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From the SICA Mailbox
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What SICA people around the world are doing in their centers and communities |
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ARGENTINA From Marcelo Silva, SICA National Rep for Argentina In Buenos Aires group, we have many artists with the desire to spread Subud culture through our country and bring it to the world. We're a small group of actors and actresses who are working using both written text and improvisation following our inner feeling with the goal of forming a theatrical work in which we will be able to work as actors and at the same time develop a SICA project. Our goal is to stage the work in November 2000 at a meeting of the World Subud Council in Mina Clavero, Cordoba [Argentina]. There are possibilities of organizing a larger production in a theater incorporating other Subud artists as part of a SICA festival. I'm letting you know about all these projects because we would like to receive information on how to better organize the such various tasks such as financing, forms, possibilities of fund raising, and especially all ideas on how to organize something of this magnitude. We would also like to know what would be the necessary conditions to participate in the artistic festival that will take place in the framework of the World Congress in Kalimantan in 2001, named "Jakarte". As you can see, we have many questions and concerns, and it would be very valuable for us to receive this information. Thank you very much on the part of all the group. We had two SICA events two events in 1999. The first was my own presentation as someone responsible for SICA Argentina in which there was an informal talk in the Subud house in which Lamberto Arevalo also accompanied some songs. That took place some time in April. The second one was in December before Ramadhan. We had a festival in which participated: Lamberto Arevalo on piano accompanying Rhea Volijen, dancer. Analia Maciangiola, an actress belonging to the group GIT (Group of Integrated Theater). She interpreted two songs of Marilina Ross. Rowina Casey sang some Irish songs. Josefa Cerutti also an actress improvised on a text of Giacomo Casanova. And I read a text, which I had written for the occasion. I have everything recorded on video (VHS). I keep in touch with the members simply by speaking to them before and after latihan, and we are beginning to become active at the national level via e-mail. Up to now, all activities been paid out of my own pocket. We are presently working at organizing to become self-sufficient. God bless you, |
| AUSTRALIA
Helenka King, Chair of SICA Australia writes on her terminally groovy SICA OZ site: Congratulations to Liliana Johnson who won first prize at the Canberra show for one of her ceramic pots. (She won second prize in 1999 & third prize in 1998!). Alena Kennedy's Creation Series was hung in Canberra in the Made From Australia Galleries as part of the Floriade Festival last October. Alena also had 10 paintings hanging in the Dreaming exhibition in Wollongong in October and in he SICA exhibition in Brisbane. New webites to know about: Salamah Pope's web site is just up at :www.ozemail.com.au/~vatican *** Norachai's work is featured in the VISUAL ARTS section of this isse INPSIRE. The article also links to his gallery in Perth *** Renee and Ludwig Goetz sang for 10 hours in a sing-a-thon at St Andrew's Uniting Church in Brisbane. The event was a fundraiser for the Brisbane Chorale's special performance in November of Beethoven's great mass "The Missa Solemnis". Laksar Burra's TALKABOUT begun in 1997 at Uluru (Ayer's Rock), Central Australia performs to visitors from Australia and all over the world. His book, "SPIRIT OF THE NIGHT SKY" was published by Starlight Press in 1999 and retail for $12.95, mainly at the Ayer's Rock Resort and in Alice Springs. *** Laksar Burra is featured in this edition of Inspire. See Inspire's IN THE LIMELIGHT page in the Music and Performing Arts section for more on Talkabout. See Inspire's PUBLISH PUBLISH page to order his book — and Liliana Stafford's book mentioned below. Liliana Stafford's first children's picture book has just been published by Margaret Hamilton Press and is now in the shops! The picture book that has just come out is called Amelia Ellicott's Garden and is by Liliana Stafford and Stephen Michael King (illustrator). Liliana says it 's taken her ten years to get to this point, but it doesn't look like it will take that long for the next one! [Liliana Stafford and her work were featured in the last issue of INSPIRE — ed.] Lydia Sturton has now completed her mentorship with Gary Crew, best -selling children's book writer. The mentorship was a project run by the Australian Society of Authors, and Lydia says it has been extremely helpful and interesting. Visit the SICA OZ site (linked above) to sample tracks from the latest recordings of some talented Australian SICA musicians!! |
