Category: Arts & Culture

Mike "Dream" Francisco's art brought together the worlds of art and activism. As the Manilatown Heritage Foundation displays his work through a commemorative gallery, photographer Abe Menor reflects on Mike "Dream" Francisco's work and influence.

After a fifteen-year hiatus, Brava Theater is proud to welcome award–winning writer and director, Cherríe Moraga, back to its stages to celebrate its 25th anniversary with the world premiere of her new play, New Fire – To Put Things Right Again. Erika Vivianna Céspedes reviews the new play saying "New Fire leaves you thinking and dreaming."

An artistic rendering of De-Bug's Albert Cobarrubias Justice Project.

A writer used to observing what is around her uses the craft to do some inner reflection.

Sure, Facebook allows mom to connect with family across the border, but what do you do when she want be your Facebook friend?

Uncubed comic shares some insight on intergenerational dialogue.

Lorenz Mazon Damuk is a San Jose writer and community organizer. He performs his poem "Fat" from his book Ay Nako;Writing Through The Struggle, which deals with the reality of being a man and dealing with body issues but more so self love issues. A poem he hesitated to share, but as he says during his interview, "if you write it, you should share it."

Yul Witherspoon taught himself how to play piano as a young child, and kept learning as he got older. Now known as DJ Lipz, Yul is producing innovative beats that is turning ears all across the Bay.

Jean Melesaine reviews the film "Pariah" directed by Dee Rees. The film is based on a Brooklyn teenager who juggles conflicting identities and risks friendship, heartbreak, and family in a desperate search for sexual expression.

Art, graphic design, photography — visual artist FORCE 129 does it all. The multi-talented artist displayed his talents at a pop out booth in front of the Anno Domini Gallery on S. First street as a part of SOFA's First Fridays.

Indian Ocean, a famous rock band from New Delhi, performed in Hayward for a benefit concert.

Adrian Avila, a young self-taught graphic designer, writes about how Steve Jobs was a catalyst to realizing his dreams and shows the connection between technological innovators and the working poor, many of whom are immigrants.

Block2Block Radio host David Madrid talks with Mario Ozuna-Sanchez of the National Compadres Network about the mental health and healing needs of men & boys in our communities.

While painting a mural he calls "Go Smart", Ulises Rodriguez, a San Jose high school student, shares his thoughts on teachers, charter schools, and where he wants his talents to take him. Other students who see his work interpret the title, and say what it means to "go smart."

This exhibition showcased photos taken from cameras from the 50’s and 60’s allowing film photography to be showcased as an art form. Take a look.

Silicon Valley Debug photographer TIBURON!!F!B! covered the Hip-Hop festival "Rock The Bells" when it took place in Mountain View this year.

This summer, De-Bug and the San Jose Downtown Association teamed up to provide activities for youth at the weekly concerts. The collaboration was a tremendous success, but still the historic event may be coming to a close.

In the heart of Japantown, artist Samuel Rodriguez held his first solo show at Cukui. The following timelapse video captures the creative production process, as well as the diverse community who came to the showing.

A photoslide by Jean Melesaine of the Pacific Voyagers ceremony on Treasure Island in San Francisco. The Pacific Voyagers have traveled on vakas (canoes) all the way from Aotearoab (NewZealand) stopping on the Pacific Islands (Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tahiti, and others) on the way and have made their way to Treasure Island.

San Jose Jazzfest will feature a Bhangra collective of dancers, drummers, and a DJ, that will even have an interactive dance teaching in their performance.

Photographers from Darkroom@De-Bug release their new magazine called Glassclops -- a film photography magazine. This issue features David Bacon, Charisse Domingo, Felipe Vasquez, Ronald Orlando, and Braulio Gonzalez.

Artists Adrian Avila and Samuel Rodriguez teamed up with the Gardener community to produce the Inspire mural. This video shares the day by day evolution of Inspire.

Community based artists, Adrian Avila and Samuel Rodriguez, teamed up to bring inspiration in an artistic form to neighborhoods throughout San Jose. Their first mural went up at the Gardner Market on Virginia and Delmas in West San José.

