Etnoporr by America Vera-Zavala

As a part of the Nordic Culture Festival Ting, the Finnish version of the Swedish theatre play Etnoporr (Etnoporno) was played in The Finnish National Theatre in Helsinki.

The monologue is built around the question how does your ethnic background effect to your position and attitude by the society. How it is to be born in the Western country, living by the immigrant family's rules and trying to settle in the society.

The character Aisha wants to take part in Idols competition, but there are lots of obstacles due to her own and her family's background. On the side she also wants to do political and sexual revolution in the suburbs. Really strong performance by the actress Joanna Haartti.

The monologue is written by America Vera Zavala, who has immigrant background herself and is politically active in her home country Sweden. There is an article of her in latest Image magazine she describes herself as communist and tells how she brought Attac movement to Sweden.

Sweden has much longer background and experience in with immigration and therefore much more discussion, but this is valid topic also in today's Finland.

Polaroid Photo Exhibition

The Finnish Museum of Photography located at Kaapelitehdas ie. Cable Factory in Finland.

As I am a huge fan of photoes I love to go to photo exhibitions and this is the best museum in Helsinki for that.

The current exhibition was especially interesting as it was all about Polaroid photoes

There is something really mesmerizing in those old fashioned polaroids...

Where Art Meets Fashion

Amos Anderson Art Museum is located in centre of Helsinki at Yrjönkatu, just a stone's throw away from department store Stockmann. Several floors of art in a private building and every now and then also fascinating exhibitions, like current Boutique - Where Art Meets Fashion and Fanny Churberg.

In Boutique exhibition well-know Finnish names had done successful collaboration around art and fashion. Paola Suhonen is Finnish top-names in fashion with her Ivana Helsinki brand. She had co-operated with Mikko Ijäs with several video installations.

Installation Girl Evacuees (Tyttöevakot) consisted of 10 pink doll figures of typical style of Katja Tukiainen's paintings and Samuji designer and Marimekko's former Creative Director Samu-Jussi Koski had designed stylish black and white clothes to them. The story behind is that "The girls originate of Shangri Laa Laa Land and have been forced to exile by Greed and Intolerance. Dresses symbolize that they still have something, that nobody can take away from them: courage, wisdom and joy. These girls know that good beats evil 6-0".

Cultural Dresscode was social art project by Heidi Lunabba and The Nutty Tarts. They had studied how the interview people categorized themselves and how person's style and clothing is related to socioeconomic status.














Shoe Liberation Army is an installation by shoe designer Minna Parikka and artist Jani Leinonen, who is known for his art works fooling around with famous brands like Mc Donalds related Food Liberation Army.

On top of this captivating Boutique exhibition there is Fanny Churberg exhibition at Amos Anderson Museum. Beautiful painted sceneries from 19th century.

So now it is the perfect time to visit the museum and catch both the exhibitions.

Stop Violence Against Women

The book Pimppini on valloillaan was published on Women's Day 8th March 2012. The anthology consists of some 30 stories of sexual exercise of power over women.

This evening Korjaamo had an event around the theme with discussions, music, performance, threatre and visual arts. Amnesty International was also present with actual campaign Irtisanoudu naisiin kohdistuvasta väkivallasta (ie. Resign from violence against women).  

There was panel discussion with three authors Katja Kettu, Anja Snellman and Johanna Sinisalo. The panelists had prominent viewpoints about sexual harassment and subjection as well as gender roles in today's society.

Discussed topics were interesting, like how sexual violence is described in entertainment. In a way sexual violence belongs to thrillers, detective stories and so to entertainment. But how having to face these kind of scenes constantly when watching TV series and films or reading books will effect to victims. Something to think about and there is also a new book looking into this called Rape in Stieg Larsson's Millenium Trilogy and Beyond.

Anja Snellman and Johanna Sinisalo, who are both born in 1950's, stated that today's sexual ambiance is to a certain extent much more conservative than in 70's, although the society is very sexualized. So there is still puritanism around certain issues, especially when women talk about sexuality.

