Rhizome
NEWS and updates
Get Ready to Celebrate Rhizome's Fourth Anniversary!
For the past four years, with your help, we've created a diverse and welcoming community space that supports social justice work, focuses on marginalized voices, and allows us all to connect with one another. We want to thank you for your role in that--and also ask for your support so we can keep going strong into the future. Save the dates for the following:
1) Fourth anniversary party!
On Saturday, September 25, from 7:00pm onward, we'll be holding our annual anniversary celebration. Join us for food and drink, performances, awards, dancing, and more. These parties are so much fun and so inspiring: a chance for the wide diversity of our communities to be in the same room at the same time, and an opportunity to see some of the amazing talent in our midst.
2) Sign up to do a 60-second
performance at the anniversary party.
Poetry, songs, skits…anything goes--as long as it's on the theme of the rhizome and it lasts no longer than one minute. Email us to sign up, by September 22.
3) Donate something for our
silent auction.
Our silent auction was so successful last year that we've decided to do it again! Donate something you have, something you've made, something you can teach, or a service you can provide. This is a great chance to connect your talents with others in our Rhizome community--and to support Rhizome at the same time. Items will be photographed and posted on the walls of our Meeting Room. Bidding will happen between September 10 and 25, ending at our anniversary party that evening. If you'd like to donate something, email us and we'll give you instructions. We'll be accepting donations until September 9.
4) Come by to bid on an auction
item.
Starting on September 10, come peruse the talent and generosity that abound in our community. Bidding will end at 10:00pm at our anniversary party on September 25. Bid early and often! Your bids help keep Rhizome going.
August 2010 EVENTS
We hope you'll join us for the many upcoming August events! Here's what's coming up:
United States Social Forum Report-Back
Thursday, July 29, 7:00pm
Come hear from folks who travelled from Vancouver to
participate in the United States Social Forum, held in Detroit from June 22
through the 26th. They will share their reflections on the state of social
justice movements in the U.S., with a focus on organizing for migrant justice,
the rights of workers excluded from existing labour protections, intersectional
analysis, arts-based resistance, multigenerational organizing, housing rights
and more--and will relate their learning to organizing in the Canadian context.
By
donation, no one turned away, proceeds to benefit local social justice
organizing efforts
Bi the Way, It's Our Cabaret 3
Friday, July 30, 7:00pm
Celebrate Pride with the Qmunities Bisexual Support Group, at a night of fun and music for bisexuals and their allies.
By donation, no one turned away for lack of funds
Cafe for Chiapas--and a Despedida!
Saturday, July 31, 5:00pm
Join us for one last Cafe for Chiapas, and say goodbye to
Erika before she moves to Mexico. Cafe for Chiapas is a mix between a storefront
and a social space for those who want to support the Zapatistas and chat with
friends or new acquaintances . Get gifts made with justice and dignity by
Zapatista communities--for yourself or your loved ones. Support these
communities' autonomy in education, justice, health and local government. There
will be cushion covers, shawls, handbags and pouches, wallets, aprons, baby
bibs, laptop covers, clothing, jewelry, coffee and more!
FreeCafé for Chiapas is a mix between café and storefront for those who want to support the Zapatistas, and chat with friends or new acquaintances. Get gifts made with justice and dignity for yourself and loved ones; support these communities' autonomy in education, justice, health, and local government!Zapatista creations are made with love, justice, dignity—from a place of hope and defense of the land. By buying these creations, you support a dignified and hopeful way of living that we are all entitled to.This is an opportunity to support amazing Zapatista women and their communities who are building popular power. This goes beyond fair trade—it is a non-profit project in solidarity with women who believe in and work towards their dreams, through weaving in their traditional Mayan methods, and the creation of new ways to represent their spirit, their struggles and their dreams!There will be cushion covers, cotton and wool shawls, leather and cotton handbags and pouches, leather wallets, aprons, baby bibs, laptop covers, blouses, huipiles, pants, skirts, t-shirts, arpilleras (small embroidered tapestries), earrings, girl’s sizes and delicious organic and fairly traded coffee—Café Ramona—available for sale.
