Welcome to Aimee Suzara's Website

Thanks for visiting!

There are several exciting projects afoot for 2013, including a poetry chapbook (short collection) which is now in its Presales period Feb 18-April 5, FINDING THE BONES, to be  released by Finishing Line Press by June 1, 2013 (see the cover design here by Kenji Liu).  Visit the event calendar for release parties!

And, in the world of theater, my creative team and I just staged a work-in-progress showing of A HISTORY OF THE BODY, my multidisciplinary play which was awarded several grants  (East Bay Community Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and City of Oakland Cultural Funding Program!) and generous donations from individuals (thank YOU!). We also had a show of excerpts at the California State University’s World Theater on April 18, supported by Special Events and OC3.

See the “highlight reel”  HERE and visit “a history of the body” for more info!

I’ve just launched a new blog at www.aimeesuzara.tumblr.com Follow me there for posts about the Body.

Check out the CALENDAR for a list of events, join my NEWSLETTER (click the link) to receive a monthly colorful email about news in my world – and keep shining out there!

Hi everyone!  Thanks for visiting my website!

I’m so thrilled that with the support of readers/audience members like you, we were able to meet our June fundraising goal on Kickstarter – which has now been matched with a commission grant from the East Bay Community Foundation!  At the same time, we have been awarded a grant by the City of Oakland’s Cultural Funding Program. All of this will allow us to stage a showing and workshops at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center and develop the work toward its World Premiere in 2013! Check out the new TRAILER featuring jazz singer Charmaine Clamor’s amazing song, “My Funny Brown Pinay.” *And although we’ve closed Kickstarter, we still need your support.  If you wish to contribute to the project for our WORLD PREMIERE in 2013, please click on “Donate Now” on the righthand bar and know that your donation will go towards artist fees, workshops for women, talks and production costs.

Pinay Poet is on the Radio!  Check out the archives for “Setting the Standard” at KPFA.ORG.  I’m guest hosting a segment each month (2nd Monday) featuring poets and artists I select.  Previous guests include featured interviews with Ise Lyfe, Dael Orlandersmith, Aima the Dreamer, Lisa Marie Rollins, Ramona Webb, and more.

Other news: I’ve been selected for the writer’s pool for PlayGround at Berkeley Rep, which means I’ll be submitting plays which are considered for their Monday Night “PlayGround.”  Keep posted at http://www.playground-sf.org/. A great community to be a part of.

Want to keep in touch? Sign up for my MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, “PINAY POET”!  This is the best way to keep in touch.  You’ll receive a pleasing monthly email with images, links, and updates on what’s recent and coming soon: http://eepurl.com/iuvr2

Hi everyone!  Thanks for visiting my website!

I’m excited to share with you the news that my play, A History of the Body, has been awarded two small grants – one from the Cultural Funding Program and one – a commission/match grant – from the East Bay Community Foundation.  The latter requires that we raise $6,000 in individual donations in order to receive their $6,000.  So, we launched a Kickstarter campaign to meet this goal by JUNE 1st and we are $4300 away! Please visit Kickstarter to become a “backer” – your pledge will only be charged June 1st once the campaign is completed.  Any amount of support will help us meet our goal stage a showing at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center and develop the work toward its World Premiere in 2013!  We’ve just launched a new TRAILER featuring jazz singer Charmaine Clamor’s amazing song, “My Funny Brown Pinay.”

Also…Sign up for my MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, “PINAY POET”!  This is the best way to keep in touch.  You’ll receive a pleasing monthly email with images, links, and updates on what’s recent and coming soon: http://eepurl.com/iuvr2

Images from work-in-progress presented by Kularts, Inc, November 2010.

Welcome to my website!  Thanks to those of you who have subscribed.  I’ve recently delivered a “Pinay Poet” newsletter in a new/improved format, and you may view it, and subscribe, by clicking here:

February 2012 Pinay Poet Newsletter

Read up on recent and upcoming events, announcements  and more.  I’ll also be posting topical blog entries soon, so keep posted.

Also, see my 2011 highlights in the recent archives.

Happy Lunar New Year!

Since it’s a new year in the lunar calendar, I thought it would be a good time to send out this belated 2011 year in review.

