WANDER
Women, a partner program by the Traveling Bonfires that is
spearheaded by but not exclusive to women, launches “Purple is the
Color of Fire,” a series of events for breast cancer awareness.
The
kick off show, which is an open dinner invite to breast cancer
survivors and patients and their families, happens on Oct 27,
Saturday, 8PM at Vanuatu Kava Bar on 15 Eagle Street in downtown
Asheville.
The
free show features local singer songwriters Dulci Ellenberger and
Madelyn Lavender, poet-singers Regina Duke and Alisa Danielle Kuumba Zuwena, and poet Jadwiga McKay. Breast
cancer survivors and patients and their families are invited to share
dinner and enjoy the show, free. Neo Cantina and The
Blotter co-sponsor these events.
The
second event, set on Nov 15, Thursday, at Westville Pub in West
Asheville, highlights the soul and R&B band WestSound, along with
Laine Lewis and dancer Deva Laxamana. Suggested donation for this
show is $5, entitling the patron a raffle ticket to various gifts
from Asheville supporters.
“Purple
is the Color of Fire” is a continuation of a similar advocacy event
for breast cancer prevention that was held in Manila and Baguio City
in the Philippines in 2010. The Traveling Bonfires originated in the
Philippines but has made Asheville its home since moving here from
New York City in 2002.
“This
series of events is a continuous advocacy project that doesn't just
happen in October,” says Marta Osborne, TBonfires and Wander Women
supervising producer. “We are committed to carry on not just in
Asheville but also in other cities and also in Manila.” October is
billed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The
Traveling Bonfires' centerpiece project is the “Bonfires for
Peace,” a movable feast of family fun and community connectedness
through music, arts and dancing, held mostly at Pritchard Park in
downtown Asheville. The project just concluded its 3-event 2012
summer program, its 10th year in the mountains, last Sept 15. The
organization organized an unprecedented 16 weekend events here in
2004, and more through ensuing years.
The
Traveling Bonfires has also produced similar outdoor and indoor
events in New York City, Baltimore, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San
Francisco, and in the Philippines where it originated, “instigating
arts and music events and bringing people together in celebration of
peace and multicultural connectedness. “
“We
see the need to effect a vibe of peace and joy in Asheville in the
light of a record increase in crime and violence in the last few
years,” says TBonfires founding executive director Pasckie Pascua.
“We don't have to launch speeches, we just play music and enjoin
the community to come out, dance and be together.”
The
Traveling Bonfires' events enjoyed the support of a number of local
Asheville businesses, organizations, and individuals. Projects have
benefitted non-profit organizations that work with at-risk youths,
families of the disappeared, orphans, and disaster victims.
For
more info, http://ashevilletravelingbonfires.blogspot.com/ or call
Marta Osborne at 828 280 1555 or email pasckie@yahoo.com
ART by Duane Lucas Pascua
