word    #poetry    #apaac    #apsa    #uc irvine    #forword    #forword news    #forword collective    #forword feature    #forword spoken word