Hello readers,

Just a quick note until the “official” September post goes up!

Had a busy August with several performances and began teaching again – a new course at Cal State University Monterey, teaching Creative Writing and Social Action has been especially exciting!

With the play – I continue to rewrite/revise the script that was produced while at the Atlantic Center for the Arts while exploring future venues and support opportunities for next year. The Community Engagement component will also continue to grow – we had a small gathering of women to generate interest and discuss issues of skin color and beauty recently, entitled “The Sweetness of Being in Our Own Skin” (featuring desserts!) Let me know if you are interested in hosting a small house party to help fundraise for the project.

Next up will be the October 23 A History of the Body staged excerpt and story circle, so please save the date to join us! It will be at CounterPULSE in San Francisco, 7:30pm.

I’ll also be present at the PAWA (Philippine Writers & Artists) table at the Filipino Book Festival on October 2.

Last, I am available for BOOKING (workshops, speaking engagements, performances) for late 2011 through 2012. Please contact booking@aimeesuzara.net and cc’ Alicia Kester at alicia1kester@gmail.com.

More soon!
Aimee

Hi folks -

I have been back for a little while from the Playwriting residency at the Atlantic Center for the Arts as well as my research trip to St. Louis, Missouri. I wanted to update you on how it went in a little reportback:

1) There were 20 residents, three “master artists” and the staff and volunteers.
2) My group of playwrights were all working on full-length (our second or beyond) plays with Annie Baker (Circle Mirror Transformation, Body Awareness). We spent hours each day reading plays, writing, getting in fascinating discussions on articles and craft topics; importantly, we read and gave close feedback on one anothers’ plays, with Annie’s expert guidance.
3) I also met and got feedback from the powerful Dael Orlandersmith (Yellowman, the Gimmick), who had group working on monologues.
4) There were many studios and spaces to utilize, all with beautiful and inspiring architecture. There were a few performances in the theater, including the closing event where we all shared 5 minutes.
5) We all ate together, talked about art, took bike rides, read in the library, and as much as we could, wrote, wrote, wrote. Some of us collaborated and shared advice and expertise.
6) From this, I was able to draft a (rough) full-length version of my play, A History of the Body! This was a tremendous task that would have not been possible otherwise. In this professional and compressed environment – sort of a hothouse for creativity – the work, though raw and awkward as it is, was born.
7) Thereafter, I visited St. Louis and scoured the library and museums at the original St. Louis World’s Fair (1904), some of the material of which has influenced my play, as well as my poetic work. I was able to actually peruse real photos and books from that era.
8) I’m back and I’ve had my nose in my computer, churning out rewrites, a process which will now take many months and much more elbow grease.  And next up…is to be discovered, but hopefully it will find its way into the production phase (or 2).

Here’s an acknowledgment of folks who helped send me there. Thanks for believing in me:

FUNDERS FOR AIMEE SUZARA’S WRITING RESIDENCY
2011, Atlantic Center for the Arts!

101-500
Aurora and Peter Vana
Eleanor and Emil Suzara

50-100
Joan Osato

25-49
Toussaint Stewart
Jen-Mei Wu
James Espinas, in honor of Karen Aqua
Joellene Buccat
Frances Sedayao

11-20
Richard Wright

10
Kristine Yates
Roseli Ilano
Lisa Melnick

Those who gave 0-10, you are also stellar!

AND the Anonymous Amount-Givers (chose not to reveal $):

Linda Rose Victoire Byers
Ron Quesada
David Palaita
David Maduli
Maryam Roberts
Maria Josephine Barrios
Lisa Hsia
Patricia Ong
Cristina Mitra
Christine Cordero
Edwin Guarin
Linda Nietes
Debra Busman
Conrad Panganiban
Fiona Smith
Ana Gallegos

Greetings!

I’m writing a short post from Florida – the Atlantic Center for the Arts – where I’m an associate artist-in-residence.  It’s a gorgeous campus, and it’s going well – I’m working really hard, and meeting some fascinating playwrights, performance artists and actors.  The Master artists are Annie Baker, Dael Orlandersmith and Heather Woodbury. The schedule is quite rigorous, so it’s by no means a retreat! I’m primarily working on material for the History of the Body project.