Café for Chiapas is a mix between café and storefront for those who want to support the Zapatistas, and chat with friends or new acquaintances. Get gifts made with justice and dignity for yourself and loved ones; support these communities' autonomy in education, justice, health, and local government!There will be cushion covers, cotton and wool shawls, leather and cotton handbags and pouches, leather wallets, aprons, baby bibs, laptop covers, blouses, huipiles, pants, skirts, t-shirts, arpilleras (small embroidered tapestries), earrings, girl’s sizes and delicious organic and fairly traded coffee—Café Ramona—available for saSunday, August 1
We'll be open from 10:00 to 3:00 and then closing after that
for the rest of the day.
In our Meeting Room: Discussion on the Economic Crisis
Wednesday, August 4, 7:00pm
Join the International Socialists for a discussion on the
economic crisis and what can be done about it. The goods and services that went
unproduced during the economic crisis amount to $4 trillion - enough to provide
basic education, healthcare, sanitation and nutrition to all those on the
planet currently denied them for 30 years. However, governments around the
world are demanding we accept cuts to our wages and social programs. Email for suggested readings
in preparation for this discussion.
Free
West Coast Sheen Mixer
Thursday,
August 5, 7:00pm
West Coast Sheen is a new Muslim community group that seeks
to build dialogue and mutual learning within a diverse Muslim community, and to
work toward justice, equality and dignity for all peoples and the Earth. The group
is hosting an inaugural mixer and meet-and-greet for current and potential
members. Come learn about the group, their goals and upcoming events, eat and
enjoy music, and meet other members for networking.
By donation
The Word is
Out Benefit
Friday,
August 6, 7:00pm
Come support The Word is Out, a women in prison news
service, at this event organized by the Prison Justice Day Committee. The event
includes speakers from Justice for Girls, performances by Elizabeth Fischer,
Lora McElhinney, and Elvis tribute artist "Velvis." We'll also be
screening Girl Trouble, the
award-winning documentary by Lexi Leban and Lidia Szajko. Girl Trouble chronicles four years in the lives of three teenage
girls struggling to free themselves from San Francisco's complex and flagging
juvenile justice system.
$10-15 sliding scale
Songtree CD
Release Concert
Saturday,
August 7, 7:00pm
Earle Peach and Barbara Jackson have created a CD after 25
years of singing together! This work is rooted in a commitment to building
community, solidarity and justice through music. Come celebrate with them, hear
performances by Earle, Barbara and special guests, and pick up a copy of the CD
if you'd like.
$0-20 sliding scale. $20 gets a copy of the CD.
Sunday,
August 8
We'll be open for brunch from 10:00 to 3:00 and then closing
for the rest of the day. Join us at Under the Volcano!
Faith,
Fencing & Fate: Artist Talk by Juanita Sundberg
Thursday,
August 12, 7:00pm
Crossing the Mexico/US border without authorization is now a
life-threatening journey. As undocumented migrants travel north, they transform
the landscape in small, yet significant ways through the things they leave
behind, from shelters and shrines to quotidian objects. Join us for an artist
talk by Juanita Sundberg, a human geographer at UBC, who teamed up with social
documentary photographer Michael Hyatt to record these cultural landscapes of
migration in Arizona's Altar Valley. Through images of artifacts left behind,
Sundberg will challenge anti-immigrant rhetoric linking migration and
environmental degradation and discuss humanitarian resistance efforts in the
borderlands.
Free
In our
Meeting Room: Ribbon, Reading and
Discussion
Friday,
August 13, 11:30am
Patricia Darbasie, award winning playwright, will do a
reading of her play Ribbon, which
tells the story of Alberta's turn-of-the-century black history through the
lives and stories of two women. Stay after for lunch and a Q and A with the
playwright. Presented by the Playwrights Guild of Canada and the Canadian
Committee on Women's History.
Free, donations welcome
Recovery: A Benefit Fundraiser
Saturday, August 14, 7:00pm
Join us for an evening of queer and POC folk, rock, hip hop
and djs to help Samonte Cruz through a challenging time. We'll come together to
celebrate as a community, and to raise funds to cover some of Samonte's
recovery process expenses. Featuring: Khingz, 2POC, Penelope Parker (of Neptune
at Night), Spelling Bee, Kuya Sol, Toxic Slime Clique, DJs Biceratops, French
Press, and Double Fist (Trannysaurex Rex + Skiddy Smith). Auction and more!
