Venus Collective Presents: A Night to Rejuvenate the Collective Spirit.

Please join us December 19, 2009 to honor, celebrate, dance, and witness the artistic endeavors of our featured artists, most who have been with us for several years.

While not the same scale as our main Venus functions, we feel the need to have an event to show our gratitude to all of our allies that have participated, danced, created and supported us in our efforts.

2009 has proven to be a very transitional year for all of us and we do not want to leave the year behind without acknowledging all the wonderful people and artists that surround and influence us

Saturday December 19, 2009
8p.m-2 a.m.
629 W Cermak
4th floor
$3 donation

Entertainment includes:

DJ Angela Gitana (www.myspace.com/djgitanaangela)
DJ Leanne

Performances by:

Bagwis (www.myspace.com/bagwisband)
Amina Norma Hawkins (www.myspace.com/aminaspace)
Bijou (www.myspace.com/2bijoux)

Vivian Garcia
Caroline Yohanan
Stacey Erinberg & Kira Harris
KristaDeLaRash (www.krisdelarash.com)

Gingarte Capoeria (www.gingartecapoeira.org)

Vendors, Vocal performances & over 16 female visual artists!

Random Rants

First off, I’d like to invite everyone to join Bagwis and I at the Venus Fest on Saturday at the 620 W Cermak spot! Should be mad fun! Much love to the people throwing the jam! Power to the women!

Secondly, I’d like to just rant. The semester is finally over and the stress is gone for now. I hope people enjoy their break as much as I will! Although, working at a glitter prison can be a pain.. I guess its money to party it up!

I’m working on new music.. I’m doing a lot of writing.. Unfortunately, I’m not doing enough reading aside from the sports section in the tribune. But while Bagwis is in recording mode hopefully I’ll get some music out for you blog readers to get a sneak peak at. We’ll need your opinions for the recordings..

Thanks for reading. I guess that’s all I got to rant about today.
Im out!

...RIP Technics 1200...

For more info- http://digg.com/u1HAdW

Bagwis Back in the Studio!

Were working on your second album ya'll. Hopefully I'll have some samples out soon for ya'll to get a listen

Rev Love!

I'm out!

Buwi Reppin BAGWIS in the phills

NAS! doing the do.

HELP!!

On Friday night, September 25th, a devastating Typhoon Onody hit the Philippines. Metro Manila and various other parts of the Philippines are currently under a state of calamity. Varying sources estimate about 240 people killed, several thousands are still missing, almost half a million displaced and as left an estimated $4.9 billion in damages. News reports state that this is the worst rainfall the contry has seen in 40 years. The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Ondoy's total rainfall was 410mm, while Hurricaine Katrina's was 380mm in New Orleans.

The Sagip-Tulong Sa Pilipinas (STP) Emergency Relief Campaign aims to nationally coordinate US-based efforts to provide financial and material support for the direct benefit of the Typhoon Ondoy victims. While relief efforts have been initiated by the Alliance for a Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines, a national formation of progressive organizations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago and New York, we welcome individual and group collaboration.

The impact of Typhoon Ondoy has been severe and your help is needed. How can you help?

1.Make a tax-exempt financial donation online
through DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Assocation (Tax ID/EIN:03-0481206)

2.Send checks or make a bank deposit to co-sponsoring non-profit organizations.

3.Give material donations (review guidelines and suggestions) to a drop-off
site nearest you.

4.Publicize the issue and join the Facebook Cause.

5.Volunteer your time at a drop-off site (learn more about how to volunteer).

YO! friends, relatives, kasamas if your in Chicago here are 2 different spots to drop off in kind donations or money donations. Our people need anything possible!

4814 N. Monticello Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(Contact Raven Guerrero 773.957.9366)

OR MONDAYS-FRIDAYS 9AM-5PM AT

FMA Pulse Office
4438 N. Hamlin Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(Contact Romeo Maguigad 773.842.4371)

for other locations in New York and L.A. visit www.stp-relief.org

over and out
Peace y'all

Lil J

This child has been through so much. Due to His parent’s drug addictions to crystal meth he is forced to stay with his grandparents. His father is doing jail time for burglary, possession of an illegal weapon and drugs. His mother is unfortunately nowhere to be found and comes around every so often.

God bless you Johnny..

Rediscovering Education

The first day of school usually isn’t the best. Pulling in to a jam-packed parking lot, struggling to find a spot. Watching the CPD survey the lot, checking every car, in a desperate attempt to ticket people and rob ‘em of money they don’t have. Seeing segregation between different diversities in a heavily diverse school. All of it is inevitable, ‘cause like in most Filipino families, school is a must or else you’ll be looked down upon and, in certain ways, neglected. I’d like to believe that, coming from a family where my own parents are 1st generation. At the end of it all, while walking into to that first class, art history, on Monday morning, 9:30 am, I ask myself “what am I doing here?”

I cautiously make a decision to sit somewhat in the middle of the classroom. I do this, firstly, to avoid being judged as the kid who knows everything and sits up front, and, secondly, to avoid being judged as the kid who chills in the back texting on the telly most of the class period. Although it was early, and despite the fact I came to class essentially unprepared, I gave the professor, Rory Leonard, a chance. In my head I was thinking, “hey, might as weeeelll… I’m here for a reason right?” That reason at that time and place was nowhere near clear to me. That is, up until Leonard speaks on how we are all connected in some way—whether it be music, wall art, dance, or what have you. The fact was we are all connected because we embrace contemporary art in some shape or form. That sparked me to get into the class discussion and actually think about the things she was saying.

To put it in perspective, I didn’t know what I was doing at school. I could have been at home chillin, writing lyrics, writing in general, or whatever it may be. Then, it clicked. Sitting in that classroom, listening to the professor speak, learning new things about myself that even I didn’t know—I knew why I was there. I am here to educate myself.

Thanks for reading!

Peace.