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Theater and Human Rights
A public talk by Iraqi playwright
AMIR AL-AZRAKI
University of Massachusetts, Boston Campus
September 27th, 2011 at 9:30 AM
Ryan Lounge, McCormack Building 3rd Floor
The Odysseus Project and the Joiner Center for the Study of War and Social Consequences at UMass Boston have invited playwright Amir Al-Azraki to give a public talk at the University of Massachusetts, Boston Campus.
Born in Basra, Amir Al-Azraki received his BA from University of Basra and his MA from Baghdad University and he is now a PhD candidate in Theatre Studies at York University in Toronto, Canada. During the first years of the Iraq War (2003-2006), Mr. Al-Azraki , in addition to teaching English drama at the University of Basra, worked as a fixer and translator for various international news outlets such as The New York Times and The Dallas Morning News, later working for Al Mirbad TV and Radio run by the BBC World Service Trust. In the last three years Mr. Al-Azraki has taught modern and Western Drama at York University as he works on his dissertation “The Representation of Political Violence in Contemporary Plays About Iraq” and continues to develop a collaboration between the University of Basra, the Central School of Speech and Drama, and the University of London on “Transforming the Learning Environment Through Forum Theatre: Developing a Basra University Model.” Mr. Al-Azraki is also a performer and playwright and he has presented papers at F.O.O.T., Performing Back: A Conference on Post-Colonial Theatre. Among his plays are: Waiting for Gilgamesh:Scenes from Iraq, Stuck, Notorious Women, Lysistrata in Iraq, Home Woes, and Judgement Day.
PREMIER: PORTLAND, OREGON
Coffee with Cardamom
Curated by Andrea (Ray) Boyle
–PRESS RELEASE–
Solo Exhibit: “Can You See Me Now? (Part One): Reflections on Palestine” by Sarah Farahat
Group Exhibit: “Mirrors: A Middle Eastern/ American Collaboration”
Artists: Farooq Hassan, Marwan Nahle, Becca Bernstein, Jim Lommasson, Amira Dughri,
Rolla Selbak, Sarah Farahat, Andrea Boyle, Baher Bhutti, and Beth Ann Short.PLACE II: Settlement Galleries @ Pioneer Square Mall
700 SW 5th Ave, 3rd Floor of Atrium Bldg.
July 16- August 14, 2011Opening Reception: July 16, 6:00- 9:00 pm
Gallery Hours: Thurs-Sun, Noon- 6:00 pm
Special Events: Doors at 6:30pm, Begin at 7:00 pmCoffee with Cardamom: Curator Andrea Boyle presents a collaborative project titled, “Mirrors,” with a spotlight solo exhibition of Sarah Farahatʼs, “Can You See Me Now? (Part 1): Reflections on Palestine”
“Mirrors,” is a collaborative art-as-process piece exploring relationships of identity, responsibility and community between Middle Eastern-born and American-born artists within the current global context of the political uprisings in the Middle East. Using art as the common language, these artists will explore their relationships with one another by participating in weekly art therapy sessions, current topic conversations, and creating a collaborative body of multi-media artwork. As a process piece, “Mirrors,” examines the importance of artists, inspirations, and ideologies coming together in a space of reflection; in that, only a portion of the show features completed collaboration pieces, the remainder of the show focuses on pieces in process, as the artistic dialogue and weekly meetings continue in the gallery space. The show is designed to invite the audience to participate as both observer and subject, reflecting on their own insights on identity, responsibility, and community in the larger global context.
“Can You See Me Now? (Part One): Reflections on Palestine” by Sarah Farahat is a RACC sponsored solo exhibition culminating two years of travel, art making, and organizing efforts. The show contains photographs taken in the West Bank and Jerusalem, an ongoing collaboration between the artist and her deceased grandfather, sculptural reflections on Gaza and organized weekly events featuring internationally known academics, artists, and activists. All events are free and open to the public. For a full calendar of events, please visit: http://sarahfarahat.wordpress.com/events
You can listen to Eva Lake’s Art Focus interview on KBOO with Andrea Boyle and Sarah Farahat here: http://kboo.fm/node/29710
July 20th: Journalism and New Media in the Middle East: Lecture and Discussion with Stanford Fellow Jenka Soderburg and Palestinian Journalist Saed Bannoura
July 30th,:First Hand: A Night of Storytelling from the West Bank and Gaza.
