Earsay Benefit: Transforming Trauma into Art | Purchase College Faculty Warren Lehrer & Wife, Judith Sloan Makes a Difference in the Lives of Immigrant Teenagers

Earsay Benefit: Transforming Trauma into Art hosted by WNYC's Brian Lehrer held at the Society for Ethical Culture Center in New York City (one block from Lincoln Center), was an evening of monologues, dance, hip hop, music and poetry with performances by: Universes, Carl Hancock Rux, Judith Sloan, Warren Lehrer, Elise Knudson. Musical guests: Jie-Song Zhang and Krussia of the Stone Forest Ensemble and MiWi LaLupa. Also actors read excerpts from Judith Sloan and Warren Lehrer's book Crossing the BLVD. They  included: Bridget Kelso, Chris Kamau, Justin Hudson, Catherine Hanna, Bridgit Antoinette Evans, Vaimoana Niumeitolu, Prerana Reddy, and Jonathan Stuart (from Viper Records), and a special performance by high school students from EarSay’s Transforming Trauma Into Art theatre project.

WHAT IS EARSAY?

EarSay is an artist driven 501 (c) 3 non-profit arts organization dedicated to uncovering and portraying stories of the uncelebrated. Founded by Warren Lehrer (Purchase College SUNY School of Art+Design, Graphic Design Professor) and (accomplished wife) Judith Sloan in 1999, their projects bridge the divide between documentary and expressive forms in books, exhibitions, on stage, in sound & electronic media. They are committed to fostering understanding across cultures, generations, gender and class, through artistic productions and education. They bring their work to theatres, museums, schools, prisons, festivals and universities. [info courtesy www.earsay.org, visit the links provided at the end of this post]


EarSay Arts and Activism Workshops for Youth Founded by Judith Sloan from EarSay Inc on Vimeo.

A NOTE OF THANKS 

Judith and Warren, what an experience!!! I'm honored to have been in the presence of such powerful artists, activists and youth! What unfolded this Saturday evening was concentrated, creative, collaborative, eye-opening insanity (the good kind) with the perfect dose of humor and gravity. Anyone who cares about meaningful theater, education, music, graphic-literary performance art, youth and the immigrant experience aught to know about Earsay and support, support, support!

I can still hear Brian Lehrer's voice:  "If two hundred people gave $10 a month on their credit cards the program would have 50% of its budget. It costs $500 per child for the entire year when the program is at full capacity."  When put in this perspective, I think  many would agree that giving becomes less of a question. [Image from facebook via Judith Sloan]

Thank you Judith and Warren for the work that you do! Keep Going!!!

Here are some video clips of Earsay's previous events similar to what transpired last night at the Society for Ethical Culture on West 64th Street in New York City (when new videos become available, I'll post them):


Warren Lehrer performs excerpts from Bleu Mobley from EarSay Inc on Vimeo.


Performance Only of Crossing the BLVD from EarSay Inc on Vimeo.

LINKS:

• More Earsay Videos: http://bit.ly/eoOYDS
• Earsay Website: http://bit.ly/f8Y1oU  
• About Warren Lehrer & Judith Sloan: http://bit.ly/f9Jh9N 
• About Brian Lehrer: http://bit.ly/g4PzJR
• About WNYC Radio: http://bit.ly/hMe1YH
• About Viper Records (Johnathan Stuart): http://bit.ly/h2bkks 
• Donate to Earsay: http://bit.ly/eb1MVI

[ All images: from facebook via Judith Sloan]

...and Remember:

"If two hundred people gave $10 a month on their credit cards the program would have 50% of its budget. It costs $500 per child for the entire year when the program is at full capacity." ...more info: http://bit.ly/eb1MVI

your comments are welcome!