Blasians and One World

Blasian Night chapbook launch with Julian Hines and Judie N. Keys
at WATT MUNISOTARAM (Cambodian Buddhist Temple)

Earlier this month, I was blessed enough to be a guest artist for the chapbook releases of two emerging writers: my mentee Julian Hines, and my friend Judie N. Keys. It was held at the Cambodian Temple in Hampton, Minnesota. The show started out with traditional Cambodian dancers and then a showcase by Julian, who dedicated his dance piece to his grandmother.

The guest artists that got the night started were: Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay, Jimi Warnick, Esteban Isaola, Ellemaj Faulkner, Celeste Larson, & hosted by award-winning writer May Lee-Yang.

There were also some amazing prizes! Like free Subway sandwich vouchers, jewelry, a copy of my chapbook No Regrets, scented candles, Jamaican flags, Cambodian flags, and so many others that I wasn't able to take a peek at. Make sure to grab a copy of Julian's chapbook, "I Remember...Clearly" and Judie's chapbook, "The Good Life." Google them!

photography by Alex Nok Phasy

MADNESS at The Playwrights' Center
In late March, The Unit Collective held another Madness event. I was the producing playwright and had a hell of a time doing it too. Not only did I came up with the theme, "Against the Grain," I also had to do the casting of actors for each script, finding directors, promotion, and food! It was a dope ass night, packed house, with music selection made by DJ Kool Akiem (MF Doom, Micranots, Rhymesayers).

Our special guest was Sha Cage, the founder and artistic director for the Minnesota Spoken Word Association. I consider Sha to be one of my mentors, someone that really took me under their wings and inspired me to be the best spoken word poet that I could be. About four years ago, I volunteered with MNSWA, acting as a youth producer and mentor to young emerging spoken word poets. If Sha hadn't tapped me to be a part of her world, I wouldn't have learned as much about my craft, poetry, and speaking our truths no matter what the consequences may be.
"One World" was the title of my short play, about a one world government, nano bots, and the anti christ. Lets just say...it offended many people...for the wrong reasons. BUT...it also went well with a lot of people who shared my dystopian outlook.

Actors Julian Hines and Clarence Wethern

So Busy These Past Five Months and Here's The Proof!

Refugee and Immigrant Women for Change Coalition 2010
Last month, I was lucky enough to be a part of the RIWC's annual luncheon to honor women who commit themselves to protecting the rights of women. Our keynote speaker was Leymah Gbowee. Bryan Thao Worra also performed, much to my amusement. After Ms. Gbowee's speech, I had the opportunity to ask her what her thoughts were on art and public policy together. I was concerned because at the time, my governor, Governor Pawlenty wanted to cut funding from the arts and put that money into prisons. Ms. Gbowee's answer was not only insightful but powerful.

Sharing the table with staff from the Lao Assistance Center and intently listening to Linda's question to Ms. Gbowee. For lunch we had herb chicken slow cooked in parchment paper with a side of spanish rice and salad. It was so yummy!

Linda Chandavong and I met keynote speaker Leymah Gbowee.

Madness at The Playwrights' Center.
February 2010's Madness was produced by co founding member May Lee Yang. Our guest directors that month were Jess Finney, Harry Waters Jr, and Ki Seung Rhee.

Discussing the depiction of Hoodrat Girl, from May Lee Yang's play, "Secret Asian Man," with director Ki Seung Rhee during rehearsals.

Members of The Unit collective of emerging playwrights of color and theater artists taking a bow after February's Madness at The Playwrights' Center. The theme that month was "Doorways". My short play, "Sid Hearts Ya" - squished a compassionate groundskeeper (Sid), a tortured poet (Cyrano), a revolutionary (Marcus), an evil scientist (Fu Manchu), and a religious fanatic (Savano) into one apartment building.



Madness at Playwrights' Center
January's Madness was curated by co founding member Eric "Pogi" Sumangil. The theme he decided to go with was "Comfort Food". Interestingly enough, two out of the 10 core writers wrote a script that dealt with death row and an inmate's last meal. I wrote a piece about asianphilia called , "Yellowtail Sashimi," about twin sisters with very different views on Lao American identity and the sexualization of their kind by 'asianphiles' - men and women who have shallow appreciation for yellow skins.


Madness at The Playwrights' Center
October 2009 - my debut as a playwright and co founding member of The Unit. The producing playwright for this month was Reggie Edmund with the theme, "New Beginnings." I decided to write about a set of friends who decided to remain in a neighborhood bought out by the city and the types of issues that pop up when the projects later become co-ops and hipster lofts.


Asian Pacific American Leadership Summit
Back in October of 2009, I attended a meeting of company CEOs, activists, community leaders, and local politicians to discuss what "leadership" meant to us, our roles in our communities, and how to think analytically in order to solve problems.

Participating in the Asian Pacific Minnesota Leadership Summit. Fall 2009 at the Lao Assistance Center in Minneapolis.