Writer Iliana Perez takes us through the De-Bug activities held at this year's Music in the Park.

Looking for a South Asian-themed summer camp? Go no further. Check this list by India Currents...

The annual free concert event series is back in full swing in San Jose, and now De-Bug is bringing live art, silk-screening, and other activities to supplement the events.

Local, Grammy Award winning music group teams up with the Mexican Heritage Corporation to throw a benefit concert for San Jose schools.

Internationally-acclaimed singer Sonu Niigaam comes to the Bay Area to showcase his electrifying performance.

Filmmaker Onir has financed his latest movie through Facebook.

Acclaimed San Jose Poet Yosimar Reyes talks about his poetry that is born from his immigrant, working class, and queer perspective.

A downtown resident, and high school teacher, wanted to celebrate the festivities with an evening of dancing. Instead, she was forced to trek around police blockades, and told she could not go home.

Samuel Rodriguez gives an glimpse of his trip to Hong Kong for a Far East exhibition of his and fellow artist Aaron De La Cruz's work.

An episode of UNcubed — a comic about life as an Indian guy in the United States.

Music teacher Victor Hugo Santos has spent a lifetime entertaining and educating youth, and is hosting a grand event for the community on April 29th.

The publisher of India Currents shares her reflections on building a community institution, and the possibilities that lay ahead.

The Ao Dai Festival promises to bring cultural elegance to San Jose, while also shining a spotlight on the struggle of poverty young girls face in Vietnam.

A rare collection of Indian art from various collectors showcased in San Jose

Yosimar Reyes is a Two-Spirit Poet/Activist from Guerrero, Mexico with "a brave and vulnerable voice that shines light on the issues affecting queer, immigrant youth and the many disenfranchised communities in the U.S. and throughout the world."

Sara Inés Calderón of News Taco says, "Latino bloggers are powerful because we have the information the mainstream media want but don’t know how to get."

From a skinny 8-page black-and-white magazine, Silicon Valley-based India Currents has evolved into a robust glossy with a 100,000 readership throughout California.

The local theater group performs plays that both entertain and educate the community.

There are over 800,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in California who are eligible for citizenship but haven't been naturalized.

Jean Melesaine interviews Aquene Aquetzalli Olmeka -- a medicine woman, smoke carrier and drummer who is an organizer for the Azteca Mexica New Year event held every March at the National Hispanic University. It is the largest celebration of its kind in the nation.

Susana Ruiz, artist/video game designer and co-founder of Take Action Games, presented her work at the Euphrat Museum of Art in Cupertino, California. Her games take on social justice issues such as criminal justice and gender violence.

San Jose Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen talks to David Madrid on Block to Block Radio about Operation Prom Dress, her program to help high school girls. Learn more and hear how you can contribute.

Author Andrew Lam writes that the latest census numbers showing a rise in Asian-Americans points to a larger cultural shift in Bay Area, one that reaches across all races.

In Progress, an open mic in San Francisco at Mama's Cafe celebrated International Women's Month by bringing together Bay Area women artists from different cultural backgrounds for an evening of music and poetry.

"All the Ladies Say" is a film that profiles female street dancers who have carved a niche in the physically challenging, male-dominated breakdance world. One of the featured dancers is Aiko Shirakawa, who held the film's South Bay debut at the De-Bug Center.

An episode of UNcubed — a comic about life as an Indian guy in the United States.

March is International Women's Month, and De-Bug will be highlighting women leaders in the Bay Area as a month long series. The first installment features the Malia Movement Company — a collective of female artists, dancers, and creators committed to being "fabulous."

T-shirt designers, jewelry-makers, and an assortment of other creative vendors created their own pop-up market in downtown San Jose – giving the community a chance to come together and shop local.

The Vietnamese Bhikkhuni Buddhist Congregation brings the Jade Buddha to San Jose, drawing people from all backgrounds to check out the precious artifact.

Shanamo Entertainment has built a reputation for talent development in the Bay Area since 1999.

