Click here to see the original invitation in Thai and English.

More Art + More Wine + More Prizes = Sanuk

Here’s why you don’t want to miss next Saturday’s party:

• Exhibition – The exhibition includes many works done by refugees and asylum seekers at the Bangkok Refugee Center. Most the artwork was done by children. However, some of the smallest children have experienced more turmoil than most of us can imagine. Come and support them and have a chance to see special donated artwork from artists in Thailand, Japan, and the United States. We’re joining forces!

“Have a chance to see special donated artwork from artists in Thailand, Japan, and the United States. We’re joining forces!”

• Wine Tasting – Remember your admission includes wine tasting from 6-8pm. Be there early to enjoy the wine as you place bids on the pictures made by refugees and the special guest art. By your request we’ll have a chilly surprise waiting for all the wine connoisseurs.

• Raffle – As with the Grand Opening there are many things we’ll be giving away that evening. They include art done by the refugees, art lessons with Chalit Nakpawan, gift certificates for beauty products and other surprises.

“No fighting in the streets or breaking bottles over anyone’s head to walk away with what you want. Just make sure you’re the highest bidder at the end of the night!”

• Silent Auction – Make sure you participate in our silent auction. For a this type of auction all you have to do is find the form of the painting you want and make a bid on it! No fighting in the streets or breaking bottles over anyone’s head to walk away with what you want. Just make sure you’re the highest bidder at the end of the night! Give your registration # and contact info and the price you want to bid.

“This project will be the beginning of many more because of you!”

• Great Company – Come mix with people volunteering for the BRC, working for the UNHCR or working on all kinds of various projects to create change in our community. Jump in! This is what ISOS was created to encourage. This project will be the beginning of many more because of you!

See you there at 6pm and here’s the map again so you can be sure you find us:

Click To See This Larger

On Thursday we had the long awaited Grand Opening Party for our project Picture From My Mind: Depictions of Hunger, Homelessness and Hope. This gallery will be on display until we end with our Silent Auction and Finale Party on Feb. 28th, 2009. Here are a few pictures from a great night:

Arthur Mangan, BRC, Invites People To Help Refugees

In The Auction Room

Wine Tasting

Great Company

Volunteers!

Gracious Hosts

Prizes!

Sanuk!

For more go to our Flickr account or search “In Search of Sanuk” on facebook to find our page and see the gallery loaded there. Enjoy!

To see the original invitation in Thai and English click here.

Registration begins at 6pm. When you come to the gallery and pay to enter, you will be registered to buy art, have a chance to donate volunteer time to the BRC, and be entered in our raffle.

ISOS Raffle. As the night goes on we’ll give away pieces of art made at the Bangkok Refugee Center, art lessons from Chalit Nakpawan, wine, and more! Drawings will be made by influential artists like Kongpat Sadapitak and some of Thailand biggest hearts like Anchanida Premchaona, owner of Boungiorno Coffee & Wine Bar, and others!

Welcome! Around 7.30pm, hear from Dwight Turner, Founder of In Search of Sanuk and Chalit Nakpawan, Artist and Owner of Moddy Restaurant and Gallery.

The Cause. Next we’ll take a minute to remember the purpose of this big party: to help  asylum seekers and refugees. We’ll lend our ear to Arthur Mangan, Director of the Bangkok Refugee Center and Rufino Seva, the Project Manager.

The Gallery. Most of the art featured was made by refugees at the Refugee Center. You will notice that not all of the art is happy or optimistic. We hope this will give you a chance to reflect on how lucky we are to be from stable countries like Thailand and the US and use our good fortune to help these refugees from all over the world. Especially with the recent ugly news about treatment of refugees, we can no longer afford to look away. Explore the gallery and prepare your heart to make a contribution.

Wine Tasting from 6.30-8pm. Are you already adjusted to Thai time and know you’ll be late? Leave early and get there for the free wine. Don’t worry, after 8pm, you’ll still be able to buy a cheap glass of wine (120B) or a cheap bottle (800B) and benefit the refugee center.

Sick Friday. For everyone calling in sick on Friday, the party will continue to 11pm, but we encourage you to come early and have time to take in everything.

Map. Finally here’s a detailed English map with instructions. Some of our volunteers got lost and thought this would be helpful for everyone coming to the event. Take a look and see you there!

“I have learned something far more complicated than anything in a text book–surviving as a refugee.“

ISOS: Ryan, have you had any opportunities to go to school?
I was 17 when I came to Thailand, I did not finish high school and the refugee center only provides very basic education to the refugee kids. As I have to support my family financially, my education ended. But over time, I have learned something far more complicated than anything in a text book–surviving as a refugee.

ISOS: What are you risking by living here?

Having the official UNHCR refugee status doesn’t mean it is legitimate for me to stay in Thailand. In fact, I could be arrested by the police at any moment and be sent to the detention center. Fortunately, I have never come across any police or been asked to show my legal certificate in my past three years in Bangkok. This may be because my Chinese features are not very different from Thai features.

“…I could be arrested by the police at any moment…“

ISOS: Are you able to find housing here?
For two years, my parents and I stayed in a tiny 12 square meter studio. Three months ago, my friend found a small apartment owned by his friend and rented it to us for a very low price. The condition is much better than the studio we used to live in. The only problem is in order to go to the Refugee Center I need to travel for 2 hours.

ISOS: Are there any other aspects of living here that makes life difficult for refugees?
With no legal status, everything becomes a lot more difficult. Also, there are many different emotional challenges living as a refugee, to me the biggest challenge is the sense of loneliness and the desperation of getting my life back on track. But there is not always much I can do since my life is no longer in my control.

