Wed: A Show! // Thurs: Another Show! // Sat: Yet Another Show! // Sun: Collage Class & Prisoner Letter Writing // Tues: Las Posadas // & More!

-Wednesday, December 12th, 7pm: Closet Goth (AZ) / The Curfews / Just Dandy

Cactus Bloom Collective presents

*CLOSET GOTH (On Tour) hardcore dance-punk from Phoenix AZ https://closetgoth.bandcamp.com/ 

**THE CURFEWS local jangly fuzz pop https://thecurfews.bandcamp.com/releases 

***JUST DANDY local indie pop-punk tunes https://justdandy.bandcamp.com/

7$ // 7pm // All Ages // Safe Space // No Alcohol No Drugs

https://www.facebook.com/events/263385227671651/

-Thursday, December 13th, 7pm:  SCHC - Go Outside // Sunday Drive // Grad Night // DPT

SCHC brings you a relaxing evening with... 

*Go Outside https://gooutsideaz.bandcamp.com 

**Sunday Drive https://sunday-drive.bandcamp.com 

***Grad Nite https://gradnite.bandcamp.com/releases 

****D.P.T.  https://soundcloud.com/dpt831 

7pm /  $5.00 (notaflof) // No Drinking/Smoking // 

https://www.facebook.com/events/180650979554905/

-Saturday, December 15th, 7pm:  BB Sinclair / Neutral Shirt / Grad Nite / Charlie Kay

Cactus Bloom Collective presents

*BB SINCLAIR (local gay dream pop bbs) https://soundcloud.com/bbsinclair 

**NEUTRAL SHIRT (On Tour from san diego sweetheart alt rock) https://neutralshirt.bandcamp.com/ 

***CHARLIE KAY (On Tour from san diego bedroom pop) https://vchill.bandcamp.com/ 

****GRAD NITE (local heartfelt pop punk) https://gradnite.bandcamp.com/releases 

7$ // 7pm // All Ages // Safe(r) Space // No Alcohol No Drugs

https://www.facebook.com/events/761369004212284/

-Sunday, December 16th, noon - 2:30pm: Collage Master Class! Making art is making change

Making art is making change. 💥 Join me on my birthday next Sunday December 16th, 12-2:30pm at SubRosa for a COLLAGE MASTER CLASS! w/ Yours Truly: Whitney Sparks Artwork! // We'll be creating postcards to send to political prisoner Cyntoia Brown and more. 🌹 The PRISON LETTER WRITING project is generously sharing space with us at SubRosa Community Space so it would be radical — and possible— to send our art behind bars.  // 💎 Pay what you can.  // ✂️ Bring material (magazines, books, paper, photos, scissors etc.) from home, if you like. Material and equipment will be provided!  https://www.facebook.com/events/524830184594598/

#freecyntoiabrown #fightthepower #freecyntoia #cyntoiabrown#ericagarner #aintnojusticejustus #justice #justus #nofascistisa#freeallpoliticalprisoners #resist #solidarity #art #collage #mixedmedia#originalart #powerful #bethechange #createchange#blackwomenmatter #intersectional #changegonecome#femmethefuture #supportblackwomxn — with Whitney Sparks Artwork at SubRosa Community Space.

            and 1 - 4pm: Prisoner Letter Writing

Each week we will highlight a specific prisoner, have info on their story and struggle, and have a list of political prisoners to write. Use this time to find a new prisoner penpal, to continue a correspondence or write to someone you know inside. We have materials and stamps but please bring paper, pens and stamps if you like. Some snacks provided.

-Tuesday, December 18th, 6:30pm (happening at the Hub, including Sanctuary Santa Cruz space and SubRosa):  Las Posadas 2018

As the number of refugees increases every day, the tradition of Las Posadas reminds us of the many families around the globe asking for a place to survive and raise their children.

The nightly processions of Las Posadas are a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph's search for a lodging (posada) in Bethlehem. Each night, we will gather for a candlelight procession to the "posada" - the venue for that night's celebration. The next night's procession begins at the previous night's location until the we reach the final night's venue.

