Image Credit: Mali KouanchaoTeAda Production's Refugee Nation theater performance is an interdisciplinary/multi-media collaboration between two American artists of Southeast Asian descent and Laotian community members that explores the impact of war, refugees, global politics and U.S. citizenship.

Through the collection of oral histories, the ensemble performance will reveal the connections between the history of the U.S. and Southeast Asia. The new work will explore the unique challenges faced by political refugees and cultural exiles and their American children. It will bring voice to a growing part of the Asian American diaspora that is yet to be included as part of the American experience.

Through the exposition of their very personal reconstructed memories, TeAda seeks to create a performance that does not allow the average American citizen, both Asian and non-Asian to distance themselves from events in Southeast Asia. It seeks to create dialogue within and outside of the Laotian community to promote restorative justice. 

Refugee Nation is led by Ova Saopeng and Leilani Chan.

Click to Listen to Radio Interview

 Photo Credit: Jen Cleary

Members of the Laotian Community can participate by contributing stories and images online, contact the artists via email or phone to set an appointment for an oral history interview, or take part in performance and oral history workshops.  Laotians of any age are encouraged to contact the artists at http://myspace.com/refugeenation, refugeenation@gmail.com, or 310/998-8765.

UPCOMING REFUGEE NATION EVENTS
April 7-30, 2007 (Closing Event April 28, 2007) – Gallery Installation & Residency
Refugee Nation/Legacies of War – Searching for Laos in L.A.
Open-process gallery installation and community participation
@SPARC
685 Venice Blvd., Venice, CA 90291
310/822-9560 www.sparcmurals.org

During this month-long residency, Ova and Leilani will be collaborating with Visual Artist Malichansouk Kouanchao and Multi-Media Artist Steve Arounsack to develop community based installations and performance for the Legacies of War exhibition.  Bring your Laotian family and friends to the gallery to share your stories with the artists and make contributions to the artwork. Join us for the Closing Event on April 28, 2007 and celebrate with community, food and live performances.

May 27, 2007 - WORKSHOP PERFORMANCE
@ Highways Performance Space
1655 18th St, Santa Monica CA, 90404
For reservations call 310-315-1459 or go to http://www.highwaysperformance.org/

June 22-24, 2007 - PREVIEW PERFORMANCE
@ the First Ever National Asian American Theater Festival
Abingdon Theatre, 312 W. 36th Street, New York, NY
http://www.naatf.org/

October 12 & 13, 2007 - REFUGEE NATION PROJECT LAUNCH & PREMIERE
@ Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St in Cambridge, MA - 617.577.1400
http://www.cmacusa.org/
 

Links:

http://refugeenation.blogspot.com/
www.myspace.com/refugeenation
www.teada.org
www.sparcmurals.org
http://www.naatf.org/