| CANADA
Illene Pevec is awarded another grant! She writes: I have received a grant from the Canadian Government, a very small grant, that will allow me to work in Brazil for 2.5 to 3 months with the school run by Subud members in the South. You may have read about them in the Susila Dharma newsletter. The school for middle class children is highly successful and has been in operation for 15 years. When the directors were opened a couple of years ago they decided to start a program for the children of the favela, the "street children". They have built a building where they will hold programs in arts, sports, creative play, health care and I will provide a gardening component. I am hoping to establish on the center grounds a garden of the native plants of the region that were used traditionally by indegenous people. (I don't know yet how much of this info is readily available.) Next, I plan to work with the children in their favela, and with their families to establish a community garden for food. This is a lot to hope to accomplish in 3 months, but I hope we will get a good start. My husband got very excited about making a documentary film that would show the garden project here and there as models of community development. We shall see if he can find grant money to go also. *** See INSIDE STORY page in this SICA section of our website for the inside story of Illene's incredible garden project! So I am looking forward to working with accomplished educators in my homeland. It is a dream I have had since I was 18. Now back to my thesis.... Love to everyone, Illene Pevec Sjahari Hollands and Lucas Foss win kudos in Canadian national playwriting competition! Exceprts from NEWS RELEASE issued last December to Canadian and international media: WINNING PLAYS ANNOUNCED! Jury Selects 10 Finalists from 115 New Canadian Plays in Theatre BC's 11th Annual Canadian National Playwriting Competition Today marks the official announcement of results for Theatre BC's 11th Annual Canadian National Playwriting Competition. The opening of the winning playwrights' sealed envelopes revealing their true identities took place in the presence of the Jurors on Wednesday morning at the Theatre BC office in Victoria, BC. Subud members attracting attention for their contributions to the competition: Special Merit Category: ($ 750 Cash Award) LITTLE VOICES by Lucas Foss, North Vancouver, BC "A monologue about the insidious dynamic in our lives that is our resistance to moving forward in life. Is this the ego or personality that wants to keep itself safe in our old ways and patterns? Who is this self that creates sabotage and keeps us closed from an authentic life and keeps us in our individual and collective comfort." The remaining seven (7) Finalists for 1999 are (in alphebetical order by title): THE BIGGER WORLD (Full-Length), by Lilla Csorgo, Toronto, ON; EASY MONEY (Full-Length), by Nicola Harwood, Victoria, BC; HOME MOVIES (One Act), by Sally Stubbs, Vancouver, BC; I.C.U. (One Act), by Marita Dachsel, Vancouver, BC; KITCHEN PARTY (Full-Length), by Maureen Robinson, North Vancouver, BC; THE THIRD ENCOUNTER (One-Act), by Sjahari Hollands, Langley, BC; WHITE LIES (Full-Length), by Larry MacKillop, Nanton, AB. Finalists will be offered a 4-hour "round table" session with a professional dramaturge and a cast of readers to provide vital feedback on the script for continued development. Congratulations to Sjahari and Lucas!!! |
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CUBA The following contribution from Hannah Rodriguez, SICA coordinator for CUBA, is via the kind oourtesy of Rochanah Weissinger's Zone 7 website: http://www.rochanah.com/zone7 Culture is within everybody. SICA gatherings at Hannah's courtyard: The SICA gatherings in Havana City, have been flourishing because of the initiative of some brothers and sisters who felt the urgent need to share their creativity through love and culture. Since the beginning of this project it was agreed that the dynamics of these gatherings should characterize the Subud spirit of free action and experience; different from a tense, forced or competitive attitude, not a matter of "having to do something," but something that can flow from a passive contemplation up to a dramatic performance. It's the existential aspect of our lives that seeks to be embellished by mobilizing from within us the cultural jewel. These