|
DocuSign Envelope ID:OBF594CD-1070-46AF-ABCO-1 E58F195B10B
<br /> KAREN, �� r
<br /> Moe Bhae Htoo,
<br /> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A who has been
<br /> conceived, grew out of a a working with
<br /> meeting between activists FRANK gallery
<br /> Fran Hamer and Nerys Levy. photographer
<br /> Hamer has been involved = , B%arbara Tyrol
<br /> the local Karen popula- :' z er,'has several
<br /> lion for several years,,working ' f Q photographs in
<br /> to get books for the refugee x ;
<br /> the exhibit.
<br /> immigrants and to found a
<br /> school where the children
<br /> could learn their native Ian- see moire wt
<br /> guage,
<br /> "Some of the kids were Want to see more artwork by residents from Burma?Visit
<br /> pretty good at drawing," The Art Therapy institute,,2n floor,of Carr Mill Mall,at 6 pm.
<br /> Hamer said,"That is when I Friday for the opening celebration of the 5th Annual Journeys
<br /> decided they needed to have to a Different landscape"art shoal featuring art and stories
<br /> some venue in order.to;ex- created by refogees in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.
<br /> press themselves besides
<br /> school."Havingiust met Le- tropical place,where they these kids are all,trying tb
<br /> vy,who organizes the annual feet comfortable.We are also find their place in our Chapel
<br /> Orange County Community trying to incorporate the Hill/Carrboro culture."
<br /> Dinner,Hamer got the chil- new with the old: The stu- Chapel Hill Higli School
<br /> dren involved in the dinner. dents showed at FRANK in art teacher Hollie Taylor has
<br /> When Levy learned of the March in a show`"Connect- been working with Kchdoh
<br /> youth's artistic talents she ing the Old with the New," moo Juelah and Paw Paw
<br /> suggested they visit FRANK This show is an extension of Wei for three years in school
<br /> gallery on Franklin Street, that show" helping;them hone their
<br /> "When the s t u d e n t s Levy,like Jameson, has a skills in ceramics. :,
<br /> walked in,they,could not be- decades-long connection to "They understand the
<br /> lieve a place could look like the Karen people hav properties and possibilities_
<br /> ing
<br /> that," Hamer said. "They done her PhD at London of clay,They love it and get
<br /> were astounded.It was beau- University in Modern South its';responsiveness," Taylor
<br /> tiful, They had a ball there Asian History said, "Their hands seem to
<br /> too;' "In spiteofwhat these kids know it."Taylor has learned
<br /> An idea was born to form a have gone through,they are` the ways of the Karens''
<br /> group for the Karen youth to so positive and warm," she homeland;and how the refw
<br /> create art with FRANK art- said,And,she stresses;very gee camps looked.`Tve.seen
<br /> fists, and lives began to. talented artists.Some of the a recurring image of Kwe Ka F
<br /> change,Weekly meetings be- striking,paintings in the Bating,an important moun-
<br /> gan taking place either,at the show,are their first;or se- tain in the Karen,state of
<br /> gallery,or at Transplanting Bond."They are so excited Burma, This mountain is a
<br /> Traditions Farm on Jones about challenging them- part of their identity."
<br /> Ferry Road where many;Ka selves with new possibilities Others involved in this
<br /> rens have gardens,,Most Of In in this country. !''am very project include Sandy Mi1-
<br /> the youth,ages,l5-23,in the, moved by their reactions.It roy,Mary Stane Lamb, Kip
<br /> Da-
<br /> group lived in Thailand ref i- is a privilege to work with Gerard, Barnett Parker,`Da-'
<br /> gee camps after,escaping po them.We have learned a lot vid Taylor, Shelley Crisp,
<br /> litical repression,in Myan-, from ibem." Townsend Ludington, and
<br /> mar (Burma).Hamer trans- Moe Shae Htoo, who has Ada Farber. Other students
<br /> ports the youth to and from been working with FRANK with work in the show in-
<br /> the weekly meetings and has photographer Barbara Tyrol- elude Slaw Law, Ywa Bin,
<br /> joined in the fun of making er,has several'photographs Lah Htoo.Boh, Paw Boh;
<br /> art with them.A few of her in the exhibit."It is wonder-, Hen Moo,and Lweb Moo.
<br /> paintings are in the exhibit ful seeing Moe'jumping all Jameson does not want,
<br /> and have samples, ='f ' over the place,getting up this project,which was sup-in the,'Karen lan high, going down,low, and .ported by a grant from the,
<br /> tached to them.' doing creative composition Orange County Arts Gom-
<br /> Making art is an integral and design," said Tyroler. mission, to'end. "I hope we
<br /> d
<br /> facet of the weekly meetings "He soake up everything'I will continue to find funding,
<br /> but food(rice and curry pre- told him and more.The kids for this so we can not only
<br /> pared,by Levy) and friend- really loved,having him do continue;but also expand its
<br /> ship share the stage. the documentation rather scope to include more kids in
<br /> "We are on,first name than me ' need offindingaconnection
<br /> terms and have a family at- Tyroler,who along with to their creative being."
<br /> mosphere," said Levy, a Levy % ,s in;charge of
<br /> FRANK member artist."We FRANK's community.out- Contact Deborah R.Meyer at
<br /> try to make everybody feel :reach and education,has writetoeloise @gmail.com
<br /> comfortable through food worked'over the years with .
<br /> and. The students are al many community z�siclents.
<br /> ways'painting their home- "I think that what is unique
<br /> land - a real or imasyined about this situation is that
<br />
|