Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/author/thaoworra/page/3/)
This Memorial Day weekend we recognize the service of our veterans in America. I was adopted from Laos by a family of military men and women, and have a deep appreciation for this day. I was raised with family stories about the Army, Navy and Air Force and many of my friends were Marines.
On May 13, the state-appointed Council of Asian Pacific Minnesotans is honoring Laotian traditional weaver Bounxou Chanthraphone with a lifetime achievement award in the arts as part of its annual Heritage Dinner at the Earle Brown Center. Out of 21,000 Asian Pacific Minnesotans in the state, she is just one of only three people being recognized through the annual leadership awards. The others are Dr. Adisack Nhouyvanisvong for his leadership in education and Mr. Hung D. Phung for his humanitarian work.FULL DISCLOSURE: The author nominated Bonxou Chanthraphone for this award.These awards are given only once in a person’s lifetime and reflect a decision made among over 60 Asian American and Pacific Islander communities who build their lives in Minnesota.It was my pleasure and an honor to nominate her for this award for many reasons, not the least being my conviction that when we have living treasures among us, we should recognize them and honor those achievements.As the undisputed master weaver in our community among the 200,000+ Lao in the US, she also has the distinction of being a 2000 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow, a recipient of the prestigious Bush Artist Fellowship, and most recently the inaugural Bush Enduring Vision Fellowship. To put the National Heritage Fellowships of the NEA into context: These are a once-in-a-lifetime award to honor and preserve our nation’s diverse cultural heritage, given only to master folk and traditional artists. This is one of the highest recognitions an artist can receive from the US government, and she was just 1 of 13 people so selected in 2000.More importantly, over the years, she paved the way for many Laotians to see not just the craft but the art that our textile traditions can embody, and the significance of handcrafted work that goes beyond what machine-programmed looms achieve. She has helped connect us all to one another through her art and life’s work.Madame Chanthraphone was born in 1947 in the town of Savannakhet, in central Laos. She learned Lao weaving techniques from her mother and grandmother, and soon studied more formally, learning the weaving techniques and designs of her native central region and of the northern and southern regions, among other techniques. Her expertise allows her to weave single strands of linen, cotton, silk, and other materials into the traditional patterns, including the intricate symbols and geometric designs. Continue Reading
The Hawthorne Neighborhood Council’s Business Committee released a recent call for artists to help improve their logo for their major 2008-2010 marketing campaign to raise awareness of the Hawthorne neighborhood of North Minneapolis, a neighborhood of 6,000 diverse residents. Working from an initial earlier design for a logo, artists will have the opportunity to make suggestions or completely redesign the logo for use on Hawthorne neighborhood websites, brochures, posters, correspondence and promotional items during the course of the ambitious marketing campaign. The Hawthorne Neighborhood Council and its staff and residents have been covered by USA Today, the Star Tribune, Washington Post, Minnesota Public Radio and other media outlets, and hope local and national artists will consider assisting them in this project. There is no monetary compensation for this project, however they encourage artists to submit proposals given the high visibility of the project, professional networking opportunities and addition to the artists’ professional portfolios. Interested artists should contact Bryan Thao Worra at bworra@hawthornecommunity.org or call (612) 529-6033 and they will send the necessary files to get started on a proposal.The project deadline is June 26th. Continue Reading
The Hawthorne Neighborhood needs volunteers for their annual Clean Sweep across the Hawthorne neighborhood to clean up the sidewalks and boulevards of their neighborhood! Last year, residents and volunteers collected over 60 bags of garbage from the street and 250 tires were disposed of. In the past they’ve cleaned up as many as 450 tires in the neighborhood. The Annual Hawthorne Clean Sweep is part of an ongoing campaign to protect the neighborhood environment, reduce pollution and crime and to increase family and resident safety. Free breakfast and lunch provided at Farview Park for volunteers. Continue Reading
The Hawthorne Neighborhood Council has announced the opening of the Executive Director position for the North Side neighborhood organization that serves 6,000 residents and businesses in Minneapolis. The Hawthorne Neighborhood Council is looking for a qualified candidate who can meet the unique needs of the neighborhood and help it reach the next stages in its growth and development. More details about the organization and the position can be found at http://www.hawthornecommunity.org. The Hawthorne Neighborhood Council hopes to have the position filled by June 30th. Continue Reading