David Ross, In Late Bloom, CD Release Party, Feb 4th, 8:30pm

Hey beautiful peoples!

Happy Year of the Dragon!!!

Oh my lawd!--I know it has been FOREVER since I've posted anything.  Rest assured, we are still actively performing--and Family Style will be starting back up on Fri, Feb 17th.  Look for details soon.  We'll also be performing and touring--esp through March and April.  Please keep checking back to see if we'll be somewhere near you.

But I'd like to tell yall about my friend David Ross' CD release party.  David Ross aka Native Son, one-half of the Baltimore-based spoken word duo The 5th L, will be releasing his solo CD "In Late Bloom" on Sat, Feb 4th.  Here are the details:

When: February 4, 2012, Doors open 8:30pm ------Show starts 9pm

Where: Maryland Art Place, 218 W. Saratoga Street, Baltimore, Md

Support:  $15 (includes free copy of In Late Bloom) OR if you bring an official copy of In Late Bloom to the show, entry is free

PLEASE COME SUPPORT!!! AND PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!!

Ok, talk to yall again soon--and I will have Yellow Rage updates, I promise :)

Sarong,

Michelle

FAMILY STYLE!!! FRI, October 21 @ AAI, 7:30pm

Family Style Open Mic
3rd Fridays of the month
Pre-show reception/doors open at 6:45 p.m.
Open mic begins at 7:30 p.m.
$5-10 sliding scale admission

• October 21 featuring Ed Bok Lee (pictured above)  ED BOK LEE was raised in South Korea, North Dakota and Minnesota. A former bartender, phys ed instructor, journalist, and translator, he studied in the U.S., South Korea, Kazakhstan, and Russia, earning an MFA from Brown University. Lee has shared his work in journals, anthologies, on public radio and MTV, and teaches part-time at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul. Lee’s first book, Real Karaoke People, was the winner of an Asian American Literary Award (Members’ Choice) and a PEN Open Book Award.
  
  Click to go to Ed Bok Lee's official website

Hosted by spoken word duo Yellow Rage, our popular open mic series invites the sharing of stories, song, dance, poetry among Asian Americans and extended “family” from all communities and cultures. This season we’re adding a house DJ to the mix and providing free food and drink during a pre-show reception! Want to take the stage? Sign up for a 5-minute open mic spot here!

Thank you, West Chester University! Next: Deaf Jam at CCP, Oct 6, 6pm

We want to send out a big THANK YOU to the Women's Center and other student organizations at West Chester University for having us out to perform last night.  The turn-out was great, and everyone was very kind to us.  It was a wonderful kick-off to our new year of performing!

COMING UP NEXT: DEAF JAM EVENT AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA






ITVS Community Cinema and WHYY
in partnership with Community College of Philadelphia, Greater Philadelphia Cares, and the Neighborhood Interfaith Movement present

Premiere screening of Deaf Jam
A film by Judy Lieff

With a performance by local slam poet Michelle Myers (Yellow Rage) and ASL slam poet Aneta Brodski

Thursday, October 6, 2011
6:30pm-8:30pm (doors open 6:00pm)
Community College of Philadelphia
Bonnell Auditorium
1700 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(Wheelchair accessible venue. )

After the film Michelle Myers, one half of well-known local Asian-American spoken word female duo Yellow Rage and faculty member at CCP, and Aneta Brodski, a youth ASL slam poet featured in Deaf Jam, take the stage to perform poetry and hold a Q&A discussion with the audience on creating space for marginalized stories through poetry.

This event is FREE and open to the public. Registration is required.

Register Here >>> or call (215) 351-0511 to register over the phone.

Be sure to indicate if you need ASL interpretation for the poetry and discussion when you RSVP. Film is formatted for viewing by both Deaf and hearing audiences.

About the Film

National poetry slams for youth have been gaining momentum but few, if any, deaf teens have ever been included in these contests. In Deaf Jam, a group of New York City deaf teens reveal their passions, frustrations, and senses of humor as they discover American Sign Language poetry -- eventually stepping into the world of the youth poetry slams with their hearing peers.

Deaf Jam chronicles young deaf poets witnessing and participating in these contests for the first time. Performing in ASL, a dramatic visual language, the poets use rhythm, movement, and body language to create a cinematic equivalent to oral poetry. In the film, the poets use sign language and poetry not only to express themselves, but also to raise issues about disability and the future of ASL. Pitted against the journey of the poets and contributing to this bittersweet story is a counter-narrative, which traces the increasing erosion of this indigenous art form in the face of technologies and the educational system "serving" to mainstream the deaf into the hearing world.