The Accidental Writer in Altra Magazine

Bryan Thao Worra the Accidental Writer

Late September, I had the opportunity to sit down with author and poet, Bryan Thao Worra to talk about his latest book, Barrow, published by Sam's Dot Publishing.
To read the entire interview, published by ALTRA MAGAZINE, visit the link:
http://www.altrazine.com/current.php

Madness at The Playwright's Center and Barrow

United in Madness, Playwrights at The Playwright's Center!
Bryan + El Guante + Ibe + moOks = BARROW


THE UNIT is an INDEPENDENT COLLECTIVE of emerging playwrights of color and theater artists devoted to pushing the development of new work beyond the conventional parameters of play development.

Tuesday's show couldn't have been more perfect and better organized. I am so proud and excited to be a part of such a group of talented playwrights and theater actors! Current members of the collective are: Indira Addington, Lorena Duarte, Jessica Huang, Saymoukda D. Vongsay, Joe Luis Cedillo, Reginald Edmund, Anton Jones, May Lee Yang, Kristoffer Diaz, Juma Essie, and Eric Pogi Sumangil

We dedicated that night's performance to the memory of May Lee Yang's mother.





The long-awaited premiere of Bryan Thao Worra's follow-up to On The Other Side Of The Eye, BARROW is an all-new collection of Laotian American speculative poetry by the North Minneapolis resident. It dropped earlier this month to wide reception. Spoken word poets, El Guante and IBe Kaba, as well as myself (host), got the party started.



El Guante was recently chosen by the Twin Cities City Pages as the best slam poet of 2009.

From Guinea, West Africa, poet IBé Kaba is the author of “Bridge Across Atlantic.”

Barrow's publisher, Tyree Campbell, from Sam's Dot Publishing traveled all the way in from Iowa for the occasion, and we really appreciated it!

Brown Bag Luncheon with Southern MN Poets Society

Brown Bagged by Southern Minnesota Poets Society - Big XOXO to Sherry Quan Lee

The Southern MN Poets Society has invited me as a featured artist for this month's Brown Bag Luncheon Series and I am honored!

"No Regrets: Sharing Our Stories Without Fearing the Consequences," will focus on my experiences as a spoken word poet who oftentimes perform pieces which are proscribed by society as indecent or improper. As a writer, I don't want to feel as though I have to walk on egg shells, so I stomp the grounds and speak my intrinsic truths, regardless of how my stories will be received. Yaheard!? (i know, my grammar is pretty bad, aint it?)


I have Sherry Quan Lee to thank because initially, she was scheduled to give her workshop, "Writing That Saves Lives," but due to circumstances she encouraged me to take her place. Sherry is a writer, teacher, mentor, and the author of the books, Chinese Blackbird, and How To Write A Suicide Note: Serial Essays That Saved A Woman's Life. One of her poems inspired me to write an entire collection of poetry. Thats how amazing she is!

Her work is available on Amazon.com

Floating Worlds at the Soap Factory

Spilling Secrets! Woo-ing 40 somethings! Imagining Memories and not a drop of alcohol in my body!

I (Saymoukda Vongsay) had another successful reading with volumes of thanks to the audience and my co-readers at the Soap Factory. I chose to share 'stark and brutally honest' poetry about family history and identity. My writing, a response to the inflated sculptures of visual artist Clive Murphy, probably garnered me a new fan base - 40 somethings.

The poem, "Almost Drowning," is an imagined re-telling of another's memory - the night communist soldiers stormed my grandfather's estate - told to me by my mother. The connection between "Almost Drowning" and the sculptures by Clive Murphy was simply, inflated plastic bags. In the poem, many families utilized inflated bags to help them escape a brutal reality, while Murphy manipulates the bags in ways they were not initially intended but for something more beautiful - as art.

Phenomenal writer: Lori young-Williams

My # 1-6 fans

Dance instructor/writer Julian Hines horsing

around with fitness & health consultant Yukari Kato

Signing a copy of my chapbook, No Regrets, for a fan.

*photos by Yukari Kato

Soap Factory and Boston Progress Radio

Saymoukda hides secrets in trash bags...will come clean at the Soap Factory

FLOATING WORLDS:
A READING with Saymoukda Vongsay and others
I keeps it movin' in the month of April with an upcoming show alongside Clive Murphy's inflated sculpture installation, "Almost Nothing". The creative folks at Talking Image Connection teams up with the Soap Factory. Never before has an artist occupied the entire gallery! If you dig subversive & avante garde art - don't miss this!

*photo credit: Magnan Projects

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Saymoukda gets SHUFFLED!
Back in November of 2008, back when I was just a little youth, Boston Progress Radio tapped me on the shoulder for their weekly column, Shuffled! They make it their business that the ipod contents of artists from the APA community be known. I feel like a celebrity to be in the company of Ishle Yi Park, Staceyann Chin, Blue Scholars, David Mura, Catzie Vilayphonh, etc...

To view the entire article, pop the hood:
http://www.bprlive.org/2008/11/13/shuffled-saymoukda-mooks-vongsay/