Calendar and Upcoming Events
Thanks to everyone who participated in our recent events.
We have now decided to host monthly community dinners. Stay in touch for more details, contact us if you want to help.
Dates to remember:
Intertwine
friday november 14th @the silver room 1442 N. Milwaukee 7pm-12am
visual artists: amy mall, sandro corona, jesus macarena, saul aguirre, cristina silva, andrew leonardo, sherwin ovid
live performances by: kristiana colon and epic
music by:
dj itchy fingers and sherwin ovid
a benefit for twine…
July 27th 2008
5:00 pm onwards open house
Community dinner/nai taleem film screening/ story circle and dialogue/free store/and fair trade table
email: twine.nfp@gmail.com for more info, or call 773-486-8713
Films that will be shown include two from Peru – Being a Wawa in the Andes
and
-Loving Teacher
topics for reflection for the evening include learning/unlearning and gift culture.
please join us and share your own stories.
thanks to all who made the Venus 08 event a real success. With the money raised, Twine is able to create its first ethical enterprise grant for a womens sewing coop in Dehradun, India! Thank you! for those who were not there, see www.venuschicago.org for more details.
thanks to all those that helped get us to Be Present in Atlanta, we will be posting some reflections on this valuable journey as soon as possible. Thank you all!
June 14th 3-7 At Amy Mall and Sherwin Ovids home
Come relax and enjoy yourself!
Twine Open House, Fundraiser for Twine and members of the Chicago Be Present Support Group to participate in the Be Present Leadership Convening in Atlanta, GA
for more info:email twine.nfp@gmail.com
We are asking $3.00 at the door which includes HOMEMADE MASALA CHAI that can be made vegan upon request.
RSVP is appreciated by Wednesday, June 11.
Free YOGIC CLENSING DEMONSTRATIONS by members of Yog Sadhan Ashram, Chicago.
MEHNDI (HENNA)
($7.00 a palm)
AYURVEDIC HAIR OIL MASSAGE
($5.00)
FRESH MIXED JUICE (carrots/beets/apples/oranges)
($5.00 per glass)
FAIR TRADE ORGANIC CHOCOLATE from small farmers in Latin America and Africa.
($4.00)
FAIR TRADE ORGANIC COFFEE, grown by a women’s coop in Nicaragua and locally roasted in Chicago by an organic farmer that grows food for a local women’s organization.
($12.00 a pound)
FAIR TRADE ORGANIC NEBALI TREE OLIVE OIL from Palestine, supporting small struggling farmers, and supporting the planting of trees. Sample for tasting will be available.
($16.00 a bottle)
HOMEMADE HUMMUS AND PITA SAMPLER with 3 delicious variations
($5.00 a plate)
FAIR TRADE HANDICRAFTS from cooperatives in North India also for sale
May 24th Chicago Round Table:
Pilsen 10am-9pm. we will be present all day. Please come to purchase fair trade craft, learn more about what we do, get some mehndi (henna on your hand) or just check out all the beautiful active actionists who are in Chicago that will be together to make this community event.
see this link
for more details
April 17th Vermicompost workshop with Margaret Hartmann
April 27th: Nai Taleem film festival and community dinner centered on integrated learning
April 17th Vermicomposting workshop
Are you interested in finding something better to do with your garbage than throwing it away? Ever wondered how you could compost in your house in Chicago if you do not have a yard? Then, We have a skill share host for you:
Margaret Hartmann will be hosting a vermicomposting workshop at her house in Humbolt Park on April 17th. The cost if $10 for materials, but folks are also welcome to just come and listen and exchange experiences and stories related to vermicomposting. If the interest is strong, but the $10 is an obstacle, please also let us know so we can figure out a way to help you. We want all who are interested to be able to do this. Please reply or email Margaret.Hartmann@gmail.com for more information or to rsvp. space is limited, so contact Margaret asap. If that particular day doesn’t work, please let us know and we will try to schedule a follow up workshop that would fit with your schedule. Margaret is really excited to share her skills!
see:“www.journeytoforever.org”:http://journeytoforever.org/compost_wormlink.html
to learn more about vermicomposting
April 27th, Twine community dinner at Amy Mall and Sherwin Ovids house in Logan Sqaure. The evening will be dedicated to integrated learning and it will be the first in a series of the Shikshantar 2007-2008 ‘Nai Taleem: Real Learning for the 21st Century’ Film Festival. Last year’s festival made it to over 30 places around India, and also in several other countries, like Bolivia, Ukraine, Canada, USA, Korea, and Thailand. (We screened some here in Chicago at Polvo in Pilsen!) The festival hopes to elevate conversations on human learning by looking at conceptual insights and practical experiences. 16+ hours of films from around India and the world have been selected.
open house starts at 5:30.
Dinner @ 6:30pm.
People are welcome to come before dinner to help with the community meal preperation, free-cycle, and support fair trade.
Films start at 7:00 pm and will go on with integrated follow up discussions after the films until 10:00pm.
