Stuff on the internet that I’ve been reading instead of Edward Said’s Orientalism.
Social Justice
- Here Is The Powerful Letter The Stanford Victim Read Aloud To Her Attacker – Not to perpetuate rape culture with my word choices or anything, but fuck this guy. Alternatively, sign some petitions.
- Janaya Khan of #BLM Toronto on the Sentencing of Jasmine Richards.
- Passing of Helen Chavez, who helped her husband, Cesar Chavez, give birth to & sustain first enduring U.S. farm workers union – To quote my bae #4, “Imagine what it was like to be the family backbone of a union leader, let alone Cesar Chavez…” #emotionallabor
- ISOLATION TO CREATION: DR. ADOMA ON ATTRACTIONALITY & INTERSECTIONALITY – Digging this: “We’re attracted to people for social, emotional, sexual, spiritual, physical reasons. All these levels of attraction are lost when we limit our identities to the realm of the sexual.”
Arts – Dallas
- Changing Gears At Dallas’ Office Of Cultural Affairs – After a yearlong search by a $50,000 paid search committee, City Manager AC Gonzalez decided to reject the search committee recommendations and instead appoint someone relatively unknown by the Dallas arts community to the Executive Director position of the Office of Cultural Affairs. I’m willing to not judge Executive Director Jennifer Scripps until we see evidence of whether or not she takes steps to support individual artists, cultural equity, government transparency, and creative ways of publicly leveraging private support (I am very curious if the references to private support means that the onus is on artists and organizations to raise their own funding (ugh), or if the city will find a way to publicly manage private arts patronage) – but if the search committee was pointless, I want that $50,000 of taxpayer money back (#grants, anyone?). Also, stay tuned for the June 23 special meeting of the Arts Commission, in which the OCA will either try to explain or find a way to ameliorate why they are cutting $60,000 from each city cultural center’s upcoming budget. Dallas, y’all! Supporting culture, one budget cut at a time.
- GABRIEL DAWE: IN RAINBOWS – An artist from Dallas makes it onto the national scene, and everybody loses their shit (just kidding, I’ve been a fan of Gabriel Dawe’s work for years).
- Building a bridge, not a wall: Crow Collection announces major partnership with Mexico – The resident museum of Imperial-Era Chinese Art (#NotAllAsia guys, #NotAllAsia) has announced a partnership and traveling exhibition with museums in Mexico, and all this chinita poblana can think about is, does this mean we’ll finally get to have a panel on the ChinaMex origins of the chimichanga?
Arts – Los Angeles
- Los Angeles Is Hiring a Sound Artist to Help Make its Streets Safer – Almost three years ago, I entered a large gymnasium wearing earplugs and holding a blue balloon. The sound vibrations from the building were so loud I could hear it from the parking lot, and I laid upon metal sculptures designed to transmit the sound vibrations. I’m thrilled to see that Alan Nakagawa, artist behind said piece and one of my favorite people, has been selected as the inaugural LADOT (Los Angeles Department of Transportation) Artist in Residence. I’ve been really interested in this residency program ever since it was announced, for the way that it models itself after programs in San Francisco and New York that create space for artists in civic departments (Mierle Laderman Ukeles is one of my big inspirations, so, you know). I would love to see additional cities and city departments (AHEM, AHEM) create positions for artists-in-residence to contribute to the poetic and experiential reading of the city. I can’t wait to see how Alan’s work in sound art and field recording contributes to a more walkable city.
Misc
- From refugee to Dallas retailer, Namaste Neeru Fashion owner proves aid program works – Right in my neighborhood, I love this!
The Bridge to Texangeles 