This email was sent to john.weeks@sangsalapak.org.kh by vinotage.remie@gmail.com. Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.

L.O.X. | Street 134 | Phnom Penh | Cambodia

PRESS PACK

SA SA ART GALLERY + ART PROJECTS

2010 FUNDRAISING EVENT

CONTENTS:
1- BANNER
2- PRESS RELEASE
3- THE FOUNDERS PORTFOLIO 2010 INFORMATION
4- SA SA VENUE PHOTOGRAPHS
5- PRESS COVERAGE REFERENCES
6- BUDGET DETAILS SA SA ART GALLERY + ART PROJECTS

PRESS RELEASE

Creating opportunities for Cambodian artists
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3 March 2010
PHNOM PENH – Join Sa Sa Art Gallery and Art Projects for the first of a biannual fundraising event including an art exhibition, art auction, and dinner on Friday March 12, 2010 beginning at 6.30pm at Sa Sa Art Gallery and Baitong Restaurant (#7, Street 360, Boeung Keng Kang

1). All proceeds from fundraising will support the programming of exhibitions and educational
activities in Sa Sa’s venues.

WHO IS SA SA?
Sa Sa Art Gallery (www.sasaart.info) is the Cambodia’s first artist-founded and operated gallery by a group of six artists called Stiev Selapak. Opened in 2009 and located on Street 360 with Baitong Restaurant, the Gallery’s first year showcased 5 exhibitions and served as a venue for artist meetings, art appreciation and drawing classes, and student tours. In early 2010, Sa Sa rented a “project” room in The Building on Sothearos Boulevard. Named Sa Sa Art Projects, the space will serve as an intimate and experimental venue to accommodate installation art, residencies, artist talks, meetings, and classes.

WHY IS SA SA SEEKING YOUR SUPPORT?
In the first year, Sa Sa Art Gallery programming proved valuable for both artists and the community. All activities were made possible by a combination of volunteers and specific donations on an exhibition-to-exhibition basis. For 2010-2011, Sa Sa is seeking comprehensive yet very basic financial support that will provide for consistent and quality community programming in the original Art Gallery (5,000USD/year) and the new Art Projects space (3,950USD/year).

HOW TO HELP?
There are 3 ways to contribute to Sa Sa’s programming, which provides opportunities, venues, and education for emerging artists, The Building community, and the wider public: 1. To support Sa Sa Art Projects’ programming, buy artwork from the art auction with over 30 emerging to established Cambodian and foreign artists. 2. To support Sa Sa Art Gallery’s programming, buy a limited edition Founders Portfolio 2010 – a collection of six signed 30×40cm photographs by Sa Sa’s six founders: Vandy Rattana, Khvay Samang, Kong Vollak, Vuth Lyno, Lim Sokchanlina, and Heng Ravuth. 3. Buy $10 ticket for buffet dinner at Baitong Restaurant before March 11 (Call 092 500 400).

For more information contact:

ART Gallery

FOR SALE:

THE FOUNDERS PORTFOLIO 2010

This exclusive portfolio of six digital photographs from the founders of Sa Sa capture the spirit of contemporary
photography in Cambodia today. Editioned at 25, this collection of 30x 40cm signed photographs is available for
only 350USD. All proceeds will support the programming of Sa Sa Art Gallery. To reserve and purchase your
portfolio by cash or telegraphic transfer, contact Erin Gleeson at erinmgleeson@gmail.com. Sales close on
March 31. Portfolios will be distributed in Cambodia upon purchase and internationally mailed on April 2. Further
information on each artist and work will be provided with the portfolio at the March 12 fundraising event.

Clockwise from top left: Lim Sokchanlina, Untitled, 2009 / My Motorbike and Me Series

. Vandy Rattana, Untitled, 2008 / First High-rise Series

. Kong Vollak, Untitled, 2009 / Inside Series

. Vuth Lyno, Untitled, 2007 / Blue Angels Series

. Heng Ravuth, Break Up, 2008 ? Khvay Samnang, Untitled, 2007/ Street Restaurant Series

The Building, Sothearos Blvd, home of
Sa Sa Art Projects.

Sa Sa Art Projects inside The Building
(before renovation) meeting with the landlord and
Building residents about Sa Sa’s goals.