Collage from 2010 History of the Body Work in Progress

Amara Tabor Smith and Stephanie Bastos of Deep Waters Dance Theater

2011, I’d say, was characterized by a lot of hard work, growth and collaboration (and gratitude for the opportunities!). The first season was the season of “Our Daily Bread,” which brought me in the company of some beautiful and talented dancers, musicians and visionaries, and allowed me to embody the character of a storyteller in Eshu fashion.  Then, on to focusing on my play for the second and third parts of the year, bringing me to the full-length script of A History of the Body and a great staged reading and talk in October.  Poetry kept on moving, with features each month, and critical research/work on my manuscript.  My teaching, too, moved to the next step, as I was able to teach creative writing courses (fiction, poetry, creative writing & social action) officially at the college and university level.  And last, I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without folks who have joined my team – shoutouts are below.  The work of 2011 is definitely going to keep me on my toes for 2012, which will see lots of completion and manifestation!

Keep posted for the next update, featuring news in writing, performance and teaching, as well as a new and improved monthly newsletter.  And check out the other pages on this website – video, poems & audio – for links I’ve recently added.  Thanks!

2011 Highlights!

*Many of the bold-printed words lead to links (video, websites, flyers), so scroll over them!*

January – Start of a new year with a new website look (on wordpress.com). Visioning and planning.  Began teaching my first Craft of Fiction class at Las Positas College and my second semester of Poetry for the People at City College of SF.

February – Walang Hiya contributors reading (2/11, UC Santa Cruz). Fresh from the Oven: Love in the time of war and revolution (2/11, Luggage Store Gallery, SF)

March – Feature at Eth-Noh-Tec! (3/19, SF) and Transformative Visions (3/12, Oak). Heavy rehearsal time and collaboration with Amara Tabor Smith and Deep Waters Dance Theater for Our Daily Bread.

Image from "Our Daily Bread"

April – Heart to Help Japan (4/8, El Rio, SF); 4/18-24, Premiere of Our Daily Bread,  with Deep Waters Dance Theater, Counterpulse, SF.

May – Co-host/feature at the Food Party with Deep Waters  Dance Theater (5/22, La Pena, Berkeley), Feature at Rhymes & Rhythms (5/15, Manilatown, SF), Featured performer at the CSUMB Asian Pacific Heritage Month (5/12, Monterey),

Participants of "In This Skin" at the Oakland Cultural Center

June – Workshop at Oakland Asian Cultural Center, June 12, In This Skin; IndieGogo campaign to send me to the Atlantic Center for the Arts as an Associate Resident was successful!  Thanks to my donors!  Attended VONA with Willie Perdomo.

Feature at "Soul Food" in Orlando, FL

July – 3-week residency at the Atlantic Center for the Arts for Playwriting, with mentorship of Annie Baker and Dael Orlandersmith; them a short research trip to St. Louis, Missouri; featured performance at Soul Food (7/6, Chef Eddies, Orlando).

August – Began teaching at Cal State University Monterey Bay: Creative Writing and Social Action; featured performance at Amplify! Filipino American Book Festival event (8/12, SF),

September –Food & Freedom Riders (9/1, New Parish, Oak)

October – Oct 23 Staged Reading and Story Circle at Counterpulse, featuring Christine Jamlig, Earlene Somera, director Tracy Ward, and speakers Maggie Hunter and Joanne Rondilla; appearance at Filipino American Book Festival (10/2, SF). Featured Brunch Speaker at the English Conference of CA Two Year Colleges (10/22, San Bruno); 

At KPFA 11/25/11

November –Lunada (11/10, Galeria de La Raza, SF), Interview/Feature at La Onda Bajita Del Barrio Atzlan (11/25, Radio show on KPFA.  Click here or go to “poems & audio” to listen).

Members of Deep Waters Dance Theater and me at EAT Action Food Party, December 2011

December – Conversations in a Wartime Café reading (12/2, DNA Lounge, SF), Eat Action event at CounterPULSE (12/12, SF),

And other highlights:

Publication of several of my poems in journals and books: Lantern Review Issue 2,  Hanggang Sa Muli,  Tayo Literary Magazine, Phatitude (forthcoming), Conversations from the Wartime Café. 

