November 7th, 2005
SAVE KOGAWA HOUSE Celebration and Awareness Concert
NAOMI’S ROAD opera performance By Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble
Special guest, Musician Harry Aoki and friends
Saturday November 12, 2005 2:00pm
Vancouver Public Library
350 West Georgia Street
Alice Mackay Room
Admission is free, all are welcome.
This past week, a cherry tree graft from Kogawa House was planted at City Hall on November 1st, which was proclaimed Obasan Cherry Tree Day. On Thursday, November 3rd, the Vancouver City Council’s Planning & Environment Committee voted unanimously to pass an unprecedented 120-day demolition delay order for Joy Kogawa's childhood home to allow the raising of funds so that the house can be purchased and converted into a writers' centre.
To celebrate these milestones in the Save Kogawa House campaign, a performance of the opera Naomi’s Road by the Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble will be presented free to the public on November 12 at 2:00 pm. It will take place in the Alice MacKay Room of the Vancouver Public Library downtown.
The Marpole home is featured in Joy's award-winning novel Obasan and the children’s story Naomi's Road, which premiered on September 30 as Vancouver Opera's second-ever commissioned original work and is now touring to 140 schools and community centers throughout B.C.
Special guest musician is Harry Aoki. His personal story mirrors that of the role of 10 year old Steven in the Naomi’s Road Opera. Harry had to leave behind his beloved violin, when he was forced to leave the West Coast because he was Japanese Canadian.
For further information contact Todd Wong at gunghaggis@yahoo.ca
Phone: 604-240-7090
More information at www.kogawahouse.com, www.kogawa.homestead.com and www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com
This event is sponsored by Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver Opera, ExplorASIAN, Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop and Ricepaper Magazine.
