The Asian Arts Initiative and The Laundromat Project present:
HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT
Exhibition Dates: June 2 - July 2, 2011

 

In a world polarized by race, class, religion, and other issues, our communities feel increasingly fragmented. But one thing many of us have in common is the desire for Home--be it a roof to keep out the rain, or a healthy community where everyone is allowed to pursue our dreams. 


Grand Opening & Town Hall Meeting

Thursday June 2, 2011 | 6:00-9:00 p.m.

Reception begins at 6:00pm
Town Hall Meeting 7:30pm-9:00pm

Co-presented by the Asian Arts Initiative and the Laundromat Project, artists Michael Premo and Rachel Falcone of Housing is a Human Right are bringing THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS to 1223 Vine Street, Asian Arts Initiative's adjunct exhbiition space. 

THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS features over 50 photographs exploring the struggle for Home, stories-in-sound, and live remixing by DJ Spazecraft One built from your stories. Community members who visit the office will be invited to "sit in our kitchen" and tell us what home means to you. Community members are also invited to ask this question of your neighbor and contribute, brick-by-brick, to building a collective definition of what Home means to the people of Chinatown and beyond. 

Join us on the evening of June 2nd to experience THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS and tell us what home means to you!

Storytelling Workshops
  • Friday June 3: 11:00am-1:00pm
  • Saturday June 4: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Artists Michael Premo and Rachel Falcone of the Housing is a Human Right project will host an on-site workshop to train participants of all ages in interview techniques and skills used to conduct in-depth oral-history interviews. Workshop participants are eligible to participate as interviewers in the series of Oral History Interviews the artists will be facilitating (see below).

SPACE IS LIMITED AND RSVP IS REQUIRED. For more information, or to RSVP for one of the storytelling workshops, email Nancy Chen, Program Assistant at Nancy.Chen@asianartsinitiative.org with your name, contact information, a brief introduction.

 Oral History Interviews
Various times available: June 3 - June 8
Artists Michael Premo and Rachel Falcone of the Housing is a Human Rightproject will conduct 12-15 in-depth interviews with local residents of the North Chinatown and Callowhill neighborhood on the subject of what it means to obtain and maintain a place to called home.

If you are interested in being interviewed or if you would like to recommend someone to be interviewed, please email Nancy Chen, Program Assistant, at Nancy.Chen@asianartsinitiative.org with your name, contact information, and a brief introduction.

Film Screening of More Than a Roof  documentary
& Panel Discussion
Wednesday June 8: 7:00pm 
Join us for the screening of the film More Than a Roof and a Q&A and discussion session with Michael Premo and Rachel Falcone. Co-produced by Housing is a Human Right, the film is a powerful example of community journalism and tells the story of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing’s first official fact finding mission to the United States in 2009. Part travelogue, part call to action, More Than a Roof is a model of grassroots media making and movement building, created by people caught in the housing crisis, who believe that something better is possible. Click here to see the trailer and for more information.

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All above events will take place at Asian Arts Initiative at 1219-1223 Vine Street unless otherwise noted.

Links for more information:
Housing is a Human Right Project / Introductory Video
The Laundromat Project



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To learn more about housing issues in Philadelphia, check out:
A Place to Call Home | Mural Arts Project