So – not much by way of performances and shows this month, unless you are in Florida:

And if so, I’ll be featuring at an intimate, family-style spoken word weekly called “Autumn Blaze Presents Soul Food” at Chef Eddie’s in Orlando.  See CALENDAR for info.

Thanks to the folks who helped send me here via the successful Indie Gogo campaign!

For everyone else – not to worry – there are plenty of opportunities to support this work, so stay tuned. J  Otherwise, I hope you are all enjoying your summer.

Hi folks,

I’ll be writing up a proper June update soon, but for now, please check out and SHARE the link to this IndieGogo campaign to help send me to a playwriting residency, where I’ll be working on A History of the Body.  Just 2 weeks to go! Cool perks include a DVD of November 2010′s work-in-progress of the play.  Thanks and Happy June…

http://www.indiegogo.com/project/widget/28963

Aimee

Dear Readers,

Happy Asian Pacific Heritage Month!  April flew by with a fierceness, but in good ways! Read on for a brief reportback on April events, then see what’s up for this May-June!

First, some quick Reportbacks and shoutouts: National Poetry Month kicked off with a performance at El Rio with a unique lineup of comedians, singers and bands at HeART to Help Japan Benefit.  Then, the long-awaited Our Daily Bread World Premiere with Deep Waters Dance Theater brought the house down at at CounterPULSE at 8 packed shows, April 14-24.  I was honored to contribute my poetic text, voice and performance to the show after working with  Tabor Smith since its early days in 2008.  Check out this blog at Hyphen Magazine by Joy Tang, in which the director Ellen Sebastian Chang and I were interviewed at length, and here’s a dance review at SFBG. If you missed these shows, I will be making an appearance at La Pena’s May 22 excerpt showing, after which I’ll shift my focus to my project, the multidisciplinary play, A History of the Body.  Last – the month closed with a bright show of elements, flashing cameras and funds for eco-justice at the FAJ (Filipino Advocates for Justice) Eco-Fashion Show, which was my first (and perhaps only!) stint on the catwalk: I must say it was a lot of fun sporting tailored-to-fit recycled-material dresses!

And that was just April! Here’s what’s up next: performances and my next workshop, In this Skin!  Read on through the Announcements, as I’m actively booking, seeking an assistant/intern, and inviting donations to send me to a playwriting residency, where I’ll finish a draft of my play!

Peace, poetry & perserverance! Aimee

EVENTS NEXT MONTH:

• Save the Date: June 20 poetry reading: Mills and other MFA graduates.

• Help me attend the Atlantic Center Playwriting Residency: DONATE TODAY  at Paypal  so I can finish my play, A History of the Body!

Happy National Poetry Month (April)…

Since the last post in February, the Quake/Tsunami hit Japan, and lots of changes in the world have been going on.  Sending love and prayers to those affected.

My plate has been abundant, with lots of events and more to come. Next Friday, I’ll be joining a lineup of artists performing for a Japan benefit. Then, beginning April 14, the highly-anticipated  premiere of OUR DAILY BREAD with Amara Tabor-Smith’s Deep Waters Dance Theater, a powerful show that is sure to entice, nourish, challenge and move you…I’m a collaborating artist in text/performance and I can’t wait for you to experience this work.  Read on for info about these events, a reportback on February and March, and more.

And I hope to see you soon! – Aimee

 

The SHORTLIST:

• Reportbacks & shoutouts: Walang Hiya reading in Santa Cruz, Fresh from the Oven, Transformative Visions, Salon! You’re On! with Eth-Noh-Tec, Zaccho Dance Theater
• April 8 – Just Added!  HeART to Help Japan Benefit, featuring a list of artists, including me as the featured Spoken Word artist.
• April 14-24 Our Daily Bread! Dance Theater piece at CounterPULSE.
• May 29: “In this Skin” Workshop at OACC
• BOOKING info

 

