Caged Freedom

Photo by Jef Aerosol

Nobel Peace Prize winner and activist Aung San Suu Kyi, a key political figure in her native Myanmar (formerly Burma) has been under house arrest for the last 18 years. She entered into politics following the teachings of Buddhism and Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent protest, while seeking the establishment of a democratic government for Myanmar. In September of 1988 Suu Kyi founded the National League for Democracy and was placed on house arrest a year later. In 1990 she won the position of Prime Minister of Burma; however, she was unable to assume her role because of her detention by the military junta.

On Mahatma Gandhi's birthday; October 2nd, the Mirca Art Group will release Freedom & Art, their landmark collaboration of international artists to raise awareness of Suu Kyi's plight. The book will be released to the public through an event called “Set a Book Free"; all featured artists - including Ladies Lotto's Melissa Steckbauer - will place a copy donated by Internet-based publishing site Blurb.com in a public location to raise interest.

After the release to the public the book will be available at Amnesty International and Amazon.com. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to Amnesty International to support efforts being made on behalf of Suu Kyi. A traveling exhibit featuring a selection of the art published in the book is also planned to open in 2009.