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Livestream Interview with Michelle Fujii of Unit Souzou
May 15, 2020 @ 6:30 pm

As part of The ~virtual~ Vanport Mosaic Festival 2020 – May 8-30
Vanport Mosaic presents:
Vanport Mosaic presents:
MORE DEVOTEDLY podcast Volume III:
Michelle Fujii talks with Douglas Detrick about her “Constant State of Otherness” taiko project.
Michelle Fujii talks with Douglas Detrick about her “Constant State of Otherness” taiko project.
FREE// If you can, please support our memory activism collective by a tax-deductible donation to >> vanportmosaic.org/donate
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About Constant State of Otherness: After 3 years of deep, thoughtful process in conversation and practice, Unit Souzou taiko ensemble has been traveling the country to hear people’s stories and explore their own journey’s through feelings that result from being othered, excluded, or misunderstood. Soon, Unit Souzou will begin revealing some of the fruits of their deep creative investigations.
Constant State of Otherness is Unit Souzou’s ambitious new taiko project, which includes community engagement workshops and works-in-progress performances, as well as a full theatrical production set to premiere later this year. The project has been traveling the country engaging with a wide range of communities and individuals in D.C., Pennsylvania, Montana, and here in Oregon.
“These feelings, of otherness, are heightened during our uncertain political times — of deepening socio-economic disparities, ongoing debates of travel bans, border security, gentrification, and hostility towards immigrants,” says Michelle Fujii, Unit Souzou Founder and Co-Director. But rather than dwell on otherness, Fujii and her team’s intent is to share the universality of those feelings with the ultimate goal of fostering empathy in increasingly divided communities.
“These feelings, of otherness, are heightened during our uncertain political times — of deepening socio-economic disparities, ongoing debates of travel bans, border security, gentrification, and hostility towards immigrants,” says Michelle Fujii, Unit Souzou Founder and Co-Director. But rather than dwell on otherness, Fujii and her team’s intent is to share the universality of those feelings with the ultimate goal of fostering empathy in increasingly divided communities.
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More Devotedly is a podcast for people who see the arts as a force for positive, progressive change.
Subscribe at https://www.moredevotedly.com/ or on your favorite podcast app.
Subscribe at https://www.moredevotedly.com/ or on your favorite podcast app.
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This event is part of the VIRTUAL VANPORT MOSAIC FESTIVAL – an online series of memory activism opportunities curated by Story Midwife Laura Lo Forti. Made possible by the generous support of MCDD, City of Portland Office of Community & Civic Life, Oregon Cultural Trust and Regional Arts & Culture Council With the collaboration of Cerimon House and Open Signal: Portland Community Media Center.