(This Posada will start at Calvary Episcopal Church at 6:30 and walk from Cedar to Laurel to Pacific Ave) Performance by Banda de Salvadoreños // Refreshments provided by Sanctuary Santa Cruz // full schedule at https://www.facebook.com/events/457175721474412/

************

AND REMINDER ABOUT REGULAR OPEN HOURS 

(Come on by and have some coffee, check-out a book or strike up a conversation)

Wednesdays, 10:30am - 2pm // Fridays, 9am - 12pm // 

& open for events & meetings

(and open on some Thursday afternoons)

**********​

Also happening at the town clock!  Friday, December 14th, 5 - 6:30pm:  Solidarity Walk for Caravan Asylum Seekers

We have a duty to stand up and speak out to demand justice and safety for asylum seekers. Will you join us? // Tenemos el deber de levantarnos y exigir justicia y seguridad para los solicitantes de asilo. ¿Te unes a nosotros? // https://www.facebook.com/events/2396299950597447/

Fri: Art Show Opening // Sat: Really Really Free Market // Sun: Prisoner Letter Writing // Mon: Rojava Solidarity meeting // Tues: Poetry Reading // Wed & Thurs: Shows!!!

-Friday, December 7th, 6pm:  Angry Black Girl Magical Realism / An Art Installation by Whitney Sparks / First Friday Event!

Art show for December is entitled: Angry Black Girl Magical Realism / An Art Installation by Whitney Sparks and come to SubRosa on Friday, December 7th at 6pm for the art show opening!

https://www.facebook.com/events/726526294385126/ 

and  https://www.facebook.com/wsparksworks/

Whitney Sparks is an artist mother writer and queer Black femme agitator (organizer doula herbalist yoga teacher permaculturist) who grew up in Silicon Valley and Saratoga. She has lived nomadically all around the world and earned degrees from Yale and a Masters in Fine Art from Zurich University of the Arts.

Angry Black Girl Magical Realism is an installation in three parts:

-Ancient Future ~The Noose as Umbilical Cord ~ this collection of mixed media artwork from 2018 explores the cosmic realm of ancestral knowledge as a powerful magical and/or spiritual force of Blackness that can land on Earth in healing shifting ways/waves for their descendants in the Diaspora.

-Migrating Womxn ~ portraits of people traveling in the caravan made to uplift their struggle and above all to RESIST the dehumanizing agenda that threatens their lives. ALL proceeds from these portrait sales will go directly to support the caravan refugees.

-Mixed Messages ~Collage postcards by yours truly from around the world. Get $5 off a yearly subscription to these original works of art for 2019 by ordering with the code SUBROSA via whitneysparks@gmail.com, before January 1.

-Saturday, December 8th, noon - 3pm: Really Really Free Market! No money. No trades. Everything is Free!

Really Really Free Market! No money. No trades. Everything is free. Capitalism NO! But come to the Really Really Free Market to give away your old stuff and/or get new-to-you stuff. Don't be late and be sure to check in with the organizers when you get there. https://www.facebook.com/events/322441688485264/

-Sunday, December 9th, 1 - 4pm: Prisoner Letter Writing

Each week we will highlight a specific prisoner, have info on their story and struggle, and have a list of political prisoners to write. Use this time to find a new prisoner penpal, to continue a correspondence or write to someone you know inside. We have materials and stamps but please bring paper, pens and stamps if you like. Some snacks provided.

-Monday, December 10th, 6 - 7pm: Rojava Solidarity Santa Cruz: open meeting!

