‘Freedom of information 2008’ event is scheduled

MAKAWAO - Artists across the nation and one here on Maui will perform on Wednesday in the "freedom of information 2008," a performance, protest and ritual in response to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Maui performance will be held from midnight Tuesday to midnight Wednesday, New Year's Eve at the Makawao Union Church community hall.

It will end with the ringing in of the new year. It is free and open to the public.

Maui's performer will be Brianna Skellie, who was born and raised on the island and who has recently returned to the island after receiving her bachelor of fine arts degree in dance from Scripps College.

Performances will be done all over the country, and artists will be continuously moving in one room while blindfolded and wearing earplugs.

This is intended as a contemplative act of solidarity with those displaced by armed conflict.

The act reflects the dislocation and disorientation of those who must continuously be on the move because of the threat of violence, which includes those fighting in the wars, an announcement of the event said.

Skellie is scheduled to be the only performer in Hawaii. There are 31 other artists across the country.

Miguel Gutierrez originally performed the freedom of information alone on Dec. 31, 2001, in response to the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.

This time, he is inviting artists from across the country to create a nationwide synchronous event.

For more information, see the Web site freedom ofinformation2008.blogs pot.com or contact Skellie at bri.skellie@gmail.com.