gatherings have been the foundation for our development in a different context from our habitual group latihan. In this case the latihan kedjiwaan is followed by some kind of cultural expression coming out of our inner feeling. Today the voice of SICA is inviting all of our brothers and sisters in Cuba to take advantage of this opportunity for personal improvement and inner opening through culture in a broad sense, and this way to integrate ourselves with the power that works within us and is the origin of our Subud Brotherhood. What happened in our first two SICA gatherings The most difficult moment in our first gathering turned out to be the beginning. Most of us who were taking part in our first Sicafe had already enjoyed at some previous moment of our lives a social gathering, a party or something like that. However, deep in our hearts and minds, we were being witnesses of an exchange that was trying to be genuine and lacking of preconceived ideas. We were trying to find something from within ourselves that up to that moment had remained hidden and we needed to discover. One inspiration freed another, and two beautiful and original songs remain recorded in our memory - songs that could have come out of any theater from Havana. They were memorably sung by our brother Erick. Erick, whose great artistry is his capacity to unfold and merge his being with dramatic characters in plays, is an actor from Teatro Estudio, one of Cuba's most famous drama companies. Hannah took advantage of that window that is open now and then for painters, and put forth one of her works that is part of a collection she's been working on, on the theme of peace. In this gathering she showed her painting "Peace Swing." Inspired by the feeling of peace that lies within us, the painting shows a swing of doves and an adolescent girl in a contemplative state. Yasniel (Ramon's son) graced the night, delighting us with his impressive vocal and artistic talent, with all the freshness and spontaneity of an 8-year-old boy who seems called to be a future great singer. Siariffuddin, our national chairman, surprised us with his natural openness and assurance, by improvising a poem dedicated to everyone in attendance, showing his authentic comic talent. We have among us a brother who impresses us with his subtle steps toward a multi-layered art; who has no objection to showing his inner culture simply, in a very natural way. That's Ramon, who delighted us in our first gathering with pantomimes, tales and funny riddles that showed his dazzling personality. In our second gathering, he stayed more quiet and peaceful, displaying on a small table covered with red tapestry a most amazing collection of 12 precious hand-made goldsmith pieces. The most surprising were an angel carrying the horn of plenty and a woman's figure all carved in black coral with gold encrusts. He also showed different kinds of rings, bracelets and necklaces. Our auditory appetite was satisfied when our brother Luthfi read three interesting thoughts and reflections that in spite of his youth, show a clear sensibility and exquisite taste. Yoanka was another treasure, that we discovered after her reading of a beautiful poem of her own, expressed with elegance and delicacy. Our brother Tony read a very profound and reflexive poem of his own about the mystery of friendship as a breath to raise the soul and rediscover our existence. Luis performed a monologue that expressed a controversial reality, in which he showed off his histrionic talent that he hides daily. He also gave us a fresh and genuine poem about life, and had the good idea to show five cast-iron sculptures he made, as part of an exhibition he's been preparing this last months. Marieta, Katia, Halim, Murtadi, Felicia, Ricardo, Viviana and some other brothers and sisters exchanged their remarks, laughter, good mood, happiness and love. We had the good fortune to receive a visit from our sister Latifah from Colombia, who used her space to tell us about her country and our Colombian brothers and sisters. In these gatherings we received non Subud friends to whom these cultural meetings will be always open, because culture is the inheritance of everybody and its content comes out of us and joins us as brothers and sisters. We hope that as time goes by, this necessary spiritual exchange if our performance is appropriate and if it's God's Will, can help to develop a good relationship among us, a relationship that is in line with our jiwa and real human culture. Hannah, SICA Cuba ***The paintings of two of our Subud artists in Cuba, Hannah 'Marod' Rodriquez and Luis Simpson are reatured in SHOW 3 in SICA's VIRTUAL GALLERY. |