An episode of UNcubed — a comic about life as an Indian guy in the United States.

Music entrepreneur Playa Rae has been a driving force for local artists to be heard and to gain attention in larger markets beyond San Jose.

Filmmaker La Mar Williams profiles the lives of video game creators who are crafting out new media platforms.

Does the austerity budget proposed by Jerry Brown means the end of California Dreamin'? And Obama's Yes We Can shows up in signs in Tunisia.

A new book by Mexican journalist Araceli Martínez-Rose documents the tragic life of World Boxing Champion Gabriel Ruelas.

With venues coming and going in San Jose, one has remained as an open outlet for local music talent, a place where you can catch a great show every week.

Cannery Park, located near Japantown, has emerged as a hub for a generation of new, innovative cultural business owners. De-Bug attended a collective showing to discuss their local businesses.

Writer gives a glimpse of "Desi Hybrid English" and the cultural subtleties of ordering lunch at an Indian restaurant.

Aerodance achieves success through eleven years of hard-work. The Indian dance academy has grown from six to over 1,000 students in just a decade.

Since the 1930's the underground scene of black gay culture voguing down a runway has inspired the high fashion industry. The tradition continued this year here in the Bay Area. Photographer Jean Melesaine documents the Winter Ball.

Students enrolled in Latino College Preparatory's drama program are getting a lesson in culture and self-esteem while they perform in the modern adaption of a five-century-old Mexican play.

The dance troupe “Bellydance Superstars” brings Indian dances from the big screen to Bay Area stages.

De-Bug's Block2Block Radio host David Madrid talks with Adam King of the New Skin Adult Tattoo Removal program, a new non-profit in the South Bay that provides job search assistance along with removing visible gang related tattoos at an affordable price.

A look at the Indian American newsmakers of the year.

In the scramble of holiday consumerism, some Bay Area stores and advocates are trying to separate authentic gift giving from corporate-driven buying.

This year marked the 40th Year of Chicano Movement in San Jose. Carlos Velazquez reflects back on the historical significance of the achievement, and the activists who made it happen.

When Juan Gonzalez went looking for his friend online, he learned some tragic news. Gonzalez's friend had died, and the social network site which once had been a platform to communicate to him, had now become a place to honor his memory.

Salman Khan started his online "Khan Academy" to help a young cousin learn math. Now his online YouTube math, science as well as history and economics videos have garnered 22 millions views worldwide.

A young Indian student takes pride in living up to the stereotype... of being different.

Phở soup is a San Jose favorite, and customers may be protecting their health as they slurp down the Vietnamese specialty.

Sri Lankan American singer creates music in the folk/blues/reggae tradition.

Bay Area non-profit AchieveKids uses drama to teach special needs kids social skills.

Hidden from view in East Side neighborhoods are Vietnamese restaurant bars frequented only by those in the know. De-Bug writer Patrick Thanh An Ngô gives us a rundown of what these establishments are and who goes there.

A dance theater performance by the Shree School of Dance will explore how Tamil Women poets interpret love and conflict.

Duniya Dance & Drum Company and Ensambles Ballet Folklorico de San Francisco will give a bhangra-folklorico performance commemorating Punjabi-Mexican fusion heritage at the Brava Theater in San Francisco.

Santa Clara-based Teatro Nahual will perform "Los Monólogos de la Vagina" (Vagina Monologues) and "Chismes de Machos" (Men's Gossip) at the National Hispanic University on October and November weekends.

When mixed martial artist Cain Velasquez won his UFC title, he also gave something to San Jose — a champion we can call our own.

This October the Coalition for Justice and Accountability began a forum series to bring input from impacted communities to the selection process for the next San Jose Police Chief. The following multi-media coverage is highlights from the Youth and Families Forum held at De-Bug.

Engineer turned filmmaker Akshay Prem Vyas breaks out with "Love Struck Smart," a short indie comedy about the romantic adventures of SJSU students.

Tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain re-scores music for Alonzo King's Scheherazade ballet at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center For the Arts.