SubRosa and community members are having their first meeting.  All are welcome!!! The people of Rojava are engaged in one of the most liberatory social projects of our time. Please join us for the first meeting of Rojava Solidarity Santa Cruz. Let's build a community of interest to learn more about Rojava and provide support to its people!
What began as an experiment in the wake of the collapse of Assad’s forces in northern Syria has become a stateless federation of autonomous councils and collectives. What began as a struggle for national liberation has resulted in strong militias and defense forces, the members of which participate fully in the unique social and political life of their region. What started as a fight for the Kurdish people has resulted in a regional home for Kurds, Arabs, Syrians, Arameans, Turks, Armenians, Yezidis, Chechens, and other groups. What began as the hierarchical Marxist-Leninist political party, the PKK, has evolved into what its leader Abdullah Öcalan calls “Democratic Confederalism,” which is a “system of a people without a State,” inspired by the work of Murray Bookchin. What we see in Rojava today is anarchism in practice. https://www.facebook.com/events/333492060581294/

-Tuesday, December 11th, 7 - 10pm:  Witchier: A Poetry Reading

With readings from Alirio Karina, Andrés Sandoval, Cathy Thomas, Kirstin Wagner, Madeline Lane-McKinley & Whitney DeVos.  https://www.facebook.com/events/269230770446455/

-Wednesday, December 12th, 7pm:  Closet Goth (AZ) / The Curfews / Just Dandy

Cactus Bloom Collective presents

*CLOSET GOTH (On Tour) hardcore dance-punk from Phoenix AZ https://closetgoth.bandcamp.com/ 

**THE CURFEWS (local jangly fuzz pop) https://thecurfews.bandcamp.com/releases 

***JUST DANDY (local indie pop-punk tunes) https://justdandy.bandcamp.com/ 

7$ (notaflof) // 7pm //  All Ages // Safe Space(r) //  No Alcohol No Drugs // https://www.facebook.com/events/263385227671651/

-Thursday, December 13th, 7pm:  SCHC - Go Outside // Sunday Drive // Grad Night // DPT

SCHC brings you a relaxing evening with...

*Go Outside https://gooutsideaz.bandcamp.com 

**Sunday Drive https://sunday-drive.bandcamp.com 

***Grad Nite https://gradnite.bandcamp.com/releases 

****D.P.T.  https://soundcloud.com/dpt831 

7pm /  $5.00 (notaflof) // No Drinking/Smoking // 

https://www.facebook.com/events/180650979554905/

************

AND REMINDER ABOUT REGULAR OPEN HOURS 

(Come on by and have some coffee, check-out a book or strike up a conversation)

Wednesdays, 10:30am - 2pm // Fridays, 9am - 12pm // 

& open for events & meetings

(and open on some Thursday afternoons)

UPDATE! Sat: World AIDS Day event // Sun: Caravan Support (at EXIT Santa Cruz - not SubRosa // Tues: Another Show!! // Fri: Art Show Opening! // Sat: Free Market // & More!!!

-Saturday, December 1st (today!), 5:30pm:  World AIDS Day Event

Join Santa Cruz AIDS project and The Diversity Center for a vigil, followed by a Triangle Speaker panel & discussion at SubRosa Community Space.

https://www.facebook.com/events/573813263066381/

Happening this Sunday, December 2nd, 3 - 4pm

Next Steps for Caravan Support Gathering
Meeting at 816 Pacific Ave (at EXIT Santa Cruz / NOT SubRosa). 

"Come be involved in planning what's next! // Venga a planificar que es lo que sigue!"

https://www.facebook.com/events/369627743611365/

hosted by Cosecha Santa Cruz, https://www.facebook.com/CosechaSantaCruz/

-Tuesday, December 4th, 7pm: Apes of the State / Dogtooth & Nail / Dylan Mattioda/ Grad Nite

Cactus Bloom Collective presents

*Apes of the State -- PA folk-pop-punk https://apesofthestate.bandcamp.com/ 

**Dogtooth & Nail -- Portland bluesy folk punk duo https://dogtoothandnail.bandcamp.com/album/learning-how-to-unlearn 

with locals: 

***Dylan Mattioda https://open.spotify.com/album/3MtPaK9khUn7A1MAvnLfAe?si=Dnt7uOjCQNOCiTLv826NpQ 

****Grad Nite https://gradnite.bandcamp.com/releases

https://www.facebook.com/events/1707263846051495/

-Friday, December 7th, 6pm:  Angry Black Girl Magical Realism / An Art Installation by Whitney Sparks / First Friday Event!

Art show for December is entitled: Angry Black Girl Magical Realism / An Art Installation by Whitney Sparks and come to SubRosa on Friday, December 7th at 6pm for the art show opening!