REPORTBACKS/SHOUTOUTS

February kicked off with the : Walang Hiya (Without Shame) bookreading. Feb 11 at UC Santa Cruz.  Elsa Valmidiano, Roseli Ilano and I were greeted by an enthusiastic audience and got to hang with members of Alay, the Filipino club on campus. Walang Hiya: literature taking risks toward liberatory practice is an anthology of stories and poems by Filipino-American writers, edited by Roseli Ilano and Lolan Sevilla.  Then, on Feb 19, at , Fresh from the Oven,: Love in the time of war and revolution, a co-production between the Luggage Store Gallery and Deep Waters Dance Theater, co-host Ramona Webb and I joined my sis and culinary artist Aileen Suzara (KitchenKwento), Matt Blesse from the SF Slam Team, Kenji Liu, Vickie Vertiz, and Lisa Marie Rollins for stories and poems about food, war, revolution and everything in between.  On March 12, the OneLife Institute brought us Transformative Visions, A multi-media community arts event featuring dozens of visual artists, a powerful lineup of spoken word artists and live jazz by the Richard Howell Quintet and Destiny Muhammad.  Check the link (click on the title) to watch video clips! On March 19, I joined a powerful group of visual artists and performers at Salon! You’re On! the event curated and presented by Eth-Noh-Tec. March 26, I moderated a panel at the Zaccho Youth Company’s show at ODC.  The youth panel, featuring Literacy for Environmental Justice, Bayview Center for Arts and Technology, and more, showed us that the young folks know what’s UP!  Great job to the youth company’s aerial dance pieces that were breathtaking.

 

Now, the details for upcoming events:

THE LONGLIST

HeART to Help Japan Benefit

When: Friday, April 8th, 9pm-12:30 am

Where: El Rio (3158 Mission St., SF, CA)

RSVP & invite your friends: Official invite

Tickets: $5-500, Sliding Scale at the door.

All proceeds from the HeART to Help JAPAN benefit will be donated to the JCCCNC’s Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. http://www.jcccnc.org/

 

Situations in Japan have grown more dire every hour. It’s heartbreaking. On top of the rising number of victims from the earthquakes and subsequent tsunami, Japan is also facing the potential of one of the worst nuclear plant disasters in world history. It may feel like there’s little any one of us can do on our own to help. But, we can unite as a community and leverage our talents and resources as best we can. Please join us for a silent auction featuring artwork from dozens of Bay Area artists plus live performances by:

Kelly Anneken (Co-host & Comedian): http://femikaze.tumblr.com /

Kelly Anneken is an Oakland-based writer/comedian. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Kelly has made a splash in the Bay Area as host of Stud Comedy Wednesdays, managing editor of humor journal Hobo Pancakes and founder of pro-feminist sketch troupe Femikaze.

Kristee Ono (Co-host & Comedian): http://rabidpixie.tumblr.c om/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/rabidpixie

Asian from an early age, Kristee ate her first Burrito before most babies figure out how their lungs work. She also runs the Ladies Night at the Brainwash and has performed comedy at clubs all over the Bay Area.”I am Japanese American, I do not have family in Japan but am involved in the Japanese American Community and have ties to the Japanese culture. When I heard about the earthquake I contacted my family and all of my JA friends to make sure all of their loved ones were alright. After really seeing the devastation of the earthquake I was that much more grateful that the people I knew and their loved ones were safe. I am trying to do as much as I can through donations to the Red Cross and participating in Japan benefit shows, hoping my silly jokes might help out some how.”

Ishtar Monique (R&B / Soul / Neo-soul / Pop Vocalist): http://www.reverbnation.com/ishtarmonique

Ishtar has been singing since the impressionable age of 13, tapping into the many facets of her voice thanks to a school friend. She has spent over the last decade, honing, crafting, and diligently working on her incredible gift and performing in various venues across the bay Area.  She is well versed in many genres of musiik ranging from Pop, Soul, R&B, Hip Hop, Rock, Funk, and yes even Contemporary Country! “I believe that love cures all pain and and hurt. So it’s my duty as an artist to love, care, and Serve! And for that very reason is why I am grateful to take part in this wonderful event. giving japan all my love which is musiik ♥ love always -ishtar”

Kazumi Kusano (Japanese Actress and Comedian): http://www.kazumikusano.com/

http://kazumikusano.wordpress.com/

Born and raised in Japan, actress and comedian Kazumi Kusano was inspired as a child by Japanese comedians, The Drifters, and in 1995, she began performing improvisational comedy in Tokyo.  After she moved to the U.S., she created the sketch comedy duo, The Kazumi and Jane Comedy Hour, which performed in the Bay Area including a run of shows as part of The Identity Shift at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.  Kazumi has appeared in such projects as Ten Red Hen’s Clown Bible, as well as commercials for the Japanese Consulate and Cache Creek Casino Resorts.  She performs stand-up comedy all over San Francisco, and you can catch her at venues such as Castagnola’s and the Marsh in Berekeley. “Save Japan with your Love and Good Karma. Our positive energy make a big difference.”

