International Artists and Activists Discuss Burma’s Fight for Freedom

February 14, 2009; Beacon, NY – A panel of 5 international experts will come together at the Mount Beacon Fine Art Gallery in Beacon, NY,  to discuss the plight of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a key political figure who has been under house arrest in Myanmar (formerly Burma) for the past 19 years over her bid for political freedom.

Panel speakers include Maura Stephens, professional journalist and former Newsweek general editor

Stacie Freudenberg, photojournalist and activist who’s work has been featured by such major media outlets as the New York Times and USA Today

Nay Tin Myint, former leader of Aung San Suu Kyi’s security detail who was later imprisoned and tortured by Myanmar officials and today is the Secretary NLD (USA)

Kyi May Kaung, PhD. Economist, poet listed in American Anthology of Poetry, artist and Burmese exile

Jeffrey Hellman, independent filmmaker and photographer (World Dharma)

The panel is under the umbrella of a coalition of more than seventy different artists on six continents, called Mirca Art Group-FREEDOM&ART and is designed to raise awareness about the book for sale and traveling exhibit also called FREEDOM&ART whose proceeds are being donated to Amnesty International on behalf of Aung San Suu Kyi.  Nearly twenty of these international artists will make an appearance at the panel and reception following.

Panelists will engage in a question-and-answer format dialogue whose topics range from the interaction between freedom and art in human societies to why Americans should become engaged in the plight of Aung San Suu Kyi and how it will ultimately affect the international playing field. Members of the Audience will also be allowed submit questions for the panelists. 

Carla Goldberg, Executive Coordinator for the U.S. branch of FREEDOM&ART and Senior Editor of its namesake book, has worked tirelessly to bring these panelists and artists together from across the country and around the world. Says Goldberg, “with Rape used as a Weapon of War on a grand scale, 70,000 child soldiers, a million refugees, and the legally elected leaders in 1990 through a fair and Democratic process denied the right to rule their own country by the military Junta, the Burmese problem is a humanitarian problem. The Mirca Art Group presents a panel discussion, and art exhibition to inform the general public of the deplorable situations in Burma and also seeks to give everyday citizens information on how each and every one of us can help rather than feel helpless.”

FREEDOM&ART was born out of artmesh, a social media website that allows artists to network via forums and groups, similar to the way users interact on social mega-site Facebook.com.  The plight of Aung San Suu Kyi became a rallying cause for a core group of artists who banded together across international boarders to use their artwork as a peaceful weapon on her behalf.

The FREEDOM&ART Panel Discussion will start at 4 pm on February 14 and last approximately 2 hours, followed by a casual reception.  Signed copies of the book FREEDOM & ART will be available for sale.