ArtHouse Bona

 NEWSLETTERS

January 8, 1993

INFORMATION LETTER
PAK SIJA PULLS OUT HIS LAND. WE LOOSE OUR HOUSE. CONTRACTING NEW LAND AND BUILD A NEW ARTHOUSE ?

INVITATION FOR THE 2. WORK-SHOP-FESTIVAL?

 U R G E N T

 Dear friends,

visiting you during my last journey was very encouraging, specially hearing the response in regard to the ArtHouse and our last festival. All of you supported the idea of organizing a full moon concert series and a second festival 1993 in June/July, and we could expect many participants. So we prepared an invitation card, various Foundation consider to support artists with travel grants and accepted our ArtHouse as a residence for artists to study in Bali. All this is beautiful first phase, encouraging and I am proud that our difficult work the last three years has had such a positive echo. We should start a second phase, maybe three or five years.

And now the sad part:
PAK SIJA PULLS OUT HIS LAND. WE LOOSE OUR HOUSE. I informed Sija about the result of my journey to the West. The idea of having a full moon concert every month, inviting performances from different village, made him furious. He cannot understand that this program, sponsored by us, would make Bona a place where good authentic village art would be shown for free to locals and if the rumors spread to foreigners on village level. His group would be performing too. He is a strongly objecting this and will not give his permission.

Further I informed him about the planned festival this year. Here too, his answer: 'I will not agree to any of your activities if they are not conducted by me and my group SANGGAR PARIPURNA.' Contradicting our agreement that he would be a partner and join our efforts to create a free house, not owned by any artistic group, foreign or local, he claims our ArtHouse to be the house of his group, and only if we promote 100% his group SANGGAR PARIPURNA, he will consider to let us continue to use his land. He says clearly now, that he expects me to hand him all donations given and he will supply me with a 10% commission fee, so I can stay here in Bona to the end of my life. He sees me like a tour guide. I am sorry I can not agree. I wrote letters to our friends in Jakarta to ask for their support. Only they can convince Sija and save our ArtHouse since they have legal and emotional grounds to enter discussion.

Shortly after a whole series of action started, initiated by Sija, leading to the end of our ArtHouse Bona, (detailed dairy can be obtained). Dec 13, Sija gives us six days to move from his land. The villagers are on our side. They say, 'why did you trust Sija's word and did not make a contract?' I answer, 'he is a dalang, he should be speaking the truth.' They laugh, and say, Sija can remove us from his land but he cannot kick us out from the village. They say that we have till now only helped and that our program is good. In the village appears a new awareness amongst the younger generation, partially because of us, to control the dark and corrupt activities of the older generation. The importance of our existence here is slowly visible. We have started something which is larger than our personal problem with Sija, helped by a transition of generations. The idea of having foreign artists guest entering the village and sharing education is highly appreciated by the locals and Bali's government. The conflict with Sija exposes a long existing problem, the people here have to suffer. His nearly sick obsession to control has lamed the initiative of the younger generation over years. Now they slowly become aware of it and start in their shy way to protest against him. We have been very useful and we could be even more useful, if we want to survive this ordeal. But why do we, or better why do I have to get involved in village politics? Why are many smart young man consulting me? Why are the corrupted people here my enemies and the socially oriented my silent friends? Is this part of our function in this intercultural work? On Dec 19. we moved everything valuable to Negara. The village watched silently sad my departure from Bona. I prepared a letter in which I sign the house over to Sija and send it. Between Christmas and New year finally many friends from Jakarta came to save our house. But it was to too late.

CONTRACTING NEW LAND AND BUILD A NEW ARTHOUSE ? I went back to Bona, sleeping on the street with my dog, protected by friendly villagers and Pak Kota, pondering if we should continue or not. Three years of building this Center and creating a first festival was hard, but fun and successful. Shall we contract another land, with a legal contract in Bona and build a new house designed to accommodate guests, talk, eat, and try our works?

The land, which has been offered by Pak Dupa, a farmer, is more beautiful than the last one, same size and it will cost appr. $ 3000 for ten years, maybe less. We can build a first part to fulfill the needs for the festival for another $ 5000. This would show the villagers who have supported us over the last three years and specially the last five weeks, that we are serious and honest in our work. Let's say we want to run for another five years or so, and then newly evaluate our idea.

INVITATION FOR THE 2. WORK-SHOP-FESTIVAL ? Can we risk to continue our activities and invite for the 2. Workshop festival? During the last week Sutan Takdir Alishjabana considers helping us with his Art Center in Toyabungka. We will meet in Jakarta soon. The only thing he is interested in is ART AND THE FUTURE. His participation would greatly enhance our possibilities, but it means we will be meeting inside the mountain Batur, not in Bona?

We would have all the facilities there, rooms with bath, a stage, an auditorium and a huge garden. Instead of looking for new land, just think of this possibility. Another festival will show a way and help to redefine our relationship to Sija. The old house is still ours. We have to see it as a place, for music and performance, like a theater. If guests want to stay there it will be helpful, but it will be Sija taking care of them and their funds.

What else can I say: I thank you for your support, I ask you for understanding having failed to see the real mind of our balinese partner and I hope we continue together.

Please send me your opinion by FAX.

With the wishes for 1993 and thank you very much for your help

 

PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINION

Pak Sija pulled the land from under our house. Our activities have been stopped. What shall we do? We have existed three years with a good and growing reputation, despite our difficult conditions. If we continue it should be with better conditions. Please answer these questions and send me your opinion by latest FEBRUARY 5. 93 before I go to Jakarta. Cross your choice.

 
CONTRACTING NEW LAND AND BUILD A NEW ARTHOUSE ? We would like to continue the ArtHouse in Bona? YES NO

We would like to continue the ArtHouse somewhere else? YES NO

We contract another land in Bona and build a new house? YES NO

We rent a house in Bona for some time and see? YES NO We join with Toyabungkah? YES NO

Other then above:

INVITATION FOR THE 2. WORK-SHOP-FESTIVAL ?

 

 

 

 

6. newsletter

  

We hold the Festival (June/July) in Bona? YES NO

We consider to collaborate with the 'International Association for Art and the Future' in Toyabungkah? YES NO

We hold one Festival (June/July) in Toyabungkah? YES NO

We cancel this years Festival? YES NO

Other then above

 

FOR INDONESIA: Ray Sahetapy, Dolorosa Sinaga, Pak Boediardjo, Pia Alishjabana, Ardjuna Hutagalung and members of CONDET and ONCOR

FOR JAPAN: Matsuoka Kazuko, Nakajima Yukari, Ito Yazue, Rick Emmert, Naito Minako, Asakura Setzu, Yoshiyuki Kazuko, Natzu Nakajima, Kayko Sato, Somei, Shin, Yoko Watanabe

FOR GERMANY: Gunther Phillips, Fred Maire, Manuel Lutgenhorst, Doris Jensen, Reinhardt Zapka

FOR AMERICA: Mike Peters, Beate Gordon, Steve Gorn, Richard Lanier, Lou Zeldig, Phillip Corner, Odet, Bonnie S. Stein

FOR KOREA: Sohn Jin-Chaek, Kook Soo-Mo, Park Bum Hoon, Yoon Moon-Sik, Yoo Duk Hyung, Greta Lee. Kang Yoon Hyuk

 

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