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GREECE, INDONESIA, AND THE WORLD: JAKART@2001 UPDATE Robyan Easty writes: We now have updated info on JakArt@ 2001, the big festival in Jakarta in 2001. It's been a bit delayed due to the need to get it into a format which everyone can access without problems. With the great help of John Hayward-Warburton, who put it into HTML, it has now been distributed to all the publications I can find addresses for. John is both a musician and a computer wiz, especially in cross-platform methodology, who has done a lot of work for the BBC. He sent me his CV by sending me the web site URL where it is. He then did the same for the two festival documents, rather than attaching them as files which take up space on my computer. This seemed to me a clever way to do it and gave me the idea to do the same for the festival info. So instead of attaching files (there's a lot of styling and some graphics in them) I'm giving you the web links here so that those of you who are interested can just go there and read them (and print them for your groups please) http://johnandlucy.com/subud/press1.html I do urge you to take a look. You won't be disappointed. You will get a good idea of the huge amount of work that is being done in Jakarta by the Subud team and of the high-profile Indonesian coordinators who are organising programmes for this event and whose energy and enthusiasm will become apparent later. I also urge you once again, now that the congress dates have been published, to consider carefully if you have anything to offer or know of anyone who would make a valuable contribution. The new Community Events section will be the heart of the festival, particularly aimed at taking the festival to the people and I will soon be letting you know who is in the team handling this.
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| INDONESIA
Mardiana Situmeang writes: When Bapak's earthly remains were moved from Karet to the mausoleum at Sukamulya back in 1993, it was an honor to us that we, two Subud sisters and I, were appointed to make the ceremonial flower-arrangements for the reburial. Some of the jasmine garlands we made were actualy buried with Bapak's earthly remains. Since then (Insya Allah) every eve of a special day such as: Bapak's Birthday, Iedul Fitr (end of Ramadhan), New Year, etc., we always decorate the mausoleum with fresh flowers, mainly with imported roses. We do it out of love and respect for Y.M. Bapak. Back then arranging flowers was merely a hobby, but now we are proud to say that we own a flowershop with 3 outlets in Jakarta named "Edelweiss Sekar Gunung". We got the name through receiving which literally means Edelweiss flower of the mountain. (Sekar = flower, Gunung = mountain). Should any of you Subud brothers and sisters from around the globe would like to send flowers to someone you know in Indonesia (for whatever occassion), we surely can assist you. Vice versa, we too take orders from Indonesian customers who would like to send flowers overseas. Do send your order to my e-mail address: kinanthi @cbn.net.id or fax 62-21-7901518 and 62-21-7267843 Best Regards, Mardiana Situmeang
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NETHERLANDS Simone van Beek writes: I am looking into creating a catalog and wanted to ask/invite people to perhaps allow their work to be sold through a mail-order catalog with a warehouse and team here in Holland. Oliver Halviala and I have already collected several pieces.... One of the ideas that I think will be easiest to realize is making stationery from photographs and reproductions: we have some small hand-painted cards from a brother in Brazzaville, Congo which we are scanning as samples.... I have worked on the UNICEF committee here in Holland and seen how well their catalogs can work - showing not just greeting cards of all kinds, but t-shirts, toys, small objects etc....Subud groups can have displays in Subud houses, members can share catalogs with friends, a loyal clientele could develop. In the meantime, I think that music CDs would be a logical and natural part of such a catalog....but I don't know whether there are legal issues to do with distributorship involved. We thought that we should write to Subud artists asking whether they would be interested in having paintings and photographs reproduced as cards and stationery, or into calendars - and see what happened. Artists would have some kind of recompense - and if there were profits, these could be donated to SICA and SDI. Simone van Beek Googerpolderstraat 23 2807 LP Gouda Netherlands tel/fax: 31-182-514766 |