August 3rd: From South Africa to Palestine: The shaping of a movement through Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions
From the press release by Arte East:
Theatre Without Borders in partnership with Golden Thread Productions and in collaboration with ArteEast and Hybrid Theatre Works announce the New York launch of a new initiative centered on Theatre and Conflict, an exploration of live theatre in harsh political climates. The event features a staged reading of work by Amir Al-Azraki & Shahid Nadeem, followed by a panel discussion with Amir Al-Azraki, Shahid Nadeem and Waleed Shamil in conversation with ArteEast Artistic Director Barrak Alzaid.
Monday, June 20 2011 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: The Barrow Group
312 West 36th Street 3rd floor
New York, NY 10018June 12-19 – Los Angeles, 2011 TCG National Theatre Conference
June 15th – presentation at the Levantine Cultural Center, LA
June 20-26 – New York City, hosted by ArteEast and Hybrid Theatre Works
July – Prof. Shamil will travel to Vermont participate in a month-long training workshop at Bread & Puppet TheaterDr. Waleed Shamil (Baghdad, Iraq) has been Assistant Professor at the Department of Theater Arts at the College of Fine Arts at Baghdad University since 1992 and was Head of the Department from 2003-2005 where he supervises productions at the College of Fine Arts as well as reviews MA and PhD theses…
Amir Al-Azraki (Toronto, Canada) Born in Basra, Amir Al-Azraki received his BA from University of Basra and his MA from Baghdad University and he is now a PhD candidate in Theatre Studies at York University in Toronto, Canada… and continues to develop a collaboration between the University of Basra, the Central School of Speech and Drama, and the University of London on “Transforming the Learning Environment Through Forum Theatre: Developing a Basra University Model.” Mr. Al-Azraki is also a performer and playwright and he has presented papers at F.O.O.T., Performing Back: A Conference on Post-Colonial Theatre. Among his plays are: Waiting for Gilgamesh:Scenes from Iraq, Stuck, Notorious Women, Lysistrata in Iraq, Home Woes, and Judgement Day.
Shahid Nadeem (Lahore, Pakistan), Pakistan’s leading playwright and director, is renowned for his commitment to human rights and peace and for his bold theatrical subjects embodied in his work as the Executive Director, founder and in-house playwright for Ajoka Theatre based in Lahore…
Media Contacts, Sponsoring Organizations:
Hybrid Theatre Works is a growing international network of theatre artists, scholars, and activists that create innovative events and programming at the intersection of theatre and peace-building. We are committed to: international exchange, conflict transformation, and social justice through performance.
Contact: J.J. El-Far & Tracy Cameron Francis, Co-Artistic Directors
hybridtheatreworks@gmail.comTheatre Without Borders is an informal, volunteer, virtual community that shares information and builds connections between individuals and institutions interested in international theatre exchange. www.theatrewithoutborders.com.
Contact: Roberta Levitow, Co-Founder and Director
rlevitow@theatrewithoutborders.comGolden Thread Productions is dedicated to exploring Middle Eastern cultures and identities as expressed around the globe. We present alternative perspectives of the Middle East by developing and producing theatrical work that is aesthetically varied and politically and viscerally engaging, while supporting countless Middle Eastern artists in all phases of their careers. Our work builds cultural bridges by engaging the community in an active dialogue. Our mission is to make the Middle East a potent presence on the American stage and also to make theatre a treasured cultural experience within Middle Eastern communities.