Some films that will be included in the evening will be:
Guni: Reclaiming Self Healing in Our Communities
Directed by: Ramawtar Singh, Manoj Prajapat
Length: 32 minutes
Language: Hindi
This film depicts a learning journey for indigenous ways of healing, which individuals and communities possess within their lifestyles.
Truth and Joy of Science: Muktangan Vigyan Shodhika
Directed by: Muktangan Vigyan Shodhika
Length: 12 minutes
Language: English
The film depicts a space for kids to learn science by making (or breaking!) the rules themselves, coming to understand the laws of science by doing practical things.
Kabaad se Jugaad: Upcycling Our Lives
Directed by: Shikshantar team
Length: 13 minutes
Language: Hindi and English with English subtitles
This film comes out of a learning event dedicated to upcycling, that is, making useful and beautiful things out of ‘waste’ materials. It shares the ideas and experiences of several ‘zero waste’ activists from around India.
Loving Teacher
Directed by: Maja Tillman Salas
Length: 28 minutes
Language: Quechua and Spanish with English subtitles
A group of teachers in Peru, South America, realize that they have been alienated from their traditional communities because they were educated in Western-knowledge-based schools. They do not want to do the same to the next generation. So, they look to one another for strength, support, and practical ideas for re-integrating with local communities, and connecting to the traditional Andean knowledge base.
Twine community dinners are free and are run soley on donation. come, eat, contribute what you can. all are welcome! for more info email twine.nfp@gmail.com
April 27th there will also be a free store on the back porch before and after the films. Please bring items in good condition for others to take. Free cycle away. Good quality items will also be collected for donation to the not for profit domestic violence agency, Apna Ghars resale store in Uptown. We are also looking for a volunteer to help with the free store specifically, and someone to drop of the items at Apna Ghar, anybody interested?
We will also have, as always, fair trade items for sale. The items are carefully selected and support individuals that we have personal connections to. When you purchase an item you not only support Twine, but you support us to be able to support friends in need in India. We also invite other vendors to come that uphold fair trade principles in their business. such as: Kiichpan
we will also have a table at The Global Rhythm Project, at the Hothouse now at The Viaduct Theater on April 26th. Its a world music dance party, very worth your relaxation time, and organised with The Apollo Project
a local energy very worth knowing a bit about:
We would like to also promote the work of our teacher and friend, Douglas Ewart, who along with Aarawak Productions and AACM
Presents:
Douglas R. Ewart and Inventions At Velvet Lounge
“We Declare Peace and Love “
Dee Alexander, Vocals and Percussions
Duriel Harris, Poetry and Percussions
Edward Wilkerson, Winds and Percussions
Mwata Bowden, Winds and Percussions
Jeffery Parker, Guitar
Dushun Mosley, Drums
Darius savage, Bass
Douglas R. Ewart, Winds, Vocals and Percussions
Friday 25th and Saturday 26th April 2008
9 PM
Admission $15.00
At Velvet Lounge
67 East 22nd St. (Cremak Rd.)
Chicago Il 60616
312-791-9050
also, our tentative date for community dinner and Nai taleem films in May is the 17th. more as soon as we firmly set the date! We are starting a $5 raffle ticket sale between now and then for people to have the chance to win a home cooked vegetarian meal for 2 made with care by me, Amy, as a fundraiser for our upcoming documentary centered trip in India. The trip is centered around the organic movement, farmers rights and small scale enterprises that economically empower communities and individuals in need. Our focus is especially surrounding cotton. Please see our site and contact us if you are interested in learning more.
finally,
some may be interested in the following documentary:
The World according to Monsanto on google video /videoplay?docid= 31495116222325 9236”
The French documentary, called “The world according to Monsanto” and directed by independent filmmaker Marie-Monique Robin
February 16th 2008 : Twine Monthly Open House
Building/creating/strengthening/nurturing/exploring…
Community/communities/connections and reconnections
Storytelling, dialogue and skillsharing for movement
“Towards Zero Waste”
Please join us for a community meal
at the home of Sherwin, Amy and Jaiya Mall Ovid
email: twine.nfp@gmail.com for directions
4:00pm all are welcome to participate in the preperation of a simple vegetarian Indian meal and tea for all who attend.
5:30-9:00 gathering begins with tea
followed by dinner, storytelling, skillsharing and discussion.
Please bring your own stories, skills, recipes, natural remedies and questions relevant to zero waste living to share. It will be a potluck of ideas.
Activities and stories may include:
“paper yoga” : Useful woven structures made with reused materials
(our introduction to this activity was inspired by Shikshantar, please see their site to learn more: www.swaraj.org/shikshantar
A demonstration of Vermicomposting, “How to compost without a yard”
A story from Mark Shipley about living in a family oriented community on the northern shores of Lake Superior where he harvests wild rice, maple syrup, and fish and lives without electricity or running water
And more…
we will have a free store from 4-5:30.
