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VBB’s Second Decade: 2011-12
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Fall 2011
a vbb living room art production Third Worlds:site-specific installations at residential spaces re-contextualizing socio-economic constructs underpinning relational parallels between the ethno-geographics of Third Ward, a historic afro-western locality in Houston, and the urban conflictual zone of Karachi, a megapolis of colliding communities located at the southern edge of Sindh, Pakistan- Part 1
VBB’s Fall season opener is a new version of our much-lovedliving room art series, this year produced in two homes in Houston’s Third Ward, and featuring cutting-edge art by more than 10 artists from Houston’s Third Ward and Karachi, Pakistan. Using video, installations, music and performance, artists will explore commonalities between cultures and histories of Houston and Karachi, and will interpret personal histories both taught and untaught, neighborhood stories and contemporary art as practices emerge in two communities located in different parts of the world. Third Ward artists will focus on various areas around the neighborhood, Houston's hub of black artistic, cultural, religious, and political institutions since the 1960s. Artists from Karachi will create work from and about Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, once home to the Sindhi community, many of whom were displaced after the 1947 splintering of the subcontinent. All are invited to bring your voices for open mic, and to join in the experience of rich experimental installations in two residential homes. There will be food, drink and a viewing of VBB’s prize-winning art carRevolution. Everyone is invited!
Through an open call for stories from the Third Ward and Karachi, eight narratives were selected and were performed by artists Marcela Descalzi, Donna Garrett, Haya Fatima Iqbal, Chuck Jackson,John Pluecker, Robert Pruitt, Scott Sawyer, M'Kina Tapscott, Jenn Tyburczy, and Stalina Villarreal.
a vbb living room art production Third Worlds: site-specific installations at residential spaces re-contextualizing socio-economic constructs underpinning relational parallels between the ethno-geographics of Third Ward, a historic afro-western locality in Houston, and the urban conflictual zone of Karachi, a megapolis of colliding communities located at the southern edge of Sindh, Pakistan- Part 2
At Third WorldsPart 2, images and video captured at Part 1 will be exhibited inside the home and on VBB’s prize-winning art car Revolution. There will be conversation between community members, artists and activists about issues raised in the first show. Food and drink will be served and all are invited to join in the conversation!
VBB is excited to kick off our 2011-12 East End Live Art series with POLITIQUEER, a continuation of art and conversations from VBB's June 2011 production that presented art from the perspective of GLBT / queer artists. The December 2011 show is curated by Sima Shakhsari and Jennifer Tyburczy who announced an open call for artists leading to a rich variety of submissions from the community. The fourteen cutting-edge artists ultimately chosen for POLITIQUEER will present multidisciplinary art - video, performance, poetry, visual art and more. As always, there will be food, drink, open mic and community!
Love and partnership are complicated enough — but what happens when relationships cross borders/boundaries, identities and constructs of color and race in today's global world. We are excited to present, What’s Color Got To Do With It?, a continuation of VBB’s January 2011 production that tackled race and color in a global context. This show will explore the many sides of interracial relationships from the perspective of artists who are in them, and will feature local and international writers, visual artists and performers who address identity, race and relationship issues through art.
The evening's program is curated by woman with rish histories themselves: Kafah BachariManna — born in Iran and raised in Texas — is a writer and community activist, and Solkem N'Gangbet — born in Chad and raised in France — works in the field of cultural arts programming. Iranian-born lawyer and event planner, Shadi Jam, serves as VBB's project coordinator, and is working with the team of artists and curators to insure a dynamic evening filled with art, conversation, open mic and refreshments.
On April 14, 2012, Voices Breaking Boundaries (VBB) will hold our annual Valiente fundraiser, highlighting voices of struggle from the Houston and Karachi, Pakistan, in preparation for our April-May living room art production, Women Under Siege. Held at the West End home of Jack and Ellen Hart, this year's Valiente fundraiser is an opportunity for YOU to support VBB and help us continue to fulfill our mission.
This show first kicked off in April 2009 to give voice to teachers to perform work produced through the Writing for Self Discovery Workshops that VBB offers for teachers who work with at-risk youth in Houston. The show has now been expanded to feature the voices of both teachers and students who participate in our workshops to explore their own creative voices. Teachers and Students Speak Out 4 is co-curated by VBB’s arts education facilitators, Marcela Descalzi and Jacsun Shah, who are both VBB co-founders. They will be joined by Jennifer Palermo, licensed professional counselor (LPC) and visual art expert. As always, there will be refreshments and open mic.
In the twenty-first century, people have become accustomed to surveilance cameras, metal detectors and armed guards. Inspired by the necessity for security measures such as these at two unlikely spaces - Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast in Houston and the sufi shrine dedicated to Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Karachi, Pakistan - VBB's 2-part April/May 2012 living room art production Women Under Siege, will explore women's health, education, and "security" issues in Houston and Karachi. The show will juxtapose freedoms in Houston and Karachi that are often taken for granted, and artists from both areas will transform a residential Houston home through installations, visual art, and performances in response to the issues explored.
Highlights from the show include: live dance performances by Danza Azteca Taxcayolotl to open the show; recorded dance and music videos by Nrtitaal; video interview with Miriam Kass, former health writer for the now defunct Houston Post, whose historic stories about illegal abortions will be on exhibit; multiple on-site installations and body movement performances througout the home; a brand new documentary, Mullahs,Music & Metal Detectors about Sufi band The Sketches; a video interview with women guards at Karachi’s Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine; live spoken word performances; archived and fresh community narratives from Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast clients; opportunities for audience members to share your stories—and much more!
Food and drink will be available for donation, and perfomances, installations, video, and narratives will be ongoing throughout the night, so come when you can. Don’t miss the urgency of voices and issues—join us for one of Houston's unique art experiences!
the Orange Show's Annual Art Car Parade Art Car Parade
Photo: Carmen Peña Abrego
Noon-2:00 pm, Saturday, May 12, 2012
Allen Parkway
$ Free
Join the Orange Show's Art Car Parade and view VBB's prize-winning Art Car, Revolution #248 (third installment). The car contains an open mic podium and writers/performers are invited to join in the Parade and recite poetry. This year, Harbeer Sandhu, Steven Wolfe and Dusti Rhodes will perform their work and the car will be driven by Aswinee Rath!
Through documentary art by Philomena Bradford, Marc Furi, Eric Hester, Katie Plochek, Mahwash Rahman and Yunuen Perez Vertti, Women Under Siege Part 2 will explore issues unearthed inPart 1and a panel discussion with participating artists will be moderated by Elizabeth Gregory, Director of University Houston’s Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies Program.
Over the years, VBB has worked with a dynamic group of individuals who continue to bring new energy and passion to the organization by serving on our Board. This year, VBB is hosting a special East End Live Art production when Board members will either share their own art or bring their choice of art for you to experience. As always, there will be food and open mic.
VBB celebrated its 10-Year Anniversary in 2009-10!
VBB is a multidisciplinary arts organization. Our mission is to
cross borders, sustain dialogue and incite social justice through art.
"Persian Dream," copyright by Sarrah Zadeh