Getting Support / Expansion: after doing most of it myself, I reached out for more help in the administration and organization of my arts work/business by formally gathering interns, consultants & supporters.  From helping vision my projects to giving feedback on poems; from selling my cds to putting stuff on my website – these folks have helped make it happen.  Special shoutouts to these individuals for all the work they’ve done and continue to do, on all levels, to help my art/work live: Alicia Kester (booking), Dorothy Santos, Toussaint Haki Stewart, Dyanna Loeb, Mai Doan, Aileen Suzara, Gala King, Tala Ibabao, Christine Cordero, Teresita Bautista, Phuong Nguyen, Aimee Espiritu, Frances Sedayao, Lisa Marie Rollins, Pam Wu, Ellen Sebastian Chang, Itoro Udofia, Ise Lyfe, Idriss Ackamoor and Rhodessa Jones, Amy Kweskin, Ching-in Chen, David Maduli, Jeannie Barroga, Eyla Moore, Amara Tabor Smith, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Delina Brooks, Tracy Ward, Tasi Alibastro, Jinky De Rivera, Craig Santos Perez, Lauren Muller, Deb Busman, Ernest Stromberg, Maria Villasenor, Umi Vaughan, my parents Ellen and Emil Suzara,  Aurora and Peter Vana and all the Indie Gogo and Kickstarter donors.

Life is very short and what we have to do must be done in the now. – Audre Lorde
The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible. – Toni Cade Bambara

at Lunada, 11/12/11

It’s been a whirlwind of a Fall, going now into Winter, and I wanted to be sure to send you all a post before too long!  What’s been on my mind lately: my students’ stories and final essays; writing something, anything, every day; keeping sane and warm by taking baths; the concept of “decolonizing” and my preference to call it “decolonize Oakland” rather than “occupy;” technology and how it can isolate and overwhelm rather than connect; appreciating the simple things – like a good hug or a good bowl of soup.

I pulled up this quote by Audre Lorde because it’s how I’ve been feeling, as I go into another birthday and a new year, and get nostalgic and anxious that “time is running out.”  I know I’m not alone in this feeling around time. The “blessed unrest” (Martha Graham) of the artist is both a blessing and a curse, but I reside in gratitude that I am able to share my passions and gifts with the world, and support others in doing the same – and with that, I am happy to share with you some reportbacks and some forthcoming news.  It’s a lot of reading, but please scroll all the way through!

HIGHLIGHTS: My ONLINE STORE where you can get a freshly pressed copy of my poetry CD; reports on winter events; booking opportunities; a casual food/art event this Monday in SF; and my birthday wish.   I end this post with a poem “where we occupy,” which I wrote with indigenous peoples in mind and right after the Occupy Oakland camp was aggressively raided, on All Soul’s Day.

Oh – one more thing! – I’m getting my technological/web stuff upgraded over this winter.  Your feedback, whether it’s subscribing, joining me on twitter, “liking” me on facebook, all helps! Thanks so much for reading, and many blessings for this winter season.

- Aimee

REPORTBACKS & SHOUTOUTS

• 11/22: I was the featured brunch speaker/performer at this year’s ECCTYC (English Council for California Two Year Colleges), held in San Bruno.  During my talk, I shared thoughts around on I called an “embodied” approach to both writing and teaching. I felt inspired myself by the responses I got and the reminder that so many of us in this profession come to it as writers who care deeply about bringing out students’ voices and providing greater access during difficult times. Special thanks to Sterling Warner and the ECCTYC directors for inviting me.
• 11/23: A History of the Body Staged Reading and Story Circle was amazing.  At this event, four new scenes from my play (now full-length and in revision!) were shared by actors Christine Jamlig and Earlene Somera, with the directorial work of Tracy Ward.  Then, Joanne Rondilla and Margaret Hunter, both experts/scholars on the topic of skin whitening and skin tone stratification both in the Philippines and globally, gave riveting powerpoint presentation/talks with an rapt audience.  Missed it?  Photos will be available soon on my website. And support the project here any time!
• The 12/2 reading for Conversations from the Wartime Café: A Decade of War 2001-2011, edited by Sean Labrador y Manzano, which includes one of my new pieces, “All Time,” at the DNA lounge. I enjoyed the rare opportunity to share the stage with Genny Lim and Elmaz Abinader, two of my poetry heroines, as well as a long list of writers featured in the book.
• The 12/12 Featured performance at Lunada, along with hostess Sandra Garcia Rivera, whose birthday we celebrated, was a blast!  This was the official release event for my new CD, LIWANAG: LIGHT,  and the audience gave me nothing but love and lots of energy!  Thanks to the Galeria De La Raza, the audience, students who came out, the hostesses Sandra and Erica Roman, along with all the fierce men and women who graced the stage!
  

