About this project

                                              Mes  Del  Maiz

A Documentary, Art Campaign and Awareness Festival in Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Why care?  Click:  Reasons why we are reaching out to Mexico

                                           What you are funding:

1) Mes Del Maiz a FREE art, film and music GMO awareness festival in Oaxaca Oaxaca Mexico bringing awareness to the consumers to ignite change in the the future for Mexicos corn and food sovereignty. (projector, light and sound equipment rentals. extension cords, etc. ) The event is free so EVERYONE can come.

Why this event is important:  Mexico is preparing to plant 30,000 acres of GMO corn,  The state of Oaxaca is planning a large  planting of GMO corn in the Sierra Noret Oaxaca. This is all already underway and there is no stopping them.  Al we can do is educate, increase awareness and let the consumers decide the fate of the most important food crop of their country.

A genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically engineered organism (GEO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes.  GMOs are the constituents of genetically modified foods.

2) A Documentary by Jose Reyes (specifically: audio, lights, tripods, film crew, post production). 

Why is the making of this film important? 

This film will expose the extent to which GMO corn has taken it's toll.  It is shocking that a city like Oaxaca, Oaxaca, a city that is surrounded by indigenous pueblos, many which were at one time farming towns, growing criollo (native) corn has a shortage of such corn. A shortage so severe that restaurants now cannot find organic criollo corn.  This film will also inspire the artist viewers, exhibiting the strength of art as a tool for activism and positive change.  It will inspire festival coordinators to make festivals for positive change. And it will increase GMO awareness.

3) Free streaming capacity.  Will need to set up WIFI and equipment at our location so that we can broadcast the event world wide.  

Why is free streaming important?  Because we will be able to keep YOU connected to this event all the way through.  Because thousands of folks will be able to virtually walk through an old train station transformed into an exhibition space and be inspired by the creativity.  It is through this magnificence that this festival will touch thousands and further unveil the reality of what is happening in Oaxaca.

4) Art supplies for art school we are using.  Fine paper is a luxury there.  Quality inks are very expensive.  So we will equip the school with much needed quality materials. The colectivos that are painting murals will need supplies as well, not to mention the 1000 plus feet of paper we need to wrap the trains at the festival location for the artists to be permitted to paint them. That's right painted trains with murals to raise awareness on GMO risks. Fantastic!

Why are these supplies important? The economy of Oaxaca is in an inflation state.  Art supplies are way to expensive to buy and sometimes schools go a long time without proper supply, leaving artists to work in their sketch books not able to print onto paper, leaving beautiful murals unfinished.  Giving is a huge part of the culture in Oaxaca.  We aim to give to these talented artist by donating supplies for the cause.  It is also our way of saying thank you for participating.

Printing cost for 2,000  / 24 page educational pamphlets with art images from participating artists and pages of educational material on GMO risks and the toll they are taking on the worlds seed and food supply. These pamphlets will be given away to schools at no cost.

CHECK OUT THE REWARDS! IT IS OUR WAY OF SAYING "THANK YOU!!!"

Chula's story (more to lower right of page)

Contact me anytime with questions at   vivachula@gmail.com

ART BACKGROUND (Traducción al español Abajo)

Chula spent her early career as a metal artist, her work was exhibited throughout California.

FOOD BACKGROUND

In 1998 Chula began growing organic food, studying sustainability and exploring the culinary arts. In 1999 she moved to the Big Island of Hawaii where she owned and ran a private chef/catering company.

FARMING BACKGROUND

Chula grew much of the food that she cooked within her catering company. After volunteering on a farm In 2001 she began the stewardship of 3 acres of raw jungle on Papaya Farms Road in Pahoa,Hawaii. There she created an off grid (solar/water catchment) sustainable farm, and supplied many home kitchens and restaurants with fresh organic greens. To her great disappointment the land she bought was adjacent to a GMO papaya field and she witnessed first hand what cross contamination can mean for a farm. Once bees from those fields pollinated her papaya flowers, her papaya trees were contaminated and were no longer organic but rather GMO! It was horrible because papayas were one of her main food sources.

MEXICO CALLS

It was also during this time that the film “Future of Food”was released. In seeing this film Chula’s heart ached at the prospects for Mexican farmers. Both her culinary and farming history created an outright visceral reaction to watching this film. Chula could feel Mexico’s land, crops and farmers on a deep level. It inspired a song that she wrote and on going support to do what she could via online activism to stand up for the rights of consumers and farmers.