“A refugee will never have a real life in this country, the only hope for them is to rebuild their lives elsewhere.“

ISOS: What would you need to take back control?
Resettlement. A refugee will never have a real life in this country, the only hope for them is to rebuild their lives elsewhere.

Resettlement is usually not something any individual is able to help with. Getting an education is my next biggest need, if I am to truly feel I have some sort of say in what’s to become of me and my family.

ISOS: What are your best and worst experiences in Thailand?
My best experience in Thailand has been working at the refugee center with refugees and volunteers from all over the world.

Waiting for two years for my refugee status to be granted was definitely my worst experience in not only Thailand, but my entire life. It is terrible even to think about.

ISOS: What do you want to do in the future?
I am looking forward to working in human rights or doing something to help refugees, but first of all, I have to find a country that will accept me.

ISOS: Is your experience similar to other asylum seekers and refugees?
They all pretty much go through the same suffering as I did, and I believe they’re all hoping to be resettled more than anything else they’ve ever hoped.

“…I believe they’re all hoping to be resettled more than anything else they’ve ever hoped.“

ISOS: Thank you Ryan both for your time and your encouraging bravery.

___________________________

Ryan has an amazing story to tell. His experience encompasses both the resilience and hope ISOS loves to highlight. Leave an encouraging note and come show your support for the BRC during the art exhibition!

See Part One of Ryan’s Interview or see causes for more info on the BRC.

The artwork used above will be featured in a special ISOS exhibition. See Picture From My Mind for details.

Click To Enlarge (ภาษาอังกฤษ)

Picture From My Mind
Depictions of Hunger, Homelessness, and Hope

InSearchofSanuk.com and the Bangkok Refugee Center invite you to experience an exclusive art exhibit benefiting Bangkok’s urban refugees and asylum seekers. Exhibition starts Feb. 16th – 28th, 2009 from 17.00-23.00 (free of charge)

Join us Feb. 19th for the Grand Opening Party and join the Finale Party on Feb. 28th from 19.00-23.00 to take part in the silent auction.

Arrive early for wine tasting on those days and have a chance to win art lessons from Bangkok’s own Chalit Nakpawan and other exciting prizes! 200B Donation for entrance.

Moddy Restaurant & Gallery
18 Ari Soi 4 North
BTS: Ari Station, Exit Door 3 toward Soi Ari
02-617-0108 www.moddybangkok.com
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Click to Enlarge (ภาษาไทย)

Picture From My Mind

ความหิวโหย ไร้ที่พักพิง และความหวังอันเลือนลาง

InSearchofSanuk.com ร่วมกับ Bangkok Refugee Center
เชิญชมนิทรรศการงานศิลปะภาพวาดฝีมือผู้ลี้ภัย และงานจากศิลปินอิสระอีกมากมาย งานนี้จัดขึ้นโดยความร่วมมือของศิลปินชื่อดัง คุณชลิต นาคพะวัน เพื่อช่วยเหลือผู้ลี้ภัยที่อาศัยในกรุงเทพฯ งานนิทรรศการเปิดให้เข้าชม ตั้งแต่ วันที่ 16-28 กุมภาพันธ์ 2552เวลา 17.00-23.00 น. (ไม่มีค่าใช้จ่าย )

ขอเชิญทุกท่านมาร่วมงานเปิดตัวนิทรรศการในวันที่ 19 กุมภา และงานเลี้ยงขอบคุณ วันที่ 28 กุมภา เวลา 19.00-23.00 น. ภายในงานมีการจัดประมูล, ขายภาพศิลปะและทดลองชิมไวน์ จากทั่วโลก ค่าเข้าร่วมงาน 200 บาท รายได้ทั้งหมดเพื่อสนับสนันศูนย์ผู้ลี้ภัย

สถานที่ ร้านอาหาร Moddy Restaurant & Gallery
เลขที่ 18 ซอยอารีย์ 4 เหนือ ถนนพหลโยธิน 7
BTS: สถานที่ อารีย์ ประตู 3
โทร 02 617 0108
www.moddybangkok.com

First review information about the Bangkok Refugee Center (or see the brief explanation under causes) to familiarize yourself with the BRC.

OK! Here are some ways ISOS could use your help:

- Contribute! We’re looking for artists who don’t mind donating a peice or two for sale. This is a great way to give to this cause and promote your art also. All peices are subject to approval and we only ask that the peices you submit follow the theme of the gallery, Pictures From My Mind: Depictions of Hunger, Homelessness and Hope.

- Sponsor! You or your company can sponsor this event. This will allow ISOS to increase it’s marketing campaign and increase the quality of our show, while promoting your group or business. Remember the chief goal is to bring awareness to people in Bangkok about the plight of asylum seekers and refugees. The more people we inform, the more change we will see happen.

- PROMOTE! Tell your friends. Post it on facebook, hi5, and your blog. Invite people in your social groups (for instance coworkers or your sports team). Link people to this site.

- Party! Do you have a birthday during  February? Do you just want to round up a bunch of friends for a good cause? Plan a party at Moddy during our exhibition to help further promote this cause. See! You don’t have to think too hard about how to help people and make it sanuk also!

- Volunteer! We will need to prepare the pictures for display. Select some to be auctioned. Organize them accordingly. Decorate the venue according. Decide how to really give people the refugee experience.

Target: Asylum seekers (people awaiting recognition as refugees) and recognized refugees.

Goal: We’ll quote the BRC’s vision which says, “To proactively render appropriate humanitarian relief services, particularly to the extremely vulnerable individuals that will enable them to live their lives with dignity and encourage them to be productive and caring members of their community.”