Jay Trainer Band (Blues-Rock): http://www.jaytrainer.com/

Jay Trainer combines thick, prolific guitar riffs and stark lyricism, while drawing on the traditions of funk, rock, blues, and psychedelia to craft a modern classic. The singer/songwriter possesses a unique ability to effortlessly negotiate tone and volume, moving from a quiet, almost jazzy tone to a booming thunder at any given moment. As the Founding Director for Artfulchange, Jay sets the mission and vision of the organization, raises funds, and coordinates events. He works diligently to find non-profit sponsors whose work Artfulchange can support.

Aimee Suzara: (Filipino-American Spoken Word / Performance Artist): http://aimeesuzara.net/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aimee-Suzara/146731845337825

Oakland-based Filipino-American writer/performer, “Aimee Suzara writes and performes with an unhurried beauty, lyricism, and love of words that contains all of her urgency and fierceness as a woman of color.” – Aya de Leon, poet/performer  Suzara’s mission is to create, and help others create, work that builds community, fosters healing, and provokes important questions through poetry, movement and theater.

Jhameel (Classically-influenced Pop): http://www.jhameel.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Jhameel

Jhameel presents a blend of orchestral instruments, tight percussion, fierce vocal melodies, and rich synthesizers. His lyrics reflect the intricacy of the sound, and stand alone from the music as poetry. They at times express the triumphs and struggles of the human condition, and at others strive to give voice to the silent margins of society. “I’ve learned that tragedy can lead to the greatest humanity. Let’s show our friends in Japan that they don’t need to overcome this alone.”

***

 

OUR DAILY BREAD:

“This is an important piece that needs to be seen. In a time when so many of us are detached from the earth and the food we put in our bodies, this piece evokes the spirit of our great-grandparents ways, lost rituals, and the justice work that must be done around FOOD. “Our Daily Bread…” is the vital soul food that we have been hungering for, whether we knew it or not.” – Audience member, 2009 showing of Our Daily Bread

 

 

Our Daily Bread

 

Amara Tabor-Smith’s Deep Waters Dance Theater

 

With stories told through dance, text and video, Our Daily Bread celebrates what we eat and illuminates the culture that underlies our eating practices. It is a performance experience that honors individual food legacies and engages all of the senses. This collaboration between Amara Tabor-Smith’s Deep Waters Dance Theater, director Ellen Sebastian Chang and visual artist Lauren Elder will delve into the folklore and stories surrounding our food traditions to examine how these traditions are impacted by industrialized agriculture, fast food culture and our global food crisis. Our Daily Bread is both disquieting and celebratory – provoking and challenging the audience to examine their own food practices and the subsequent effects, both, physical and environmental; positive and negative. Are our food traditions supporting our well being or making us sick? Why are lower income communities of color and the farm workers themselves often missing from “the table” of the sustainable food movement? At once nostalgic, affirming, alarming and delicious, Our Daily Bread promises to stimulate the mouth and the mind.

 

Cast of Our Daily Bread: Stephanie Bastos, Eyla Moore, Aimee Suzara, Amara Tabor-Smith, Alicia Walters, Adriel Eddo with music by Ajayi Lumumba Jackson

 

Sunday, May 29, 2-5pm.  In This Skin, writing/performance workshop with Aimee Suzara. When it comes to body image, what is the importance of skin? Join Aimee Suzara, writer/performer and director of the Pagbabalik (Return) Project, for a writing workshop that allows you to explore attitudes around skin color, body image, and beauty. Develop gesture and text through guided writing and movement exercises.  This workshop is a part of the development phase of the the multidisciplinary piece, A History of the Body, written by Suzara, which debuted a work-in-progress in residency with Kularts, Inc. in November 2010.  A History of the Body fuses poetry, theater, dance, and visual projection to examine the impact of conquest and racial stereotyping on the body, with special focus on Filipino history.  No experience necessary; all ages and physical abilities welcome.  Sign up soon with OACC – keep posted on their website, www.oacc.cc for info!

