"Silence Is Violence" at the College of Staten Island

Dear Diary,

What a fun feminist mid-week adventure!  After a train, a ferry, a cab, and a lot of Earl Grey tea, we arrived at the College of Staten Island!  Oh man, is that campus beautiful.  Fall foliage is finally happening!!! 

At 10 am we led our classic poster making workshop with a group of theatre students.  These young thinkers came up with a ton of creative themes for what "pisses them off".  Go figure!  Youth having opinions -- my favorite!  After a lot of brainstorming and collaboration, they came up with some gripping posters addressing issues such as violence against women, animal abuse, corrupt cops, the media's obsession with Ebola, "sexy" Halloween costumes, and a topic that we really loveeeee, FEMINISM!  These students were super smart!  After this workshop, we knew were in for a great audience for our evening show.

On our break, we discovered many things about the College of Staten Island.  For example, there are large water fountains decorating the campus that apparently light up with different colors.  Students are charged 10 cents for cutlery if it's being used for an item not purchased on campus -- what?!  And they really like their hand sanitizer dispensers.  Gotta keep those students healthy!

After sorting out a few sound cues, tech for the show went very smoothly.  It seemed like it was the student volunteer's very first time on stage!  Yay for courage Crystal!!!  After we finished tech, we were treated like stars and enjoyed a delicious dinner in the green room.  Then, we dolled ourselves up, donned our guerrilla masks and prepared to PERFORM.  And, WHAT a performance!  The audience was totally digging it from the get go! They especially loved the "Reclaiming Lesbian, Vagina, Feminist" song and the free bananas!  Most importantly, I felt like we were able to really reach them with our message -- that raising awareness about feminism and violence against women is imperative but, that it can be done in a funny and informative way. 

Riding the ferry back to our home island, we were tuckered out but all smiles.  Thanks for a wonderful day, College of Staten Island!  Keep rocking out and speaking up!  

Love,

Azu(cena) Villaflor

University of Hawaii, Hilo Tour Diary

Aloha Diary,
Sometimes flying is not about freedom. Sometimes it's about sleeping with your head on the tray table and moving so people can go to the bathroom in the appropriate locker-sized room in the back of a collection of steel vessels that somehow gets me from East Brooklyn to Northern Hawaii. Josephine Baker and I both elected to function on no sleep en route to the Big Island. We could have attached little anchors to our eyelids as we walked through the Phoenix airport, but we decided it would get in the way of the lost cities of Atlantis we were dragging from our eyelids, and we didn't want to mix our metaphors too early in the day. There's appropriate and then there's inappropriate, and Josephine Baker and Julia Child know the difference. (As if I really had to say that to YOU, diary.)

We made it to Hilo sans Aphra Behn, who was sitting on the tarmac in Atlanta. God was punishing her for being hopeful about an upgrade to business class. The stunning Myhraliza greeted us with leis and a ride to our glorious accommodations next door to Coconut Grove, where we drank Hawaiian beer and pretended to be awake in paradise.

Love,
Julia Child
April 5, 2009


Aloha Diary,
Today we gave a poster-making workshop to the folks in the Hilo Theatre Department, as well as to their radiant Chair, Jackie. They were masters at theatre warm-up games like the name game, which we retitled "I'm Jumpin' Julia." (But of course.) They were also quite adept at silently granting one another permission to take each other's places in a game called "yes." Sadly, we had many false starts when we started to play Big Bootie, but I can't say I didn't contribute to our collective failure to have rhythm we could all be proud of.

Then we wrote down all of the issues we're extra passionate about in Hilo, and got down to the business of making posters. Three groups made brilliant, powerful collections of taglines and images about Drugs/Peer Pressure, Domestic Violence, and the ever-complicated Hawaiian Identity and it's political implications. Applause to the
charismatic geniuses in the Hilo theatre department.

We also took a stab at rehearsing our show, "Silence is Violence," but we were pleasantly distracted by some traditional hula rehearsal in the outdoor halls on campus. We sat and watched the nuanced gesturing of 40 or so folks in sarongs for more than an hour. Could have been days. We were entranced.

Then we couldn't find any restaurants open past 8:00. Yummy!

