SEPT. 10-MOVING IN

After the tent was installed I went to pick up a UHAUL truck for the move. I also hired help. I found two helpers among a group of day laborers that were "waiting for work" on San Fernando Road, a few miles from my project's site. Newhall, a community neighboring Valencia, is home to many Latin American immigrants and many of them look for work, everyday, on specific spots throughout the city. There they gather in large but scathered groups waiting for somebody driving by to solicit them. Most of the time they are hired for a day or a few hours to work on the fields or do construction work for amounts well below the minimum wage. These two men I hired had been day laborers for a few years and expected to continue doing this as long as they could avoid deportation. They work every day of the week. One of them is father to a little boy. Both have families in their countries of origin and send them money regurlarly.

We loaded the truck with many pieces of furniture (bed, chest of drawers, an armoire, chairs, etc) and boxes of books, food, water and clothing. The entire process took about 4 hours.

The same men help me move out of the tent on September 14.

TENT AND PROJECT SITE

Here is the tent on site. From the project site one could see and hear the traffic on Tournament Road, the I-5 freeway, the many planned neighborhoods of Valencia, Stevenson Ranch and beyond populating the valley and the hills in the distance. One could hear children playing at a park right next to the hill where the tent was installed. At night, the traffic's drone was both strangely soothing and eerie: it was a constant reminder of the suburban setting in the midst of a repertoire of muffled sounds of the hill's wildlife. I had been told, repeatedly, to expect "visitors" (coyotes, rabbits, ground squirrels) at one point or another but the four nights I spent at the tent were remarkably uneventful.

SEPT 10- TENT INSTALLATION

It took these two men a little less than an hour to put the tent up. I was absolutely fascinated by their efficiency. It was quite evident that they had done this many times before and that they were following the steps as in a well-rehearsed choreography. The short installation time and the relatively simple steps required to put the tent up is a testament to the great design by the Canadian company Tentnology. This model is used extensively for relief purposes in refugee sites in Afghanistan and other countries around the world. These tents (400 sq feet) can accomodate large groups of people.

POSTER

DOWNLOAD FLYER

Click on the image to download a pdf file for the flyer:

PROJECT DATES

September 11, 2007-September 14, 2007
(Project coincides with 1st week of classes at CalArts, Fall Semester)

Programming will take place from 8am to 11am and from 4pm to 8pm

Installation: Monday September 10, 2007 (all day)
De-Installation: Friday, September 14, 2007, afternoon

MAP AND DRIVING DIRECTIONS

All events will take place in FireValley, a vacant lot on one of the hills neighboring the facilities at CalArts.

CalArts is located at 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355. See driving directions and project site map below (click on image to zoom in):

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The refugee tent, originally designed to provide temporary shelter at emergency sites in Afghanistan and other parts of the world, will be set up on one of the hills in FireValley, an un-developed lot adjacent to the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) school buildings. The organizer will move in the tent with her IKEA furniture, her grandmother's crystal vase and other domestic paraphernalia and will inhabit this tent (to the best of her ability) for five days. During this period, the tent and the surrounding area will serve as a context for a series of conversations, forums, performances, workshops and readings. The events will be lead by a wonderful group of inspired visual artists, writers, anthropologists, musicians, performers, community leaders, activists, curators and educators. The formal gesture of bringing together "under the same roof" two contrasting paradigms will serve to frame the events that will take place at the site.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• To open a forum for minority artists, writers, performers and educators from many different parts of the world to share their work, views and experiences
• To further expose CalArts students to art practices that are context and audience based
• To create a forum for dialogue on matters of great relevance to artists today such as community engagement, social responsibility, strategies for engaging institutions, collaborative practices, and the “Other” in the context of contemporary art and in the context of Los Angeles
• To create a forum for artist and non-artists to come together and engage in dialogue about issues relevant to all the constituencies involved.
• To further the connections between CalArts and its neighboring communities in Santa Clarita

PROJECT SITE

(Click on pictures for a larger image)

Site can be reached from entrance on Tournament Road. Site is a short hike from the street:

Path to project site:

The tent will be setup at this location:

View from project site:

INHABITING/VISITING THE TENT

• No electricity will be available at any time
• No smoking will be allowed at any time for safety reasons
• No cooking will be allowed at any time for safety reasons
• All furnishings will be available to artists and audience
• Parking will be available at the project site
• The tent will be open to the public during the following hours:
• 8:00am-11:00am and 4:00pm-8:00pm
• All performances, workshops, readings, conversations and panels will take place during those hours.
• From 11:00am to 4:00pm there will be very limited programming at the tent due to high temperatures at the project site.
• There will be no restrooms available at the tent site. Restrooms for guest artists and visitors will be available at CalArts facilities.