 

BOOKING:

I am now booking poetry readings/performances, speaking engagements and workshops, in Spring through Winter 2011!  Invite me to your college, high school, or literary or community event. Featured venues I’ve visited include Portland State University, Stanford, Mt. Holyoke College, and UC Santa Cruz.  Send an email to booking@aimeesuzara.net or go to www.aimeesuzara.net to download my presskit and booking request form.

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. – Maya Angelou

At the risk of sounding ridiculous, let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by feelings of love. – Ernesto Che Guevara (1928-1967)

You are telling me the story that you have written..the story about my life! – Paciencia Muyargas (1920-2011)

Dear readers,

Happy Lunar Year – I hope this year of the Rabbit brings you positive changes and creativity.  Also, let us honor Black History Month…

This month’s post will cover announcements about what’s new and coming up, including some events this month in Santa Cruz and SF and the re-release of the soundtrack of Pagbabalik; info on booking; and below that,  for those who missed last month’s post, a reportback from the fall season of A History of the Body and how to support the project now.  (Check out these VIMEO clips if you missed the work-in-progress! http://vimeo.com/18637512 and http://vimeo.com/15796981)

At the bottom of this email, I have included one of the poems from my chapbook (the space between), “Poem for Lola,” in honor of my Lola Paciencia Muyargas (1920-2011), who became an ancestor just days ago – she has been one of my biggest inspirations.  To all our Grandmothers!

Thanks for reading – and see you soon.

In poetry,

Aimee

*****

PUBLICATION
Publication of one of my poems in Lantern Review Issue 2, “My Mother’s Watch.” Contributions to this issue include poetry by W. Todd Kaneko, Kenji C. Liu, Kathleen Hellen, Aryanil Mukherjee, Lek Borja, Wendi Lee,Aimee Suzara, Michelle Peñaloza, Rajiv Mohabir, JoAnn Balingit, Kimberly Alidio, and Marc Vincenz, as well as a range of beautiful photographic work.  Visit http://www.lanternreview.com/ to read and see!

EVENTS – THIS MONTH:

Fri, Feb 11, 7:30pm: Walang Hiya (Without Shame) bookreading. AT UC Santa Cruz, Cervantes Velasquez room, above the Baytree Bookstore. Featuring authors David Dmadness Maduli, Aimee Suzara,Elsa Valmidiano, and RoseliIlano.  Walang Hiya: literature taking risks toward liberatory practice is an anthology of stories and poems by Filipino-American writers, edited by Roseli Ilano and Lolan Sevilla.

Sat, Feb 19, 1-3pm: Fresh from the Oven: Love in the time of war and revolution, a co-production between the Luggage Store Gallery and Deep Waters Dance Theater.

Hosted by Aimee Suzara and Ramona Webb. Stories/poetry from culinary artist Aileen Suzara (KitchenKwento), members of SF Slam Team, Kenji Liu, Vickie Vertiz, Lisa Marie Rollins and your hosts.  DJ and other details TBA. At the Luggage Store Gallery, Tenderloin National Forest: 509 Ellis @Leavenworth, San Francisco

NOW AVAILABLE: SOUNDTRACK CD from Pagbabalik/Return, produced in 2006-2007 at La Pena Cultural Center, has been reprinted, with new liner notes from the composer Ron Quesada!  Inside the CD, you’ll find a summary of the play, explanation of the instruments used, and list of tracks/scenes.  To purchase one today, at a special price of $10, email meat aimee@aimeesuzara.net!

Details: Pagbabalik is a multidisciplinary theatre work written by Aimee Suzara, fusing spoken word and theatre, Filipino and modern dance, and indigenous Filipino and contemporary music for an unforgettable journey through history, language and memory. Featuring Rose Almario, Aimee Espiritu, Jose Saenz, Aimee Suzara, and music by Ron Quesada, Jen Soriano, and Juan Calaf

BOOKING:

I am now booking poetry readings/performances, speaking engagements and workshops, in Spring through Winter 2011!  Invite me to your college, high school, or literary or community event. Featured venues I’ve visited include Portland State University, Stanford, Mt. Holyoke College, and UC Santa Cruz.  Send an email to booking@aimeesuzara.net or go to www.aimeesuzara.net to download my presskit and booking request form.