Goodnight!
Julia Child
April 6. 2009

Aloha Diary,
Today we hung out in Downtown Hilo and I got the raddest airbrushed shirt from Auntie Beth's. She put a piece of lace over the shirt and airbrushed the pattern with purple paint. I keep trying to wear it in New York with flip flops, but every time I go outside it's absolutely frigid. So I put my Quebec sweatshirt on instead. (Remember what I
said about appropriate?) I also patronized Bear's Coffee while I was downtown, and they made a fab soy latte. Though I have to say, it did out price a NYC soy latté at $4.50. I must have looked like I would pay that much for a soy latte. I would and I did.

Then we performed for a nearly full-house in the Hilo cafetorium. The audience was so generous with their laughter and applause. Sometimes we weren't even saying funny things and they were in stitches. Mayhaps I was sporting a "kick me" sign I wasn't aware of? Lei'a was our student volunteer, and she was a fabulous improviser. Sure to be a force to reckon with in the world of political theatre in the future. Lola and Myhraliza kept bringing us the yummiest selections from the beautiful buffet, steamed buns with
pork inside, fried tofu, the freshest pineapple this side of heaven, the works!

Then we went to the only bar open in Hilo, Shooters, and had the bartender make us the only touristy drink he could think of: The Rock Bottom. Karaoke was a dollar a song and even though it's a recession, 10 dollars pretended like it wasn't. I enjoy being a girl.

Mahalo and Aloha,
Julia Child
April 7, 2009

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Day 1: April 5, 2009
Julia Child and I arrived on the Big Island today. I have to admit, I was a little taken aback by the very rainy weather. It wasn't cold, but a little chilly, and not really what I was expecting from Hawaii. But seriously, after the very unspring-like temperatures in New York, I'd take it!

Upon arriving, we found out that Aphra had been having trouble with her flight, and were instructed to meet up with Myhraliza instead. Aphra would be in later that evening.
Myhraliza was amazing from the beginning. She greeted us with beautiful lei's, drove us to our hotel, and made sure we got in safely. Needless to say, after a 12 hour flight, we were pretty exhausted, and thankful for her hospitality. Without it, we would have had to wait another 2 hours in the airport for Aphra!

We settled in, and the first thing I did was take a shower. I had to get that airplane funk off! Dinner was a salad from the hotel restaurant. And let me tell you, the bed was welcome!

Day 2: April 6, 2009
Today was workshop day! It went great. They were theater students! Theater students are full of great ideas, and aren't afraid to be silly and outgoing during warm-ups.

This group was pretty enthusiastic, although there were one or two who were having a hard time letting themselves go completely, and not over-thinking everything. It was also apparent that the group was having a hard time understanding the more internal and specific aspects of free association.

By the end, though, there were 3 great posters. After all of the ideas that were thought up, they were narrowed down to Domestic Violence, Peer Pressure, and Hawaiian Commercialization and Stereotypes. The domestic violence group did the best at collaboration and their poster had a fantastic and compelling image.

We were also able to find an amazing volunteer from this group! Her name is Lei'a. I could tell immediately that she would be great.


Day 3: April 7, 2009
Well, it's show day. I have to admit, I'm kind of nervous. I always am before donning the mask and taking on my Guerrilla Girl On Tour identity. Stay tuned….

The show went great! They loved us! There was no need for me to be nervous. They laughed where they were supposed to and we got in some awesome adlibs. The improvs turned out perfect. I'm glad we worked on them so much. I think that made all the difference. Lei'a was great, as predicted. She was an instant Guerrilla Girl On Tour, and slipped right in to the parts we gave her.

Now, I know I say this every tour, but this one was my favorite tours. OK, it was in Hawaii and I definitely needed to get away. But U of Hawaii at Hilo was so hospitable, and the audience was amazing. I had a fabulous time! Thanks Hawaii. I can’t wait to return.

Mahalo,
Josephine Baker

Final Report From China

China was like going to another world. And they probably think the same thing when they come to the States. It was the first time in my life where I definitely didn’t look like I was from there. In Ireland, England and even Argentina (due to the large amount of European immigrants) I was at least able to walk down the streets and fit in. It wasn’t until I opened my mouth that it was obvious I wasn’t from there. In China though, I was a tourist and there was no doubt about it. I never felt like a tourist though. People were very kind and patient, except the people trying to sell me a knock off designer handbag that is. They were a little pushy.

Really the only problem I had was the language barrier as it related to eating. Although many people spoke English very well, they did not know the word for everything and spoke in general terms. For example, if some one tells you it is seafood that includes anything that lives in the ocean. There are many things that live in the ocean that other people eat that I am not accustomed to eating. Now at least I can say with confidence, I do not like to eat snails.