Opening of Sa Sa Gallery, March 2009

Sa Sa Gallery, Walking Through
by Vandy Rattana, September 2009

Registered in British Columbia, LICADHO Canada provides critical services to communities on the front lines of the land-grabbing crisis in Cambodia. We do so in meaningful collaboration with LICADHO –

Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights.

Sitha and family receive Grade 12 scholarship. He has the third highest grade in his class.

Dey Krahorm loans and scholarship update

LC continues to follow, document and offer resources to approximately 20 DK families; all community representatives and leaders.

LC and Bridges Across Borders (BAB) social worker make regular visits to 11 families through our interest-free business loan project. Through HRD Apparel’s scholarship grants, three young leaders received classes in New World Institute in Phnom Penh, one has continued on to Level 4 already! Three of the older representatives of Dey Krahorm have begun to work with LC to support another community in a fierce land dispute. And thanks to BAB scholarship, the youngest DK leader, Sitha is three quarters of the way through grade 12 and will be one of the few people from Dey Krahorm villagers to graduate high school.

Second dumping site for DK renters and sellers 45kms away from Phnom Penh without access to basic necessities of life.

Damnak Tryoeung (name of dumping site of DK renters/sellers) update

The vast majority of the 365 families forced to squat along the roadside in Damnak Tryoeung were in fact former renters and market stall owners from Dey Krahorm who weren’t given houses despite being victims of the forced eviction that occurred on 24 January 2009.
Sadly the former renters were evicted yet again from 12th-15th December 2009 to a new dumping site 45km outside Phnom Penh near Oudong. These families are now totally impoverished and subdued due to their inhumane living conditions.

LICADHO regularly sends their doctors to provide services on the new site while lobbying for humanitarian support.

Srey Vann and Sitha in Ragamuffin
House’s garden. Srey Vann has
worked with LC since December.

Dey Krahorm ‘’healing therapies’’ Ragamuffin project update

LICADHO Canada and Inner Change sent two young leaders to creative arts healing programs through Ragamuffin. Though skeptical before the sessions, the two felt a strong sense of being ‘freed’ through Ragamuffin activities and have agreed to continue the private sessions. In the middle of March, a larger group of former Dey Krahorm representatives and leaders will start a similar program.

If this program continues to inspire participants to reclaim their former pro-active roles, together we will design an emergency response team and train participants through Ragamuffin staff training. This team will respond immediately after violent attacks on communities so long term emotional and physical setbacks don’t have time to set in.

Conflict Coaching Training update

Peace Bridges’ Conflict Coaching course was extremely useful to the LC team, especially given the monitoring/conflict situations we find ourselves in. LC have merged into the conflict coaching role and continue to work with David Ketchum from Peace Bridges learning Buddhist approaches to conflict and suffering.

Our partner Christians for Social Justice have also invited LC to a ‘’Non-Violence Activism’ workshop later this month in Kampot. CSJ have also sponsored LC to spend March 6 working with and learning from John McConnell – renowned non-violent activist and author. (“Healing Anxiety Through Meditation”)

Land disputes are often violent affairs. Our peace building training gives us the tools, inner peace and confidence to remain non-violent in any situations.

Dey Krahorm Challenge

LC-designed “Dey Krahorm Challenge” project would not have been possible without the support from our new partner in Montreal, Development & Peace.

Started in December 2009, the DKC enables LC to work side-by-side with Dey Krahorm representatives to continue to provide services to other threatened communities while increasing protection, access to media/information channels and support of community initiated non-violent, creative resistance efforts

Our ‘’challenge’’ was to find a community well-suited and ready to accept the challenge; already mobilized, organized, and in Solidarity, despite an almost nonexistent democratic space, high threat of violence, imprisonment and oppressive adversity.

And despite the odds, we DID! LICADHO Cambodia introduced the DKC team to a very unique community in Siem Reap province with a very powerful story. And together we now embark on a new journey; to write another story of Solidarity, hope and inspiration…

Human Rights Defenders come in all shapes, sizes, and walks of life.
Watch this space….

ADVOCATE, EDUCATE, DONATE

Support Cambodians by informing yourself and others about land rights and human rights violations in Cambodia. www.licadho-cambodia.org

If you are interested in any of our projects or activities, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

ruthgleeson@yahoo.com (LICADHO Canada’s Support Manager)
To donate online go to www.licadhocanada.com (or from Ireland, contact our Support Manager above)

“Silence of the good is worse than
the actions of the bad.”
– Malalai Joya, HRD and expelled
Afghani Parliamentarian