Cambodian Masters, Stories Told...

See the multimedia introduction piece of this project at this link.

This project features 7 Cambodian masters in their specific art.
Meet each of them through a multimedia portrait (photos + interview) at the following links:

Socheatah Ung

Ny Jewell

Masady Mani

Viphas Eng

Phutyrith Sek

Chum Ngek

Kantya Nou

Archival pictures in this stories are from photographers Dominique de Rivaz, Jean-Jacques Kurz and Robert Trippett whose contribution to this project and multimedia pieces are greatly appreciated, thanks a lot!


From the Cambodian refugee camps of the Thai border in 1979 to America today, there’s still thousands of stories that must be told.
All the confirmed artists that I have met at the Cambodian temple of Silver Spring, Maryland these last two years have compelling stories… Most of them have fled Cambodia while the Vietnamese took over the country and the Khmer Rouge loosing it. Several ended up meeting together in Kao-I-Dang refugee camp where they were eager to bring back the Cambodian living arts alive. After a few months, a group of 30 families of artists was admitted in the United States, among the first Cambodian refugees accepted in the US. They settled in Maryland and started a new life in the early 80s. For the last 30 years now they have challenged the odds, going back to school, looking for jobs to support their family and raising their children. Still they continued practicing their art, sharing the tradition to a younger generation of Cambodian Americans.

The Graduate, College Park, Maryland

See a multimedia version of this story at this link.

 

Jamie Lok was born in the United States in 1984. Friday May 22, 2009 is one day Jamie will remember in her life, as this is the day of the ceremony and celebration of her graduation with an MPH, a Master degree in Public Health…
I joined Jamie and her family in Silver Spring, Maryland. Both Jamie’s parents are Cambodian natives . Her mother - Horn Lok (pictured below left) - arrived in the US in 1980 with Jamie’s grandmother and other siblings… Jamie’s father - Kimline Lok (pictured above) - has lived in the United States much longer as he arrived there as a student in 1972. He is today retired.

Together in the family car, with Jamie’s grandmother - Hauv You Orn - and her aunt - Suthy Ngan (pictured above center) - we drove to College Park, University of Maryland, more precisely to the graduation ceremony of the School of Public Health. Nearly 30 years after her mother had to flee her country devastated by the KR regime, and after 7 years of hard studies, Jamie is graduating with a Master of Public Health.

After graduation, Jamie will continue her research in substance abuse/addiction and working with minority communities. She plans to pursue a doctorate in public health in the near future.

The Rehearsals, Silver Spring, Maryland

See a multimedia version of this story at this link.

These last weeks - and still now - at Vatt Buddhikarama, the Cambodian Buddhist temple of Washington DC area in Silver Spring, Maryland, artists (dancers, musicians) have been busier than ever. The Cambodian New Year festivities of mid-April are always a big time for the Cambodian Buddhist Society Culture Group.

But this year, an extra project is bringing the whole troupe a bigger challenge: a fundraising performance to help fund new teachers and art programs at the temple is planned at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center of University of Maryland College Park on June 27. The performance – titled “Agangamasor” - will tell the prelude to the “Reamker”, the Cambodian adaptation of the Ramayana, the famous Indian epic tale about the gods and struggles between good and evil.

Renowned Masters of Dance or Music, skilled adults or teenagers who have learned and practiced for many years, and children who are at the early stage of their practice, they all come every Sunday (sometime doubling on the Saturday as well) to rehearse, get better week after week, and most of all be ready for the New Years festivities or for their big performance of June 27.