PRESENTERS

Confirmed Presenters:

Saul Alvarez, Gustavo Arellano, Diana Arellano, Art-in-the-Park / Berta and Stan Sosa, Karen Atkinson, Matthew Barraza, Vivian Babuts, Damian Berdakin, Andrea Bowers, Micha Cardenas, City of Santa Clarita officials, Colectivo Bulbo, Colectivo La Linea, Chris Diaz, Ricardo Dominguez, Sam Durant, Erik Ehn, Carribean Fragoza, Rita Gonzalez, Shadi Harouni, Loren Hartman–CrazySpace, Ingrid Hernandez, Inner-City Arts / Bob Bates, International Rescue Committee, Linda Hoag, Drew Jorgensen, Douglas Kearney, Nick Kello, Shanna Lorenz, Lorena Mancilla, Elana Mann, Theresa Masangkay, James Melinat, Juanita Meneses, Omar Pimienta, Plaza de la Raza / Maria Jimenez-Torres, Martin Plot, Niki Rousso-Schindler, Cindy Santos Bravo, Santa Clarita Arts Advisory Board, Santa Clarita Arts and Events Department, Alina Skrzeszewska, Haruko Tanaka, Kara Tanaka, and Jan Smail among others.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

The public is invited to join all The Other Project workshops, performances, forums and readings.

All events are free and open to the public.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11. 2007

8:00-8:30am
Tea with project organizer
With Evelyn Serrano

8:30-10:30am
Workshop with Elana Mann and Theresa Masangkay
How do you organize a large scale interdisciplinary art project at CalArts and get national attention at the same time?
Two of the organizers responsible for the very successful “Exquisite Acts and Everyday Rebellions: CalArts 2007 Feminist and Symposium” will walk you through the process of putting an event of such magnitude together: from finding funds to managing the dynamics of a collaborative enterprise, to curating an exhibition, coordinating efforts and moderating a high caliber symposium.

10:00-11:30am
Forum
Locating The Other: Context and the ethics and politics of identity in LA’s contemporary arts discourse
With Diana Arellano, Bulbo Collective, Ed Gomez, Rita Gonzalez, Loren Hartman, Juanita Meneses, Houman Pourmedhi, Cindy Santos Bravo and Haruko Tanaka.

3:30-5:00pm
Performance by Elana Mann
Embroid, Embroil
During this original performance, the artist will embroider mass circulated images of "the other" into her skin. The performance is inspired by The New World Tapestry (1980-2000) the largest embroidery in the world, which depicts English colonization attempts in Newfoundland, North America, the Guyanas and Bermuda between 1583 and 1642.


5:00-6:00pm
In conversation with Martin Plot
The Other as Enemy: The Neo-Schmittean Inspiration Behind the Neoconservative Foreign Policy
9/11 created the conditions needed to speed up the implementation of the neoconservative vision on foreign policy and alQaeda’s claim of political and intellectual leadership in the Muslin world. This presentation will suggest that the changes taking place in Latin America during the past years are the third major political shift that has characterized the inauguration of the new century.


6:30-7:30pm
In conversation with Gustavo Arellano
¡Ask a Mexican!
LA Weekly’s Gustavo Arellano will talk (and answer questions!) about his experience with the nationally syndicated column in which he answers questions sent to him by the public about America's largest minority. The award-winning column has a weekly circulation of 1.8 million in 28 newspapers across the United States.


7:30-8:30pm
In conversation with Pirayeh Pourafar and Houman Pourmedhi
These two master musicians, composers, teachers and recording artists will engage the public in a conversation about their lives as artists in their homeland of Iran and their experiences after they decided to leave their country.



WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2007

8:00-8:30am
Tea with project organizer
With Evelyn Serrano

8:30-10:00am
Reading with Tijuana's Colectivo La Linea
Entre lo real y lo imaginario / Between the real and the imaginary
Three published authors from Tijuana, Mexico share their works of poetry and prose “en Español”. All the readings will take place in Spanish.


10:00-11:00am
Workshop with Linda Hoag
How to Jumpstart Empathy
In this workshop you will learn different methods and strategies from Buddhism, meditation, Constructive Living and Nonviolent Communication, guided by the adept hand of experienced therapist Linda Hoag.


3:30-4:30pm
In conversation with Ingrid Hernandez
Inhabiting the Gaze
Tijuana-based visual artist Ingrid Hernandez talks about her work with neighbors in several “asentamientos irregulares” (irregular settlements) throughout her city.


4:30-5:30pm
Workshop with Haruko Tanaka
The Other Lullaby
As it is said, to sing in another language is to possess another’s soul. Join Haruko Tanaka and friends for some tea and singing. Learn songs in Arabic and Navajo (among others). No experience needed.

5:30-7:00pm
Performance with The Attempters (Saul Alvarez, James Melinat and Kara Tanaka)
In 2006 the Attempters came together formally for the first time to initiate the Project for the Birth of an Emergent Aesthetic, an intense seven-day, 24-hour continuous think tank. They are currently undertaking their most daring assignment after being charged with the delivery of a mysterious payload of uncertain origins. Success or failure, they have passed the point of no return.