  at Lunada 11/12/11

• Just received my copy of the book, Hanggang Sa Muli, Homecoming Stories for the Filipino Soul, edited by Frances Ong and Reni Roxas, an anthology by Tahanan Books (Philippines).  It includes one of my poems, “this house,” but also a few well known Filipino authors including Carlos Bulosan and the contemporary author Pati Poblete.  http://tahananbooks.com
• KPFA Radio show feature, 11/25/11 – The day after Thanksgiving, I was honored to be interviewed / featured on Pedro Rais’ show, La Onda Bajita Del Barrio Atzlan.  After joining the protestors at the Shellmounds in Emeryville on Thanksgiving day and participating in conversations about decolonization with Occupy Oakland folks, it was perfect timing to be interviewed about historical impacts of colonization, the content of my writing and the role of the artist.  I performed two poems live with the help of Toussaint Haki Stewart on the cowbell, and my sister Aileen (Kitchen Kwento) was also in the studio.   While the show is no longer available on the KPFA website, the MP3 will SOON be available on my website, so keep posted in about a week!

NOW FOR WHAT’S NEXT:

1)    My CD, “LIWANAG: LIGHT” and my Online Store  – Been wanting a recording of my poems?  Are you looking for a holiday gift that supports a local artist, not corporate chains?  Are you a teacher interested in playing poetry for your students in your classroom? In October, I released a limited number of my first fully-studio-recorded CD, “liwanag: light,” a collection of 10 poems recorded at Oaklion Studios and mixed/mastered by percussionist Ajayi Jackson.  It includes newer pieces like “Litany for the Sea,” and “The Meal I Never Had,” as well as older pieces newly-recorded like “this house” and “Salsa.” I only have a few dozen, and once these are sold, I’ll print another run. I’m also planning to move forward after this towards a longer CD with musical guests and a fancy insert, so all of your contributions towards this CD will get me closer to that project too! So get yours now!  Support your local poetess (me!)  It’s easy: go to my online STORE.

2)    12/12/11: EAT Action Potluck  with Deep Waters Dance Theater  and me!  This is short notice, but if you’re in the Bay Area, come to CounterPULSE tomorrow, Monday, 12/12, 6-8 pm (1310 Mission Street, SF), for – Food Party in members of Deep Waters Dance Theater and neighbors surrounding CounterPULSE theater on Monday night for an EAT action Pot luck food party. EAT is an acronym for Everybody At the Table, Everyday At the Table. Come sit at the table; let’s eat together, share stories about food and reclaim our right to have time to be nourished and sustained not only by our food sources but by our connection to one another. Bring a dish to share! Spoken word performance by Aimee Suzara! live music jam with members of DWDT and YOU!!!

3)    On the teaching front: I had a great time teaching Creative Writing and Social Action at Cal State Monterey Bay, and I’m looking forward to teaching two courses there next semester: Multicultural Poetry and again the Creative Writing and Social Action intro class.

4)    NOW BOOKING: I’m currently getting 2012-13 booked for performances, talks, workshops, lectures, etc! Please visit www.aimeesuzara.net  and click on “book aimee” to make a request or email booking@aimeesuzara.net.

5)    My Birthday Wish: On Dec 29, I’m turning another year on mama Earth (it’s a multiple of 3…) And rather than hope for or expect gifts, I’d like to ask my friends, family and supporters to do what you do best: help your fellow hustling poet/playwright/professor to get my work into the world! It’s what I feel I’m here to do, and with the little institutional support of artists, especially in hard times, we rely on our individual supporters. 

And to do this, you can either (or both!) purchase a copy (or 2 or 3) of my LIWANAG: LIGHT CD online or make a donation to A HISTORY OF THE BODY, which I am fundraising and grant-writing and revising and working my butt off to get off the ground, hopefully in 2012-13.

Donate at paypal or send a check, for a tax-deductible donation, to COUNTERPULSE, 1310 Mission Street, San Francisco 94103 OR directly to me, written to Aimee Suzara at PO Box 10732, Oakland CA 94610 with a note, “A History of the Body”.

In the studio at KPFA, 11/25/11

Thanks Pedro Raies and KPFA for having me on La Onda Bajita Del Barrio AZTLAN on Friday night, 11/25 – an honor to share my poems, my work & discuss history, decolonizing and the role of the artist…LISTEN (until Dec 9) AT: http://www.kpfa.org/archive/id/75471. Jump to 9pm (halfway through) or listen to the whole thing; guest M1 from Dead Prez right before me!

Also, my new poetry cd, LIWANAG: LIGHT, featuring 10 studio-recorded new and older poems, was released this month and available NOW! Visit the STORE to order safely through PAYPAL!  I hope you may consider purchasing a copy for your classroom, friends, or family.