Those who would like to bring a small amount of items to swap and giveaway, we will have a free store from 4-5:30. items that are in very good condition will be collected for donation to Apna Ghar’s resale closet (see: www.apnaghar.org for more info about this great organization)
At 9:30 We will screen a documentary about Oaxaca called:
Un Poquito De Tanta Verdad
(A little bit of so much Truth)
As always, Fair trade handmade crafts from India will be for sale for those interested.
Saturday Jan 12th Twine Open House in Logan Square. storytelling, films, dialogue, food, fair trade and more.
Join us for a new year gathering to grow
“Immunity” through community
Our featured storyteller will be Charlotte Sáenz, who is is a community artist and learning activist working in the United States, Mexico, and Lebanon. Working with multiple forms of expression and technologies, she collaborates with communities that are resisting oppressive systems and creating better living and learning strategies.
The Featured Film will be “Muharram” A short film by Yousuf Saeed, an independent film maker interested in music and arts in India, especially the syncretic cultural and religious traditions.
come listen and share stories and conversations about the power and complexities of collective and community experience.
join us as we explore the roles, power and strength of groups, networks, gatherings, collective, collaborative, and communal actions and how these varied dynamics can effect expressions in healing humanity and nature as we seek to explore ways of learning/sharing to create personal, social, collective, and ecological healing in the new year.
Open House 4-9pm and onward
vendors
tea at 4pm
films at 6
followed by dinner
storytelling
and dialogue
Friday December 14th from 7-9 at Polvo Art Studio, Chicago
Screening of “Basant” a short film by filmaker Yousuf Saeed that explores the Sufi Basant, spring celebration, celebrated in India
This choice of film is as a companion to the mini exhibit by Amy Mall opening Friday November 16th at Polvo entitled:
“Basant: celebrating the plurality of motherhood”
A sculptural piece that incorporates video, weaving, and natural dye to explore a personal experience of “spring”: re-birthing of identity outside of monocultural values”
followed by:
A discussion about material choices in artmaking and design and their relationship to humanity and nature:
Presentation on the situation of cotton farmers in Punjab,
Presentation on the Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative,
followed by a presentation by artists and designers that will talk about how social and ecological issues effect the material choices in their work.
We would love to also hear others share their related questions, explorations and personal stories related to art, ecology and social justice. Please join us.
Saturday, December 15th: Ethical Enterprises: Holiday Home Bazaar
Join Twine with other “ethical enterprises” for a gift bazaar.
Vendors who are motivated by ecology and social justice. Diverse hand made products, fair trade items, all natural items…
from 1-9 with a tea break at 4 in which the vendors will talk about the social and ecological motivation behind their venture.
for more info: please contact Amy Mall
twine.nfp@gmail.com
Calling all children, parents, families: Inspired by Shikshantar we have decided to have a “Families co-learning together” gathering in Chicago this January: CLAY!
We are planning a day of play wih clay, as an opportunity to gather with other families and be creative with a natural material. This will be followed by a community meal. For more information please email: twine.nfp@gmail.com
Steps Towards Understanding Cotton (and how we can have a healthier relationship with it): a crop interwoven with economic, ecological and human health issues
During October, Amy travelled (independantly sponsored by a CAAP grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs) to Lubbock Texas to visit the Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative, in order to learn about cotton farming in the USA and document the experience. She will present this research at a Twine event in Chicago at Polvo. Please contact us if you would like updates on this unique event, and if you would like to invite her to present her perspective on cotton in another location.
A call for participation:
Postcard show: please submit art work the size of a postcard or series assembled postcards that address the issues of art, ecology and social justice in the context of globalization. What are the local cultural and ecological changes that you are witnessing and concerned about? Focus on creating a positive narrative about how to create healthy change in the areas of human suffering and ecological degradation that you may witness in your daily life. What sort of images can you create that may inspire us to treasure the earth and eachother with greater urgency? Do you have photographs of ecological treasures that you would like others to see?
What can we as artists and creative people do to change the negative situations around us? You can also use the postcards as a way to present a recipe, or how-to. Work created on reused or recycled material is favored.
Include a typed statement with your name and a story about your piece that will be exhibited with your work. We also need a statement that you are donating the work to Twine, nfp and include your contact information so that we can update you on what happens with the project, and interested viewers can contact you. We want to include as much as we can, but we may not show everything that is submitted. The collection of postcards will be exhibited in the in Chicago and possible other North American locations and may travel to India. Artwork will eventually be auctioned off to support the mission and vision of Twine. Some of the donated work may also be considered for reprinting in order to generate more financial support for the mission of Twine. Artists will be informed if this happens and recieve full printed credit for their work.
We will email you to let you know further details:
Twine.nfp@gmail.com
Recent Activities
Natural Dye Demonstrations/collaborative play with natural colour:
In October we had a small gathering to prepare mordants, fibers and dyes in a methodical manner as well as playing with dye plants in a more experimental style. We documented what we learned and experienced as a reference for ourselves and to share with others. We hope to gather those interested in this for another evening in Chicago in the new year. Please contact us if you are interested. (photos of this exploration will be in the archive soon)