HER ART TODAY

Upon a visit to Oaxaca, Mexico,  Chula tapped back into her well of creativity and artistic skills that, to her surprise, are very much still alive. It is there in Oaxaca that she created the piece “Viva La Milpa”. She uses this image to decorate educational information on GMO contamination and she experienced first hand the power of activism through the medium of art. This one piece of art brought new awareness to hundreds of people! Chula is now an art activist, currently committed preserving and protecting the heirloom corn varieties of Mexico.

THE DOCUMENTARY

The film will weave the following into a documentary that will inspire artists to make a positive difference in the world through the medium of their art.

In March 2012  California artists will be creating an art campaign in the city of Oaxaca, Oaxaca Mexico. It will be a cross cultural exchange between Oaxaca and California.  Together we will make pieces that raise awareness around the risks of GMO Corn. We will poster the city walls, create free educational/art pamphlets in Spanish, host an environmental film festival, host open art studios, host keynote speakers and host a music and art festival honoring the criollo (native) corn of Mexico. 

It will touch thousands of folks, spreading the awareness of what is happening to Mexico's corn, helping to preserve and protect it.  The film will educate many consumers on the risks of GMO corn. 

Knowledge brings with it more choices and the more choices we have, the more empowered we are.  Through spreading awareness on the risks of GMOs we intend to empower the consumers of Oaxaca and all locales.  This project will support Mexico in claiming food sovereignty. The changes that the politicians make around GMOs is going to be dictated by the consumers so the time is now to educate. Why wait?

"The art scene in Oaxaca is like that of Paris in the 1900's"

~  Gabriel Coto, artist

All of this will be filmed in one of the hottest art scenes in the world.  That of Oaxaca, Oaxaca Mexico. 

The corn of Mexico is the heart of Mexico, the soul of Mexico. That is the emotional part.  But there are two parts to this dilemma and the second part is the logical one. The native corn of Mexico is a key component to the worlds' food supply as its' ancient varieties have adapted to extreme weather conditions.  There are varieties that can grow in humid areas and those that can grow in very dry climates, high elevations and low.  And in these times of extreme weather change we need these varieties. Unfortunately this native corn's existence is currently at risk of Genetically Modified corn (GMO) contamination and once those seeds are gone,  Mexico and the world will no longer have that corn and all we will have to eat is GMO corn.  The big GMO companies are out pricing the indigenous farmers that have been farming in Oaxaca for thousands of years.  The farmers are suffering hard economic loss and are struggling to survive. A big source of the problem is the lack of consumer knowledge. If more consumers know the risks and the impact that GMOs have on the worlds food and seed supply then we will see change. Food sovereignty is a birthright but it doesn't become a fight until you are aware that it is being taken from you.  This is all about education.

I thank you for your support, The Milpa (the organic corn fields) thank you,the farmers thank you, the artists thank you and the people of Oaxaca, Oaxaca Mexico thank you as their situation is growing increasingly worse day by day as GMO corn is contaminating the fields of their countryside and ending up on their plates!

I know this documentary is going to be the fuel that ignites the positive change towards food sovereignty.  Thanks for being a part of this change! Now you can say you backed it!

Gracias,

Paz y Amor,

Chula

Viva La Milpa sticker. 4 x 6 great for decorating stainless steel or glass water bottles. high quality

Viva La Milpa Refrigerator Magnet

Viva La Milpa Original Linocut Print 50X60cm

Ocupar La Milpa "Occupy the Farm" Original  Linocut Print 50 X 65 cm

Original Oil Canvas from Viva La Milpa's Zoociedad Colectivo approx 7ftX8ft

Original Oil Canvas from Viva La Milpa's Zoociedad Colectivo approx 6X6 ft

Original Oil Canvas from Viva La Milpa's Zoociedad Colectivo approx 7ftX8ft

Original Oil Canvas from Viva La Milpa's Zoociedad Colectivo approx 4 x 7ft

Original Oil Canvas from Viva La Milpa's Zoociedad Colectivo approx 5 x 7ft

Original Canvas from Viva La Milpa's Zoociedad Colectivo approx 7ftX8ft

Canvas OIL Gabriel Coto approx 3ft X 6ft

Original lioness sculpture, natural materials by Viva La Milpa Artist Gabriel Coto,

Viva La Milpa artist ISRA "the alebrije dream" dry point, approx 11 x 15 inches

Coatlicue, woodcut by Marcos Lucero

Signed woodcut, Asaro (Colectivo Zapata)

Signed Woodcut Asaro (Colectivo Zapata)

