FRANCISCO LETELIER, HILARY KAYE AND MAYA DARA KAHN ABRAMSFRIDAY, JUNE 11TH 7:30PM-9:30PM AT SPARC – OLD VENICE JAIL GALLERY
(VENICE/JUNE 6, 2010) Venice poets and artists Francisco Letelier, Hillary Kaye and Maya Dara Kahn Abrams come together for “Readings From the Cell” for the closing of “From My Altitude”, a traveling art exhibit by Antonio Guerrero, one of the Cuban Five. The event is on Friday, June 11th, 7:30pm, at Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) Old Venice Jail Gallery, 685 North Venice Boulevard in Venice. In addition to sharing their own poetry and stories, these local artists and poets will read letters written to and from family members of five political prisoners, known as the Cuban Five, held in United States for nearly 12 years: Ramon Labanino, Fernando Gonzalez, Rene Gonzalez, Gerardo Hernandez and Antonio Guerrero.
Born in Chile, long time Venice resident, Francisco Letelier bridges continents and weaves together history and contemporary experience, creating work that is powerful and memorable. His work is known for his visual art and his perceptive writing, lectures, and spoken word. Working with diverse groups and organizations for over twenty-five years, Letelier has completed murals, public artworks and commissions throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe, emphasizing a commitment to human rights and environmental concerns. Francisco is the son of Orlando Letelier, assassinated in Washington DC in 1976. The car bombing was the first act of international terrorism to occur in the nation’s Capital. Agents from the Chilean secret police acting under orders from former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet and in collaboration with anti Castro Cuban terrorists were involved in the conspiracy. Letelier editorials and artwork have appeared in many publications, including the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and New York Times.
Venice native, honor student and junior at Hamilton High School Humanities Magnet, Maya Dara Kahn Abrams interests focus on art and art history, which helped her secure a highly competitive internship with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art “LACMA”, beginning in September. Kahn Abrams will share works by her late father, Larry Abrams, “How I Couldn’t Learn to Do the Rooster Dance” published in “Griot”, a journal of native consciousness. Her father tells of his travels to Cuba and his introduction to Afro Cuban dance. Abrams was one of the founding members of the Griot Collective and dedicated this particular issue to his daughter, Maya on the occasion of her birth, September 12, 1993.
Local poet and artist Hillary Kaye studied at the San Francisco Art institute and the School of Visual Arts in New York. She has been in various group shows including ones at SPARC and the Monterey Museum. For the last eight years she and her partner Cary Shulman have been involved in creating political graphics.