$10-20 suggested, but no one
turned away for lack of funds
A Celebration
of the Life of David Melville
Sunday,
August 15, 6:00pm
David Melville--writer, teacher, artist, activist,
co-founder of the Canadian Alliance of Black Educators, and lifelong
learner--passed away peacefully on May 25. He was inspiration, support, and
family to Rhizome. Join us for a celebration of his life and teachings.
Free
In our
Meeting Room--The Russian Revolution: Why should you care?
Wednesday,
August 18, 7:00pm
Join the International Socialists for a discussion on the
victories of the Russian Revolution. Over 90 years ago the people of Russia
ended a war, overthrew the Czar, overthrew capitalism, and began building a
world of equality and freedom. That project was brutally ended by the rise of
Stalinism in the 1920's. Before that, the revolution gave us a glimpse of what
a world free of capitalism, war and oppression could look like. Email for suggested readings
in preparation for this discussion.
Free
The Main
Street Magazine Tour
Thursday,
August 19, 6:00pm
The Magazine Association of BC presents this celebration of
the local arts and culture magascene. Local poets Jennica Harper and Elizabeth
Bachinsky lead you to Main Street cafés, shops and galleries for an encounters
with our city's arts, cultural and literary magazines. The tour starts at
Rhizome at 6:00, continues to various other venues near Main and Broadway, and
then returns here for socializing afterward. Check the magazine tour website for more info.
Free
Visible: A
Discussion with Queer Artists of Colour
Saturday,
August 21, 5:00pm
There has been a sure emergence of queers of colour arts
events in North America; Fusion: The Los Angeles LGBT People of Color Film
Festival, Agitate: Queer People of Colour events (Ottawa), National Queer Arts Festival
(USA) to name a few. How have recent gains in visibility impacted our local
queer artists of colour? Filmmakers Aaron Chan, Cal Garingan and Thirza Cuthand
join burlesque artist Joanie Gyoza and transdisciplinary artist Emilio Rojas in
an artist-in-conversation style panel discussion. These locals not only the
tackle the topic of visibility, but the intersections between culture and the
creative process, the use of art as a vehicle for awareness and social
critique, employing humour or satire, and more. Moderated by transdisciplinary
culture-maker Lesley Ewen. Presented by Out on Screen, as part of the Queer
Film Festival.
Free
Justice for
Refugees: Stop the Deportation of Jose Figueroa and his Family
Thursday,
August 26, 7:00pm
Come learn about the campaign to challenge the Immigration
and Refugee Board's (IRB) decision to deport a B.C. man and his family on the
basis of his affiliation to a political organization in his country of origin.
Jose Figueroa was declared inadmissible to Canada by the Canadian Border
Services Agency (CBSA) and the Ministry of Public Safety due to his past
association with the Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation (FMLN), a
former opposition organization that is now the governing party of El Salvador.
By
donation, no one turned away
Brave New
Vancouver: Youth Performers' Showcase
Friday,
August 27, 7:30pm
Brave New Vancouver is a hosted showcase of some of
Vancouver's wonderful young and undiscovered talents, ages 13-18. Performers
include singers, songwriter, poets, and slam poets. Proceeds will go to a
charitable fund dedicated to the arts, chosen by the performers of the
showcase. This is an alcohol-free event.
$5-10 sliding scale
Board Games
are Soooo Gay
Saturday,
August 28, 7:00pm
We'll be back for another queer-friendly round of board
games. Bring your own games or use ours. This edition of BGASG is brought to
you by T-Bodies Productions, creators of the Manamorphosis 2011 Transman
Calendar. Manamorphosis calendars and playing cards will be for sale (you can
buy cards and then play with them on the spot!) 2011 Calendar coverboy Ray, AKA
DJ Fagatron, will keep the tunes coming.
Free
Check back later for postings of more upcoming events! We
update this calendar at the end of each month.