February 10, 1998
Contact: Louise Snider, 619/594-5204
Gypsies. Who Are They? Where Are They? What Is Gypsy Culture?
"A Nation Within Nations: Gypsies of California and Beyond," offers an unusual month-long series of presentations on one of the least known minority peoples of California and the world.
From March 7 through April 7, the public is invited to a variety of free events exploring Gypsy life, culture, history, and contemporary status and presented by international experts on Gypsy culture and performers of Gypsy music and dance.
The centerpiece for these events is an exhibition of photocollages and portraits of Gypsy life by artist John David Ratajkowski. The artist, whose work will be displayed at the Porter Troupe Art Gallery (301 Spruce Street, San Diego), says, "Having myself come of age in San Diego, a border town...I was struck by the way (Gypsies) have carried their borders with them."
The symposium lectures and exhibit at the Porter Troupe Art Gallery are sponsored by the Lipinsky Institute for Judaic Studies at San Diego State University in conjunction with the California Council for the Humanities.
The Lipinsky Institute also is hosting auxiliary events taking place at SDSU; and the Cross Cultural Center and Women’s Center of the University of California, San Diego, are hosting events at UCSD.
Dr. Kathleen Balgley of the Department of English of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, is the symposium director; Dr. Lawrence Baron, director of SDSU’s Lipinsky Institute for Judaic Studies, is the associate director.
For further information, contact Dr. Baron at 619/594-5338.
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Editors/reporters note: A complete schedule of events is attached.
"A Nation within Nations: Gypsies of California and Beyond" A Symposium & Art Exhibition
March 7, 1998-April 7, 1998
Schedule of Events-All events are free.
March 7
Exhibit Opening, 7 p.m. Reception for John Ratajkowski’s photocollage exhibit. Porter Troupe Gallery.
March 11
Lecture, 3 p.m. "Nazi Policies Towards Non-Jewish Victims and the Singularity of Jewish Fate," by Dr. Michael Berenbaum. Nasatir Hall, SDSU.
Lecture, 7 p.m. "Gypsy History in the Holocaust," by Dr. Michael Berenbaum, director of Steven Spielberg’s "Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation. Porter Troupe Gallery.
March 12
Lecture. "The Rom," a major Gypsy tribe, by Dr. Michael Berenbaum. Cross Cultural Center, UCSD. (Call for time)
March 14
Lecture, 7 p.m. "Legal and Social Status of Gypsies," by Dr. Ian Hancock of the University of Texas, and president of the International Romani Union. Porter Troupe Gallery.
March 18
Concert. Noon. Gypsy music by Yale Strom. Aztec Center, SDSU.
Lecture, 3 p.m. "Sephardim: Five Hundred Years of Exodus," by Yale Strom, musician and documentary filmmaker. Nasatir Hall, SDSU.
Lecture, 7 p.m. "Rosa’s Story: A Gypsy Survivor Remembers," by scholar Toby Sonneman of Washington State. Porter Troupe Gallery.
March 21
Lecture and Musical Performance, 7 p.m. Gypsy music and background lecture by Yale Strom, musician and scholar. Porter Troupe Gallery.
March 25
Lecture, 7 p.m. "The Machvai Gypsy Tribe of California," by scholar Carol Miller. Lecture based on her ethnographic research in Northern California. Porter Troupe Gallery.
March 27
Lecture. "Northern California Rom Women" by Carol Miller. Lecture about a major Gypsy tribe. Women’s Center, UCSD. (Call for time)
March 28
Lecture, 7 p.m. "The Forgotten Holocaust and Postwar Continuities: The Nazi Assault on Roma and Sinti and ‘Antigypsism’ in Contemporary Europe," by Dr. Sybil Milton, vice chair of the Independent Experts’ Commission on Switzerland-World War II. Porter Troupe Gallery.
April 1
Lecture, 3 p.m. "The Gypsy-Jewish Connection," by Dr. Marlene Sway, author of Familiar Strangers: Gypsy Life in America. Nasatir Hall, SDSU.
Lecture, 7 p.m. "History and Status of California Gypsies," by Dr. Marlene Sway, author of Familiar Strangers: Gypsy Life in America. Porter Troupe Gallery.
April 3
Lecture. "History and Status of Gypsy Women in California" by Dr. Marlene Sway, author of Familiar Strangers: Gypsy Life in America. Women’s Center, UCSD. (Call for time)
April 4
Performance, 7 p.m. Gypsy Dance and Song. Porter Troupe Gallery.
April 7
Closing Session, 7 p.m. Question and answer period, led by symposium director Kathleen Balgley, symposium associate director Lawrence Baron, and artist Hon Ratajkowski. Porter Troupe Gallery.
Locations:
Porter Troupe Gallery
301 Spruce Street
San Diego, CA 619/291-9096
Lipinsky Institute for Judaic Studies
San Diego State University
Nasatir hall, Rm. 100
619594-5338
University of California
San Diego
Cross Cultural Center
619/534-9689
Women's Center
619/822-0074