EVENTS – SAVE THE DATES:

March 12, 2-5pm: Transformative Visions, A multi-media community arts event from the OneLife Institute lifting up a vision of peace, justice, and possibility for our world.  I’ll be sharing during thepoetry/music section. StudioOne, 365 – 45^th St., Oakland, CA 94609

March 19, 7pm: Salon! You’re On! I’ll be sharing some work,along with other artists. Hosted by Eth-Noh-Tec. At 977 South Van Ness Ave, SF.

April 14-24: Amara Tabor-Smith/Deep Waters Dance Theater at CounterPULSE with Our Daily Bread, two weekends Thursday-Sunday.  http://www.counterpulse.org

 

A HISTORY OF THE BODY reportback and how to get involved!

 

Thanks to those of you who came to the shows and talkbacks on November 20-21 at the Bayanihan Community Center!  The seats were filled, and audience responses were lively, emotional and provocative.  See some responses below! I’ve collected the feedback, collected the videos, and all of this will aid us as we develop the piece this year. I’ve  had fruitful meetings with potential new collaborators on the piece; in the Philippines, I conducted several interviews and got more images around skin color/whitening.

Fundraising: many thanks again to the DONORS from the fall (your names can be viewed at my website, www.aimeesuzara.net, under “current projects”); if you were a Kickstarter donor and requested rewards,those will go out this month! You can still, and we encourage you, to donate today to help us grow the show: go to www.aimeesuzara.net for the paypal link, or send a check addressed to Aimee Suzara or, for tax-deductible donation, address the check to CounterPULSE,and send to P.O.Box 10732, Oakland, CA 94610.

If you missed the Nov shows, a DVDwill be available soon. See the links on Vimeo under A History of the Body . Keep an eye out this year for fundraising events,workshops and work-in-progress showings beginning in the late spring.IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER (research, fundraising, hosting a party, admin, production)as a contribution, drop me an email at aimee@aimeesuzara.net, as there are many opportunities!

WORDS FROM VIEWERS

 

“A History of the body provides a viewer with a lesson in how our past resides in our bodies…you become the show.Brilliant!” – audience member

 

“[It]was an important, informative, beautiful,visceral journey into how colonization affects female bodies. It is Filipinahistory, it is American history, and resonates deeply with all colonized people of color.” – Richard Wright

 

“Set in part at the beauty salon, the History of the Body ensemble points to the source of the messages that empower that gaze and withholding. The production’s dance movement allow us to re-visit the norms of whiteness rooted in justifying colonial occupation and beauty that still haunt the most enlightened of us.” – Grace Alvaro Caligtan

 

POEM

 

Poem for Lola

 

Give me your vision, Lola

those glowing forms you conjure

through your glass eye -

not the real one sheathed over

like a veiled fortune-ball.

As we sit together, laughing at nothing at all,

I hold

your fingers, so small

sand

falling

into the sea shell of my hand.

 

Teacher,mother of ten

wife of the noble Colonel

who continues to live in your dreams,

you have

begun your slow wilt towards grasses

I have never laid my head upon.

Sleep

is uncanny, a respite

from the memories that will not come

the thoughts                    that will not                            complete themselves.

 

They float in the air between us like

the old dust brought up from aged photo-pages,

the electric fan whirring them to our faces.

 

They float like gossamer tangled

between us.

 

Give me your memories, Lola

the gathering of trinkets and forget-me-nots.

I will dust and shine their surfaces aching

to be seen and touched by any human hand.

 

Will you reach back where words hang

unfettered as rain on a single

spider’s

silk

 

will you help me weave a history

a t’nalak[1] of our dreams

for those unborn

to  dream upon?

 

Give me your words, Lola

I will handle them as a jeweler

find facets of the stars

blemishes, disfigurations

or fossilized, the pieces of myself I have always

sought.

I will handle them

as a grandchild,

in endless search of her origins

hands open to the stardust that falls

whenever  words

fall

from your mouth.

 

For Lola with Love

from your apo’,

Aimee Bernadette Muyargas Suzara

Given January 9, 2007