-Performance by In-Lak-Ech
In Lak Ech is a Mayan concept meaning you are my other me-tu eres mi otro yo. In the flesh, In Lak Ech is a performance poetry and song collective of Xicana multi-media artists, writers, students, and organizers uniting to tell Her-story through poetry. In Lak Ech is comprised of Marisol Torres, Felicia Montes, Claudia Mercado, Cristina Gorocica, Rachel Thorson Véliz, Liza Hita, and Marlene Beltran. Their flowering words, which express their urban indigena realities are offered to the past, present, and future generations. Since their birth on International Womens Day, 1997, they have been heard from the jungles of Chiapas to the concrete jungles of Mexico City, Los Angeles, and beyond.
-Performance: Operation First Casualty
Pointing imaginary guns and roughing up "Iraqi civilians", a group of antiwar veterans bring the realities of the Iraq debacle to cities throughout the U.S. where they briefly turn public space into a combat zone. In "Operation First Casualty," a half-dozen performers employ the tactics of street theater to stage mini-dramas simulating sniper fire and staging mock arrests of fellow protesters portraying Iraqis.
-Public Performance of Advocacy Manifestos
Students in the Arts and Activism class will present original advocacy manifestos in public spaces throughout the school.
-KCIA 105.3 CalArts Radio Station
Deconstructing the Other will do a call for proposals for writers and other artists to read and share work which focuses on the issues explored by the project. The programming will be curated and coordinated by Sam Fisher, one of the radio station organizers and a student in the Arts and Activism Class. Programming will air and stream throughout the day.
-Community Gardening
Deconstructing the Other will schedule a session of “community gardening” to bring awareness about our CalArts Community Garden and invite the CalArts community to participate in the planting of seeds and trees.
-Presentation and fundraiser in behalf of East Central Los Angeles community (Skid Row)
This will be a public presentation by:
John Malpede (Los Angeles Poverty Department)
Kevin Michael (Los Angeles Poverty Department)
General Dogon (United Coalition East Prevention Project)
Charles Porter (United Coalition East Prevention Project)
The presentation aims to bring awareness about issues affecting the community of East Central Los Angeles and ways in which to support the work of local non-profits and bring awareness to the issue of homelessness in Los Angeles.
The presentation will be followed by an informal fundraiser which aims to collect funds to purchase trash cans for Skid Row. This is part of a campaign begun by Skid Row resident and community organizer OG and supported by the United Coalition East Prevention Project.
-Presentation by Ari Kletzky / Islands of LA
Ari Kletzky will do a presentation on his project Islands of LA. The presentation will be followed by a dialog focusing on individual agency and public space.
-Presentation by Los Angeles Poverty Department
Artistic Director John Malpede will give a presentation about the work of Los Angeles Poverty Department. LAPD was the first performance group in the nation made up principally of homeless people. LAPD is dedicated to building community on Skid Row, Los Angeles. Since 1985, the company has offered performance workshops that are free and open to the Skid Row community— partnering with numerous social service and advocacy groups, including SRO Housing, Inc.; LA Community Action Network; The Downtown Women’s Action Coalition; St.Vincent DePaul Center; The Salvation Army’s Women’s and Men’s drug recovery programs; and the Inner City Law Center.
-BLU, a play by Virginia Grise
BLU, an original play by Virginia Grise, will be included as part of the program of Deconstructing the Other. The play will open in the B/W Theater.
-Play Reading by Deborah Asiimwe
Ugandan playwright Deborah Asiimwe will be giving a reading of her latest play.