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UK Andrew Clague writes: Since the Hamilton Camp 'Mardi's Bard' CD, I have recorded and released an album of Accordion music (shows, TV themes and light classical) by a local friend who has an accordion quintet. And also a traditional English folk singer who's the son of a family friend - Damien Barber 'The Furrowed Field'. They are now on the DJC website. Subudwise, I'll soon be trying to market the Malarky CD - Sebastian Flynn's fiddle/guitar band from Brisbane, and also helping with Lucas Hille's CD of his 'Lost and Found' sessions. I have also come across one or two people who are thinking about music (and any art for that matter) that will do inner things for the listener - producing it may be a different story ! Regards Andrew Interested in KEVIN COYNE/SIREN ?? BONZO DOG BAND ?? RELAXATION ?? CONTEMPORARY FOLK ?? or JAZZ-FUNK ?? Check it out on our website at: http://www.jacana.demon.co.uk/djc |
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USA Dahlan Foah, Chair of SICA USA writes: SICA USA WILL SPONSOR "THE PHOTO PROJECT" Jeff Polk had a receiving, which is to send photos of Bapak to all the Third World Subud members! These are members who will probably never get to go to a big congress, much less buy photos at a congress. SO, Jeff will select photos from his large photo archive. The photos will be shipped to all the International Helpers, and when they go on their travels, they can distribute photos as they are able. Jeff will will also to put on the literature or wherever is attached to any printed material, "A SICA USA (Subud International Cultural Association) Project" As we are trying to attach our name to honourable and worthy projects, it is wonderful to have qualified people like Jeff adding to the list.
Melinda Wallis, USA SUBUD ACTORS REHEARSE "THE MAIDEN STONE" Francisca Beach, a theatre director, newly arrived from Scotland arranged a play reading at the Subud LA center on Wilshire Boulevard. The play is a Scottish piece by Rona Munro, called "The Maiden Stone" and combines myth and story telling within a play about a family of actors headed by Harriet, (an 18th century English actress who did exist, had 17 children, outlived two husbands and traveled as far north as Arbroath, Scotland.). From this play reading emerged a small company of Subud members, which included Hamid Camp (as 'Nick' - the Devil), Roxanne Reicheg (as 'Harriet') and Christina Lindhart (as 'Mary' - a wild child and would-be actress). Two outside actors joined us, Bairbre Dowling ('Bidie Begg' - a mother nature archetype and paramour of Nick); Bairbre is an Irish actress of repute, who appears in Redmond Gleeson's annual presentation of "Bloomsday", a tribute to James Joyce. The delightful Noah Wagner completed our group (playing Archie - Harriet's second husband). We rehearsed 5 scenes in various spaces, including the Subud hall, and on March 2nd presented them to Ron Sossi, Artistic Director of the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. (our contact being Christina who has produced several plays for Ron). Ron liked the play and is reading it at present (good luck to him, much is in broad Scots dialect!), with a view to including it in his summer season. The great thing for us was in the shared energy, dedication and enthusiasm that brought us a joyous experience as we explored new boundaries in our working together. Francisca Beach franciscabeach@worldnet.att.net SICA, SAVAE, AND HEARTBEATS IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS Covita Maroney writes: Sunday, May 14, 2000 Million Mom March San Fernando Cathedral, 3:30 - 4:00 pm SAVAE (San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble) will begin the San Antonio Million Mom March for gun safety. After the concert, walk at your own pace from the Cathedral to Milam Park. Along the way, you will interact with storytellers, poets and musicians to learn more about how gun violence affets children. Free. GUADALUPE Virgen De Los Indios May 14, 2000 8 p.m., San Fernando Cathedral General Admission $15 Christopher Wilkins, conductor San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble Riding on the success of a Billboard magazine-charting 1998 CD, The San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble joins members of the San Antonio Symphony to trace the development of the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe-from her Aztec Mother-Goddess origins to the unifying symbol of Hispanic Catholicism she has become. An intriguing fusion of pre-Colombian Aztec music with Renaissance and Baroque sacred Spanish motets, this concert will include the seven voices of SAVAE, members of the orchestra, and performances on reproductions of Baroque and original Aztec instruments. •••SAVAE is featured in the MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS section of this INSPIRE! (When Covita Maroney isn't singing and working with SAVAE, she is working for San Antonio's peaceCenter. She also coordinates the monthly heartBEATS coffehouse at the peaceCenter.) HeartBEATS are monthly first Saturday of the month events where a variety of artists present their heart-felt expressions in words and music. The atmosphere is casual, and open-hearted souls of all ages are welcome. The peaceCENTER is located downtown at 127 McCullough. Here's a link to the peaceCENTER web site, with a map: http://www.salsa.net/peace/index.html PS: HeartBEATS is NOT an "open mic night." If you, or someone you know is interested in sharing their work, please have them contact me. Covita adds "If you are interested in walking the Labyrinth in San Antonio, I invite you to join me and the volunteers from the PeaceCENTER to do so on these dates, from 9am until 11am. (FYI it can take between 15 minutes and an hours or more to do the walk.) The location is Church of the Reconciliation: 8900 Starcrest (near St. Mary's Hall, Los Patios, etc.) It will be up in Brown Hall for the walks. IMPORTANT: please email or call me the day before to confirm: Covita Maroney
Butterfly Story of the Month Hello Butterfly Friends, I live in Hawaii on the island of Oahu. I am a artist, musician and consultant for Tokyo Disneyland. My first magical experience with a butterfly was 30 years ago. My son was a year and a half old; we had gone to my mothers for the day. My son and I played all morning and after lunch we laY down for a nap. I fell quickly asleep. While I was sleeping my son got up and had gone out into the yard and had fallen into the swimming pool. While I was asleep I heard a voice say "Get up and quickly go look in the pool". I jumped up and ran to the pool to find my baby underwater! I quickly pulled him out, he must have just fallen in because he was alright. I sat there crying as a beautiful Monarch Butterfly kept fluttering around and around us. I knew instantly that the butterfly was the angel who had given me the warning. My son is now 31 and is a harpist. He plays the harp so beautifully that people often say he is an angel. He plays lovely Mozart, Bach and Beethoven pieces and always ends a concert with the Beatles composition of Imagine. (He needs no music when playing any of these great composer's works and his own improvisational music is fragrant and amusing.) To think this child could have drowned in a swimming pool had the butterfly not come to direct me. My second Butterfly experience was four months ago. I was in Ubud Bali. There are alot of Butterflies in Bali and they are called Kapu Kapu. I was sitting beside a Lotus Pond when a healer who is well known in Ubud came by to talk to me. She started talking small talk about her neighbors and life in Bali when I saw a butterfly about 4 feet away. I said to Marelna "Look at the Kupu Kupu" She replied "Would you like me to have it come say Hello to you" I skepticly said, "Okay" She looked at the butterfly and the butterfly came directly over to me and began fluttering only one inch from my forehead. She continued talking about everyday matters as if nothing special were happening. After about 3 minutes she said to me "Would you like to hear the butterflies music" I instantly replied "yes." Suddenly the whole world was filled with chimes, beautiful chimes that sang out of the butterfly. Marlena continued to chat as if nothing unusual were happening. The butterfly continued to flutter right in front of me for about l0 minutes more. Marlena has invited me to learn the language of the butterflies and I will be returning to Bali this summer to learn the music and language of the butterflies. Five Years ago, Tokyo Disneyland contacted my husband and myself to create the worlds most unique child care center. We have spent the last five years developing this center with Disneyland. My husband and I developed 6 archetypal nature characters to interact with the children. One of these characters is The Butterfly Princess! The center will open July 7, this year at Tokyo Disneyland. The Child center has the 3 kingdoms of nature represented, the sky, earth and Ocean. This unique child centers program will be a children's interactive nature play. We believe this center will have a healing effect on the children of Japan. I believe the Butterflies have a large role to play in creating world peace. My life has always been filled with magic and enchantment but on the top of my list are my two lovely experiences with Butterflies!! Aloha and many happy fluttering Butterfly wishes, Jacqueline Johnson 03/12/2000
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