Signed Linocut by GATO

Signed Linocut by Gato, Sin Maiz no Pais

Signed linocut by Gato, Evictions

SeisArtistas Californianos  / Seis Artistas Oaxaqueños

Una Meta - Hacer una diferencia positiva en el mundo a través del Arte

Un Documental, Campaña Artística y Festival de Consciencia  

Gracias por sintonizarte! El maíz de México es el corazón de México; el alma de México. Esa es la parte emocional. Pero hay dos partes en este dilema y la segunda es la parte lógica: El maíz nativo de México es un componente clave del suministro mundial de alimentos, ya que sus variedades ancestrales se han adaptado siempre a condiciones climáticas extremas. Hay variedades que pueden crecer en zonas húmedas y otras que pueden crecer en climas muy secos, así como elevaciones altas y bajas. Lamentablemente la existencia de este maíz nativo se encuentra actualmente en peligro de desaparecer, debido a la contaminación de variedades maíz modificado genéticamente (OMG). Una vez estas semillas desaparezcan, México y el mundo ya no producirán el maíz tradicional y lo único que tendremos para comer será el maíz transgénico. Una gran causa del problema es la falta de conocimiento del consumidor. Sólo cuando más consumidores conozcan y entiendan estos riesgos, y reclamen ante las estructuras globales de poder el derecho a acceder alimentos sanos, podremos ver un cambio.

En agosto del 2010, durante un viaje a la ciudad de Oaxaca, México, lo que yo pensaba que iba a ser unas "vacaciones", se convirtió en mi incursión como activista del arte. Tengo que decir que esto fue algo mucho más gratificante que unas simples vacaciones. Fueron unas vacaciones con un propósito! En este momento acabo de regresar de mi segunda campaña de arte allí. Ahora estoy aún mas motivada y mi deseo es mostrar a otros artistas como pueden hacer una diferencia en el mundo a través de su arte. Sí, las vacaciones son maravillosas, sin embargo, estos tiempos son críticos. La Tierra nos necesita! No sólo eso, sino que muchas personas están sintiendo una sensación de temor ante una economía en crisis que nos está convirtiendo en máquinas que trabajan día y noche para el sistema. Muchos de nosotros hemos perdido nuestro sentido de propósito. Nos levantamos por la mañana, listos para volver a la cama poco después debido a la falta de inspiración y total agotamiento. Algunos de nosotros estamos esperando "ese momento perfecto" para compartir nuestro dones con el mundo, pero que tal si ese momento es AHORA?

Te invito a ser testigo de cómo seis artistas viajan a otro país, inspirados por algo más que sólo unas simples "vacaciones". En lugar de tomar los recursos de este lugar y luego "desocupar" con unas cuantas fotos para el álbum y un bronceado, observa como compartimos nuestros dones al tiempo que entregamos nuestro espíritu a Oaxaca, mientras aprendemos y educamos a la comunidad, exhibiendo nuestro arte, y luego partimos de vuelta totalmente recompensados con la sensación de nuestro propósito cumplido, y sabiendo que hicimos una diferencia en el mundo.

En el mes de marzo del 2012 seis artistas de California crearán una campaña de arte en la ciudad de Oaxaca, Oaxaca México. Será un intercambio intercultural entre 6 artistas de Oaxaca y el 6 de California. Juntos vamos a hacer 12 piezas para crear consciencia en torno a los riesgos del maíz transgénico. Vestiremos la ciudad con murales y afiches, repartiremos folletos educativos gratis, haremos difusión del mensaje en los pueblos, organizaremos un festival de cine del medio ambiente, abriremos muestras públicas de arte, invitaremos oradores especiales y tendremos una transmisión en vivo de música y un festival de arte en honor al maíz criollo de México. Este es también un proyecto de empoderamiento. El conocimiento trae consigo más opciones y entre más opciones tenemos, más poder reunimos. Con este proyecto tenemos la intención de capacitar a la gente de Oaxaca mediante la difusión de la conciencia sobre los riesgos relacionados con los OGM.

"La escena del arte en Oaxaca es como la de París en la década de 1900"

~ Gabriel Coto, Artista Oaxaqueño

Todo esto será filmado en uno de los escenarios artísticos más "calientes" del mundo: El de Oaxaca, Oaxaca México. El objetivo es crear un documental que sirva de inspiración a los artistas alrededor del mundo, para que al mismo tiempo que viajan, puedan hacer una diferencia en el mundo. Para que permitan que sus voces sean escuchadas a través de su arte y mantengan un sentido de propósito en estos tiempos de rápidos cambios.

Su apoyo ayudará a financiar la filmación, los materiales de arte para los artistas de California y Oaxaca, así como la organización del festival.

Te  doy las gracias por tu apoyo; las milpas (los campos de maíz orgánico) también te agradecen; y los artistas y el pueblo de Oaxaca, Oaxaca México también te dan las gracias, ya que el maíz transgénico está contaminando los campos de su tierra y generando una situación cada vez más difícil de solucionar.

Paz y Amor,

Chula