7:00-8:00pm
Performance with Damian Berdakin, Drew Jorgensen, Nick Kello and Chris Payne
Concert by Runa
Performing iconic songs from Argentina and Brazil, and original compositions by Nick Kello, this inspired quartet of musicians is sure to delight you in more ways than one.



THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2007
8:00-8:30am
Tea with project organizer
With Evelyn Serrano

8:30-10:00am
Forum with Glenna Avila, Bob Bates (Inner-City Arts), Berta and Stan Sosa (Art in the Park), Shelley Stepp (CAP Digital media Program), Zane Thimmesh-Gill (CAP/My Friend's Place Writing Program)) among others
Making It Happen: Artists Partnering with Community
This forum, led by CalArts Community Arts Partnership (CAP) Director Glenna Avila and representatives from four CAP partner sites, will focus on strategies employed by CAP’s teaching artists to successfully engage youth and their communities.


10:00-10:30am
In conversation with Jan Smail
Re-Searching Santa Clarita: The colonial genealogy of real-estate
Come enjoy some tea and join this visual and performance artist in a conversation about her most recent project, as she investigates two local communities in Santa Clarita.


10:30-11:00am
Performance with Goh Kurosawa
This versatile guitarist will perform some of his original compositions inspired by the soundscapes and reflections of Asia and by folk rock, jazz, classical, flamenco and Balkan rhythms.


4:00-5:30pm
Forum
Town Hall Meeting
This forum will bring together members from the Santa Clarita Arts Advisory Board, City officials, CalArts representatives, and the general public to converse about furthering the connections between the Institute and its immediate communities.

6:00-7:30pm
Forum with Chris Diaz, Vivian Babuts, Damian Berdakin, Shadi Harouni, Drew Jorgensen, Douglas Kearney, Tom Leeser, Chris Payne, Niki Rousso-Schindler, Alina Skrzeszewska, Ingrid Von Sydow among others
The Other in contemporary art discourse: Owning, Speaking and Being “The Other”

7:30-8:30pm
Readings with Matthew Barraza, Carribean Fragoza and Nadine Rambeau
Zombies, Lunatics and Soil-Eaters: Reading and Writing L.A.
These writers loudly re-draw the contours of a city that only words can map.
(To be confirmed: Luis Rodriguez)



FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2007

8:00-8:30am
Tea with project organizer
With Evelyn Serrano

8:30-10:15am
Forum with Karen Atkinson, Andrea Bowers, Micha Cardenas, Ricardo Dominguez, Erik Ehn, Sam Durant,Theresa Masangkay, Jan Smail, among others
Engaging The Other: Art, activism, social responsibility, and community engagement

10:15-11:00am
Performance with Douglas Kearney
Last Call
Come experience the work of this outstanding poet, performer and teacher as he performs his texts and closes this eventful week.

ABOUT THE TENT

Dimensions: 20 ft x 20 ft
Total Area: 400 Sq. Ft.
Peak Height: 17 Ft

Designed by the Canadian company Tentnology, this model has been extensively used in refugee camps in Afghanistan and other relief sites around the world to provide temporary emergency shelter for refugees. The tent has been engineered for extreme weather conditions.

The tent will be located on a tall hill in Fire Valley. Even though the tent site itself is particularly undeveloped and raw and can easily reference landscapes in other semi arid corners of the world, the view from the project site will bring you back to the suburban utopia and its planned subdivisions.

Visiting the Tent

• No electricity will be available at any time
• No smoking will be allowed at any time for safety reasons
• No cooking will be allowed at any time for safety reasons
• All furnishings will be available to artists and audience
• Parking will be available at the project site
• The tent will be open to the public during the following hours:
  8:00am-11:00am and 4:00pm-8:00pm
  (All performances, workshops, readings, conversations and panels will take place during those hours.)
• From 11:00am to 4:00pm there will be very limited programming at the tent due to high temperatures at the project site.
• There will be no restrooms available at the tent site. Restrooms for guest artists and visitors will be available at CalArts facilities.

ABOUT ORGANIZER AND FUNDERS

Organizer:

Evelyn Serrano is a Cuban visual artist, educator, administrator, and independent curator. She is also the mother of a very inquisitive four year old boy. Evelyn received her B.F.A. degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore and her M.F.A. degree from the California Institute of the Arts. Prior to that, she attended courses on visual arts, design, history, aesthetics and literature in Havana, Montevideo and Miami. Evelyn is currently the Assitant Director of Programs at the CalArts Community Arts Partnership. She has exhibited her work in solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally. Evelyn is honored to have worked with many talented visual artists, writers and performers in several exhibitions and art events she has curated in the US and abroad.

Funding:

This project is made possible thanks to the generous support of V.Shannon Clyne, the CalArts Office of Student Affairs and the Provost Office. Thank you for your trust and kindness!

CONTACT

Evelyn Serrano
 e@evelynserrano.net
 661.755.6974
www.evelynserrano.net