As Americans, especially living in metropolitan areas, like New York City I believe we feel very worldly. We have neighbors from around the world, we can get any nationality food, and purchase anything made anywhere in the world. A week in China has let me know that I am not very worldly or cultured or even cool. I have traveled much, and I feel that I am a tolerant person, but it is not until you are immersed in a culture not your own that you discover you have a lot to learn. It was difficult to go to another country and say, “Look, you have a problem with domestic violence. We do too and we hope that we can educate you a little on the subject.” I was afraid that people would be insulted and stand offish. I was totally wrong. People were curious, kind, and attentive. They took our information postcards are actually read them and didn’t just throw them to the ground. I feel that as Americans we assume Human Rights is an American thing. We as Americans think that it our responsibility to solve the world’s problems, but in truth everyone in the world wants a safe home, and a loving family, and the right to live a happy life. We don’t have to tell them that.

-Coco Chanel

More China Stories

November 10-16,2008

Eva here. WOW four days back in NYC and I am still amazed I was just in China! What a whirlwind trip, what and incredible experience, what a massive city; Shanghai is home to 20 million people! Where to begin? Having just read Edith’s post, I will not give a play-by-play. I will share however my personal story of a Shanghai experience that included:

1) As a [mostly] vegetarian, I had prepared to be ‘open’ regarding food. I have no idea that I would eat sea snails, various unidentifiable parts of octopus, pork, lamb and ‘meat’.

2) I was pick-pocketed on the Bund on our last night and had my credit card, ATM card and license stolen, along with some cash. Passport was safe… phew!

3) I haggled for a silk scroll on the streets

4) Went to a gorgeous Taoist temple

5) Wandered back allies where poverty and poor living conditions were beyond what simple words can express.

6) Performed feminist street theater in a police state…

…perhaps not such a ‘typical experience’, but all just a day in the life of a Guerrilla Girl on Tour!I left for China EARLY Monday morning the 10th of November. I brought the following with me around the globe:

Openness:
As a [mostly] vegetarian, I had prepared to be ‘open’ regarding food. I had no idea that I would eat sea snails, various unidentifiable parts of octopus, pork, lamb and ‘meat’. It seems that most Chinese people eat according to Chinese medicine principles, so the idea of not eating the foods prescribed for a season is pretty ‘foreign’. There was no way to eat with groups of people and not consume animal products…. So I dug in… OH and beware next time you are in China, the ‘vegetable dumplings’ may just have pork in them !

Awareness:
After reading and hearing about the poverty in China, I knew I might see some things that were disturbing. I vowed to carry compassion in my heart and be realistic in my sensitivities. On Saturday, after the performing part of the journey was over, Edith and I went wandering through back allies in Old Shanghai. Poverty and poor living conditions were beyond what simple words can express. As I strolled past housing complexes that were home to eight or more families sharing one bathroom and kitchen and seeing that a bathroom/ kitchen might consist of a hose, several plastic basins, a hot plate and a hole in the ground, I also realized that life in other parts of this country were worse still. I carry these memories with me now and am still sorting out my emotional reactions to what I have seen.

Stories:
On the day we performed our piece ‘Silence is Violence’ all over the city [in parks, on streets, in malls] the press was everywhere and always wanted to chat! One particular question prompted me to share what I was bringing to the piece. I thought for a moment and realized that even in China, I bring to this work every story I have heard, witnessed, experienced of violence against women. As we performed, I gathered more observations to take with me on the road. Several times over the course of the day, a couple would show up and begin to watch. One of us would extend a flyer to the woman, the man would grab it and once he read it would drag her away. The flyer contained only simple statistics and information regarding domestic violence in China, yet this seemed threatening to many of the men in the crowds. Of course, and in all fairness, many men, and women, completely embraced the message and our presence in their communities!

Trust:
When leaving for this trip, friends and family members were a little worried. After all I was going to a country where political, feminist street theater might not be readily accepted by authorities. However, we were brought to Shanghai by the Zendi MoMA and were assured that they would take good care of us. That is exactly how it happened! We were chauffeured around on the city on the day of the events, photographed, video taped and protected every step of the way. We were part of a team, part of a vision, part of an international arts community and I thank all the organizers for doing a brilliant job!

Thanks for reading!
Love, Eva Le Gallienne
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