“VBB is a place to be, a place to hear, a much-needed sanctuary for artists’ expressions, for the   evolution of consciousness—a sanctuary for the collective.
—poet Loueva Smith

Dear fellow artist and community member,

On November 7, 2009, VBB’s 2009-2010 season opener, a living room art production Honoring Dissent / Descent, took place at my home in Houston’s East End. The show honored my activist father Dr. Mohammad Sarwar, who passed away in Pakistan earlier this year, and Daniel Bustamante, an active East End organizer. The production included film, installations and photography by ten Pakistani and Houston artists, and drew a stream of more than 350 people. There was food, music and conversation between a rich mix of community from different corners of Houston. For me, it was exciting to have the production take place in my home in a format much like one used by my parents when they hosted poetry readings, dance shows and music performances in Karachi.

And last week, VBB celebrated its 10-year anniversary, A Decade of Dissent, also in the East End at the Houston Institute for Culture, where we exhibited film and photography by artists who have documented VBB’s journey over the last decade. We shared cake, accepted a proclamation signed by Mayor Bill White on behalf of the City of Houston, and listened to music by three bands.

Today, as I reflect on VBB’s history, and all that VBB has accomplished over its first decade, I find myself rejuvenated. In 1999, when I wrote a poem protesting events taking place in Pakistan and was galvanized by five women friends, poets and artists to create a grassroots arts organization, I had no idea that a decade later we would become a recognized force in Houston and beyond, be known for bringing communities together, and receive funding to continue our mission: to cross borders, sustain dialogue and incite social justice through art. It is a testimony to the hospitality of Houston that we tackle difficult—often controversial—issues through our productions, and still receive support for our work.

As we begin our tenth season, VBB has two series of arts productions: living room art, through which we create art installations in people’s living rooms around Houston, and which, over the next few years, we hope to expand to other cities in the US and beyond; and east end live art, shows that are curated by a committee of women artists / activists. The series are interlinked. They bring together disparate neighborhoods and communities, and tackle social justice through art. We continue to remain committed to empowering youth by offering teacher-training workshops that offer educators avenues to have a voice, and train at-risk students to perform in all our productions.

Our work would not be possible without your support. If each of you contributes $30, $60, $125 or more, VBB could continue bringing marginalized issues to the forefront independent of funding sources that place constraints on spending.  In return for your support, we promise to persistently and fearlessly speak out on issues that raise difficult questions and bring different communities together.

Peace,

Sehba Sarwar, Founding Director

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