Visit the film's website >>>

FAMILY STYLE IS BACK!!! FRI, September 16 @ AAI, 7:30pm

Hey beautiful people,

After being on hiatus all summer, Family Style is BAAACK!!! We have a lot of amazing artist features this fall, as well as a pre-show mingle with free food and music! Please come check us out. Pre-show mingle starts at 6:30 and open mic mic begins at 7:30.

Please see details below. Updates for each month are forthcoming.

Love,
M

Family Style
Asian Arts Initiative's Open Mic Series
Third Fridays of the month @ 7:30pm (Doors open at 7 p.m.)

Open mic hosts Michelle Myers and Catzie Vilayphonh

(Photograph by Annie Seng)

The wait is (almost) over! Our open mic series returns on September 16!! Hosted by spoken word duo Yellow Rage (Michelle Myers and Catzie Vilayphonh), our popular monthly Asian American open mic FAMILY STYLE welcomes extended "family" from all communities and cultures. This season we're adding House DJ Mike Trinh to the mix and pre-show drinks and snacks for all who attend! As usual the stage is open to all who want to perform-- anything from dance, music, poetry, prose, rap, song, spoken word, to stand-up comedy and more! Sign up in advance for a 5-minute open mic spot.

Fall 2011 Open Mic Dates:

* Friday September 16: featuring SNRG
* Friday October 21: featuring Ed Bok Lee
* Friday November 18: featuring Home, far and near
* Friday December 16: featuring Jason Min

Admission Price: $5-10 Sliding Scale
Wanna take the stage at Family Style? Sign up here!

Food will be provided at each open mic event by Erawan Thai Cuisine - Chinatown (located at 925 Arch Street), an official Season Sponsor of Family Style Fall 2011.

Upcoming Featured Performers:
Fall 2011
SNRG

Between video rotation on MTV in Asia and guest appearances on MYX North America, SNRG performs in cities from DC to Toronto to Manila to LA and NY, just to name a few. They're taking their moxie on the road to share their message. SNRG is passion shared through music, graphic design, photography, film and fashion.

Click to go to SNRG's official website

* * * * *
ED BOK LEE

ED BOK LEE was raised in South Korea, North Dakota and Minnesota. A former bartender, phys ed instructor, journalist, and translator, he studied in the U.S., South Korea, Kazakhstan, and Russia, earning an MFA from Brown University. Lee has shared his work in journals, anthologies, on public radio and MTV, and teaches part-time at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul. Lee’s first book, Real Karaoke People, was the winner of an Asian American Literary Award (Members’ Choice) and a PEN Open Book Award.

Click to go to Ed Bok Lee's official website

* * * * *

HOME, FAR AND NEAR
Home, far and near (also known as the Artists Exchange festival of Asian American performance) will bring together an outstanding group of diverse and multi-disciplinary performing artists from around the country to together explore the theme of “home, far and near.” This year’s group features Krystal Banzon, Traci Kato-Kiriyama, Kennedy Kabasares, Soomi Kim, Katie Hae Leo, Gein Wong, and Philadelphia-based artists Anula Shetty and Makoto Hirano! Don't miss this action-packed and culminating night of the Artists Exchange where they will be presenting what they have learned and created from a weeklong series of ensemble workshops--this is bound to be spectacular!

Click to learn more about Home, far and near

* * * * *

JASON MIN

Once the frontman of Philadelphia-based band Miss Vintage, Jason Min has stayed active in the Philadelphia music scene with the release of his debut self-titled EP in November 2010. Influenced by bands such as Radiohead, Sigur Ros, and Explosions in the Sky, Jason continues to mesmerize audiences with his unique sound driven by beautifully-layered guitar lines and melodic, ambient soundscapes. Jason's masterful blend of emotive, introspective lyrics and minimalist, but often epic instrumentals has garnered him enormous critical acclaim as he continues to play at many of the premier venues on the East Coast. Jason has already begun writing music for a full-length album he hopes to release in early 2012.

Click to go to Jason Min's official website

* * * * *

Have questions about performing, as either a feature performer or an open mic performer? Contact Nancy Chen, Program Assistant at (215) 557 0455 ext. 221 or email Nancy.Chen@asianartsinitiative.org.

Check our Facebook page for the latest updates on Family Style!

poetess uncapped

I know this is super last minute late, but better now than never - tonight me and Ms. Ursula Rucker are the featured guests for vitamin water's uncapped events in Philly. There's a roundtable discussion started at 7 around the role of women and hip hop with other notable, creative Philly females, followed by a performance of our poetry. Hope to see you there. Even if you are late.