Another installment of the Brown Girls cartoon.

The Festival Paises Unidos/United Countries Festival will take place at San Jose's National Hispanic University this Sunday, October 17. This mini-preview shows what one can expect in the multicultural celebration.

In the tech world, the older you are, the less likely you'll be hired as an engineer. Silicon Valley companies don't care about your experience; they care about their pocketbooks, according to commentator Vivek Wadhwa, and hiring younger, inexperienced engineers saves them money.

San Jose helds its 19th Annual Mariachi Festival from Sept. 15 to 26 at the Cesar Chavez Plaza downtown. The event also celebrated Mexican heritage in California which spans over five centuries of art, culture, tradition and great music.

We did it! SJ Beez held its first mixer and celebrated being the only multicultural media network in San Jose.

Despite the multi-ethnic demographics of the city, San Jose's gay community seems divided among lines of race. One young commentator compares the San Jose gay scene compared to the rest of the Bay Area.

The ancient stories of the Mahabharata are being brought to American and Indian audiences — even interacting with modern pop-culture icons — through the comic illustrator eye of Sandeep Sood.

In downtown San Jose, the Mexican community and friends celebrated the 200th year of Mexican Independence. There were parade floats, dancing, and food, but turnout was unexpectedly low due to the high entry fee for spectators.

This September, San Jose was a city-wide platform for this year's Zero 01 Biennial -- a four day event of art, performance and innovation.

The CET Auditorium will be rocking on October 2nd with a Pink Floyd tribute concert by San Jose band Antariksh.

Not all addictions get the same amount of attention, yet can still cause equally devastating impacts on families. One young author writes about how gambling addiction wreaked havoc on her family, and how she noticed similar struggles in other Vietnamese households.

On September 11, one the Bay Area's most prominent dance school will be offering a performance in honor of its twentieth year in operation.

Trinity Center for Music, a South India music training institution, will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a Karnatik performance.

Oscar Liendo, a 27-year-old clown from Texas, says that being a clown is an art form. He performs with the Ringling Bros., who recently toured the Bay Area.

The San Jose Jazz Festival brings some of the most beloved jazz musicians for across the country to downtown San Jose. Photographer Gail Noble was there on the weekend of August 13th to capture this year's vibe through images.

The 5th Frida Kahlo Fundraiser, organized by Cihuatl Tlatocan and Maíz at the Washington United Youth Center, celebrated the famed artist's legacy and gave local artists and Frida fans a way to get in touch with an important part of their cultural heritage while raising money for the community.

Artist Jim Fonsecas leads a community mural project for the new American Indian Education Center in East San Jose. He, along with the center's staff, talk about the value of community art and culture.

Artist Huong Nguyen was born and raised in San Jose. Her life and art has fused her Vietnamese culture with her American context. In her gallery, she displays the mixing of form, history and identity.

In North San Jose, a unique taco truck is quickly developing a fan base with its green chorizo tacos. The tacos served by Cuauhtemoc Lopez are inspired by his youth growing up in the world capital of chorizo in the city of Toluca in Mexico. Mr. Lopez talks about the difficult times he faced before becoming a successful and outstanding Taquero.

When Time Magazine columnist Joel Stein’s wrote a piece called "My Own Private India", about Indian immigration in his New Jersey town, it set off a fire-storm of controversy in Indian circles. A teacher of Indian culture offers her own take on the discussion.

San Jose dance company Abhinaya celebrates its 30th Anniversary.

The Annual Mexican Heritage and Mariachi Festival -- one of the most acclaimed cultural celebrations in the nation, will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution.

Six talented artists from different disciplines come together to bring together tradition and future innovations.

10-year-old Krish Avvari, who trains at the India Community Center facilities in Milpitas, is a national champion for table tennis players twelve-years-old and younger. He says his favorite aspect of the game is striving to be a "good sport."

For the second year in a row, San Jose residents were able to experience the colorful dances, diverse foods and friendliness of Oaxaca in the Guelaguetza celebration on the Eastside of San Jose.