And one really interesting topic was, how the children are pushed towards gender roles by media and marketing, the latest example being Tiimari's advertising for childrens birthday party decorations for boys and girls (after all critisism they have now changed the themes to "fairytales, adventures and hobbies" instead of "boys, girls and common"). Children's gender roles were also present in Heidi Lunabba's photo exhibitions Twins at The Finnish Museum Of Photography last year.

I have yet not read Pimppini on valloillaan, but I bought it today as the money went to Rape Crisis Center and I will add to my long to-read list.

October Pink Ribbon

Pink Ribbon is a well-known symbol of breast cancer awareness and October is the official Pink Ribbon month. Main goal is to raise awareness in order to support early diagnosis of cancer and raise funds for research.

In Finland Roosa Nauha 2012 ribbon is designed by Jukka Rintala.

There are several brands donating money to Cancer Society of Finland during October and some of them have been really innovative in using the theme in their marketing material, like TENA incontinence products.

This is good cause to support at least once a year!

Pret A Manger

Pret A Manger is a British sandwich chain I prefer besides my other favourite chain Le Pain Quotidien. I first discovered Pret in London (well, you cannot really miss the chain there) and now have also found shops also in New York, where they were advertised as "The best thing that has come from England since The Beatles".

I always choose Pret over Starbucks and to my delight Pret has arrived also to Chicago so I was able to have my coffee breaks there. 

 
















I really like their philosophy about the fresh food made from natural ingredients and good service.

And it tastes good as well!

If there are going to be more restaurant chains landing to Finland I would hope that they would be chains like Pret A Manger, Le Pain Quotiden and Wagamama rather than Starbucks...


 

Joyful Noise In Chicago

During one week in Chicago I managed to attend two concerts with five live acts.

The arrival evening I went straight away to Lincoln Hall to see Danish duo The Raveonettes. I really liked the venue as it was relatively easy to see the stage both from downstairs and upstairs.

There were two warm-up bands of which I like the first one Cold Showers more. Their plain style remained me of one of my favourite bands The National.

Second warm-up band was French Melody's Echo Chambers, which did not impress me that much. Their sound is much better on record than live.

But The Raveonettes was as cool and stylish as expected.

Both Sune and Sharin's voices sounded great and harmonic. 

A week later I went to Bottom Lounge to see Gossip. The venue was pretty small and crowded (sold-out), but funtioned well. The warm-up acts Bonnie Montgomery and Magic Mouth were quite vapid.

Beth Ditto's stage apperance was really energetic and her voice as captivating as on album.


















So according to my judgement the last gig was the best one.

Indian Summer in Chicago

My first time in Chicago and I had a wonderful weather for the whole visit as the temperatures were way above average, the highest being +27 C decrees.

The Windy City certainly showed its best sides.

The weather was ideal for a ferry trip from Navy Pier.

Chicago is known for its numerous skyscraper, the tallest one being Willis Tower on 527 m.  

There are also lovely green areas of which Lincoln Park with its surroundings was my favourite one.

There is also a free Zoo at the Lincoln Park.
 

In Downtown there is a another large green area between Millenium Park and Grant Park.

Agora sculptures are located in the south end of the park area.














Whereas Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate is situated in the north end.



















So many appealing museums along The Magnificent Mile, of which The Art Institute of Chicago situating just next to Cloud Gate. The museum is huge and although I walked around several hours I have a feeling that I only saw a glimpse.

Katharina Fritsch




 


Jackson Pollock

Andy Warhol










Besides museums there are lots of cultural activities and it is easy to find all the events from magazines like Time Out and on free weekly magazines.

So besides admiring the wonderful night view from John Hancock Building it is easy to find after-hour activities, such as concerts and theatre.

This time I was lucky enough to see excellent musical Kinky Boots by Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper as well as gigs by Gossip and The Raveonettes.







If I had staeyed longer I had easily found more things to do. I guess that means that I need to travel to Chicago again some time in the future.