Whitney Sparks is an artist mother writer and queer Black femme agitator (organizer doula herbalist yoga teacher permaculturist) who grew up in Silicon Valley and Saratoga. She has lived nomadically all around the world and earned degrees from Yale and a Masters in Fine Art from Zurich University of the Arts.

Angry Black Girl Magical Realism is an installation in three parts:

-Ancient Future: The Noose as Umbilical Cord ~ this collection of mixed media artwork from 2018 explores the cosmic realm of ancestral knowledge as a powerful magical and/or spiritual force of Blackness that can land on Earth in healing shifting ways/waves for their descendants in the Diaspora.

-Migrating Womxn ~ portraits of people traveling in the caravan made to uplift their struggle and above all to RESIST the dehumanizing agenda that threatens their lives. ALL proceeds from these portrait sales will go directly to support the caravan refugees.

-Mixed Messages ~Collage postcards by yours truly from around the world. Get $5 off a yearly subscription to these original works of art for 2019 by ordering with the code SUBROSA via whitneysparks@gmail.com, before January 1.

https://www.facebook.com/events/726526294385126/

-Saturday, December 8th, noon - 3pm: Really Really Free Market! No money. No trades. Everything is Free! (rescheduled from Saturday December 1st)

Really Really Free Market! No money. No trades. Everything is free. Capitalism NO! But come to the Really Really Free Market to give away your old stuff and/or get new-to-you stuff. Don't be late and be sure to check in with the organizers when you get there.

************

AND REMINDER ABOUT REGULAR OPEN HOURS 

(Come on by and have some coffee, check-out a book or strike up a conversation)

Wednesdays, 10:30am - 2pm // Fridays, 9am - 12pm // 

& open for events & meetings

(and open on some Thursday afternoons)

December 2018 Angry Black Girl Magical Realism An Art Installation by Whitney Sparks

December 2018

Angry Black Girl Magical Realism

An Art Installation by Whitney Sparks

Whitney Sparks is an artist mother writer and queer Black femme agitator (organizer doula herbalist yoga teacher permaculturist) who grew up in Silicon Valley and Saratoga. She has lived nomadically all around the world and earned degrees from Yale and a Masters in Fine Art from Zurich University of the Arts.

Angry Black Girl Magical Realism is an installation in three parts:

Ancient Future: The Noose as Umbilical Cord ~ this collection of mixed media artwork from 2018 explores the cosmic realm of ancestral knowledge as a powerful magical and/or spiritual force of Blackness that can land on Earth in healing shifting ways/waves for their descendants in the Diaspora.

Migrating Womxn ~ portraits of people traveling in the caravan made to uplift their struggle and above all to RESIST the dehumanizing agenda that threatens their lives. ALL proceeds from these portrait sales will go directly to support the caravan refugees.

Mixed Messages ~Collage postcards by yours truly from around the world. Get $5 off a yearly subscription to these original works of art for 2019 by ordering with the code SUBROSA via whitneysparks@gmail.com, before January 1.

Artist’s Statement:

Ancient Future: The Noose as Umbilical Cord ~ 

Some of us ARE the daughters and the descendants of the witches and healers and midwives and sex workers who DID burn. Others present are the daughters and descendants of those who did the burning. Not just fittest who could not be burned survived.

What if … Those of us who are the descendants of the BURNED & LYNCHED were to RECLAIM those nooses? What would that mean? What would we do with the ropes? What if…

The Noose is a portal to the future:

portal to a cosmic womb space,

reclaimed and sacred

as umbilical cord, connecting us to truth.

As a dance,
As a net, what would it catch?
The knitted nooses of our ancestors, gathered back together…

Could we ever hope to haul in a different future? Different from the bleak one projected now?

To Migrating Womxn ~ My heart calls out with the cry of a nomad mother who has not felt safe in her homeland. I honor the time travelers and families fighting for a brighter future every step of the way! The Spirit of the Universe lives through you… May you be safe and comforted. 

Art show opening Friday, December 7th, 6pm