The theme of this year's annual Queer Prom held by the Billy DeFrank Center was "The Gender Bender Ball." Silicon Valley De-Bug writer Kaisha Covington reports on the event and her own experiences going to dances as a gay teen.

The gathering of poets and musicians under the full moon is an ancient tradition in Mexico. Event organizer Ruben Barron brought the tradition to San Jose, and the community responded.

Salvadoran artist Ana Guardado explains her beginnings in San Jose and how her experiences here are represented in one of her paintings.

A memorial concert in honor of the the famed sitarist Nikhil Banerjee will take place on July 31.

Guelaguetza is the most important cultural festival of sharing and celebration for immigrants from the Southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. Alianza News profiles a recent "Mini Guelaguetza" and gives us a taste of what to expect at the 2nd Annual Guelaguetza Festival to be held at the National Hispanic University in San Jose on July 25th.

Classic soul record collecting may seem out of step with the high-tech Valley, but there is something about the vinyl that younger generations are still drawn to. David Madrid profiles one local collector known as The Duke of Soul.

Two views on whether the recent Metro PCS commercial starring two Indian characters, Ranjit and Chad, is harmless fun or racial stereotyping

Future generations will know the cultural and political moment of San Jose through the lens of photographer, Abraham Menor. Having had a wide array of influences from Filipino Veterans organizing to San Jose's graffiti artists, Menor is a documentarian for communities who otherwise would go unseen.

On July 18, 2010 over 2,000 people will gather at Sunnyvale's Baylands Park to walk or run for a range of non-profits that provide needed services for communities across the world. Event organizers ask: who will you walk for?

With bhangra dancing, beauty and a local setting, film producer Hassan Zee brings an entertaining story that delves into veils, women's rights, and Muslim culture.

Young artists collective livens up San Jose with alternative, indie Latin American music.

They say patriotism has its price, and this Fourth of July weekend, that's exactly what the entrepreneurial Shorty Fatz is counting on.

The organizers of Bike Party tell us, "Everything looks better from the seat of a bike." And that includes the streets of San Jose. The following De-Bug video and writing give a window into the South Bay's new two-wheeled revolution called San Jose Bike Party.

With mariachi music in the background, La Kaliente Radio Station, 1370 AM, celebrated Carlos Duharte, Owner and President. La Kaliente is located in San Jose and has been a staple for Spanish programming in the Bay Area.

Downtown goers may have seen some unusual characters posted up around the Convention Center in late May. This year's Fanime Convention brought to life comic book heroes, video game stars, and thousands of costumed fans to the heart of San Jose' downtown.

At many hotels and motels in San Jose and other locations across the country, travelers can now find in their nightstands copies of the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Hindu text of wisdom originated from India.

The Third Annual SubZERO festival brought over 100 local vendors, street artists, bands, roving performers, high-tech installations, and thousands of people to downtown San Jose. Oh, and plenty of swag.

On the second Saturday of every month, a librarian at the Martin Luther King Library conducts a story time conducted in various Indian languages. The class has drawn youth from different San Jose ethnicities as well.

Block to Block radio host David Madrid chops it up with Reymundo Armendariz of Public Allies, an organization that trains up the next generation of community leaders. Tune in and learn how to get involved.

Bay Area Indians no longer have to go online to hear the sounds of South Asian culture. A new radio station, KLOK 1170AM, is bringing Indian voices onto the local airwaves.

The South Asian community has brought a new sport to San Jose parks — cricket. And now the local leagues are being visited by some of the best players in the world.

This short documentary is on popsicle vendors, the people you see pushing carts from sun up to sun down.

"Brown Girls" offers a window into the lives of the younger generation of desi's as they balance the walk of being both South Asian and American.

Sitting on two wheels has never looked so good. Shorty Fatz, a San Jose-based design and manufacturing company owned by two young entrepreneurs, has evolved into the creator of some of the most innovative and sought-after low-rider bicycle frames in the industry.

A comic strip on being South Asian American and female.