Contact: Torange Yeghiazarian, Artistic Director
torange@goldenthread.orgArteEast presents the works of contemporary artists from the Middle East, North Africa and their diasporas to a wide audience in order to foster a more complex understanding of the regions’ arts and cultures and to encourage artistic excellence. Through public events, exhibitions, film screenings, a dynamic virtual gallery and a resource-rich website, ArteEast supports artists and filmmakers by providing the platforms necessary for them to showcase groundbreaking and significant work. We also give the public the opportunity to learn more about and develop an appreciation for the talent of these established and emerging artists.
www.arteeast.org
Contact: Barrak Alzaid, Artistic Director
balzaid@arteeast.org; 646 375 5222This visit was supported in part by U.S. Consulate General in Lahore, Pakistan.
States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.
- Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CCRC)
The Iraqi Children’s Art Exchange has organized 16 mural projects created by children and supporting adults, working in communities across America, and in Baghdad, Iraq and Amman, Jordan.
We worked through churches, independent media centers, international NGOs, art galleries, museums, and community organizations. The mural projects created a unique opportunity for Iraqi and American youth to express themselves across the barriers of language, culture and politics. Painting in response to the question, How will they know us? young artists used their creative talents to speak on their own behalf, describing themselves and their communities, sharing their cultural and historical identity across the deep divide created by years of war.
The works created by these children will be on display at the Northampton Center for the Arts, which will also host a series of events including readings, film screenings and discussions. I had the pleasure of meeting Claudio Lefko, founder of the Iraqi Children’s Art Exchange, at the Transcultural Exchange conference in March. I have been looking forward to this exhibition ever since.
Having the Life of Our Times:
A community response to children, war and the possibilities for peace
Wednesday, June 22 – Friday, June 24
The following events all take place at the Northampton Center for the Arts, 17 New South Street, Northampton.
Wednesday, June 22, 5:00 p.m.
Having the Life of Our Times
The main exhibit of acrylic-on-canvas murals
Two Artist, Two Cultures, Two Views
Exhibit by Thamir Dawood and Harriet Diamond. Runs June 20 – July 31.
Wednesday, June 22, 7:00 p.m.
And Their “Views” Will Be Given Due Consideration
A panel discussion reflecting on the murals, children’s art, and Iraqi history and culture
Thursday, June 23, 12:00 noon, West Gallery
Gallery Talk with artists Thamer Dawood and Harriet Diamond
Thursday, June 23, 7:30 p.m.
Aftermath
A staged reading of a play written and produced by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, with talk-back
Friday, June 24, 12:00 noon, West Gallery
Noon time discussion: Iraq and the US, The Possibilities for Reconciliation
Friday, June 24, 7:30 p.m.
An Evening of Dance, Music, Readings and Spoken Word Performance
No Place Called Home …This wasn’t supposed to be a love story - A New Play with Music, Written and Performed By Kim Schultz
Read more about the artists and their work here: http://iraqivoices.intersectionsinternational.org/the-art/
Study on the theme of the hanging odes: Al-Mu'allaqat, acrylic on canvas, 140x118cm, 1980
Profile: Azzawi, Blessed Tigris, fibre-glass sculpture, at the British Museum
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/on_loan_from/d/dia_al-azzawi,_blessed_tigris,.aspx
Dia talks about why it is important to mount the exhibition of Iraqi artists at The Station Museum of Contemporary Art in the fall of 2008. Documentary in progress supported by Artists Rescue Mission and The Station Museum.
The first Iraqi woman artist to have a solo exhibit in Baghdad, al-Attar has exhibited throughout Europe and the US, as well as in Iraq. She was born in Baghdad, studied at the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and at the University of Baghdad. She left Baghdad and settled in the UK in the 1970s. There, she received a graduate degree in printmaking from Wimbledon School of Art in London and another degree in printmaking from the Central School of Art and Design in London.
Links:
http://www.gagallery.com/Artists_map.html&cur=1&artid=20
http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/wordintoart/word-into-art/artists/attar.html
http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/arabic/Iraqi-Artists.html
