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Middle East Diasporic

I Am a Postcard

Subtitle: 
Artist Rheim Alkadhi shares a few gems in her colonial collection


I have been known to collect postcards of a particular variety. The typical postcard in my collection is made of paper, measures five and a half inches long by three and a half inches wide, and dates around the first few decades of the twentieth century. All of my postcards depict women of colonial North Africa and the Middle East.

Kiosk, Alternative Iranian Rock Band, Performs at the El Rey Theatre

Date/Time: 
Nov 16 2008 8:00pm
Price: 
$50, $75
Where: 
El Rey Theatre
5515 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90036
Kiosk at the ReyKiosk at the ReyKiosk is known as an Iranian Blues/Rock/Jazz band, established by a few friends in a basement in Iran, now all living abroad. The band members are Arash Sobhani (guitar & vocals), Ali Kamali (bass guitar), Ardalan Payvar (keyboards), Babak Khiavchi (guitar), Shahrouz Molaei (drums). Kiosk is often noted for its biting critical social and political, but humorous lyrics.

This month the band releases their third album, “Global Zoo” or “Bagh e Vahsh e Jahani.”

The new album features ten tracks varying in music style from Gypsy Jazz to Waltz and from Argentinean Tango to Blues. Although the music of the album is a big departure from the Underground Blues/Rock soun of the previous two Kiosk albums, the lyrics of Arash Sobhani (lead vocalist , songwriter and guitarist) continue the social commentary on a wide variety of issues affecting the daily lives of Iranians all over the world.

Kiosk: Rocking the California Casbah

Subtitle: 
The San Francisco-based alternative Iranian band performs at the Skirball
By Babak Nahid

Kiosk (photos by Babak Khiavhi)Kiosk (photos by Babak Khiavhi) In the past decade or more, Iranian artists in film, art and music have been working to shed their derivative, Western poses for a more homegrown mash-up of artistic and cultural styles that reflects contemporary Iranian realities.

Kiosk, a San Francisco-based band from Tehran, is a product of this movement, and yet it's one of the first Iranian rock bands with a more universal appeal that speaks not only to Iranians at home and abroad, but also cuts across cultural borders in ways that only music can.

Cultural Crossroads of the Levant

Subtitle: 
boutique press publishes first English translation of 1949 Israeli novel on the Nakba

By Rachel Donadio

From the war in Iraq to the rumblings in Iran to the heightening tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, there are few bright spots in the Middle East these days. But one boutique Jerusalem press has cleared a space for conversation in a contentious region. Started in 1998 by a husband-and-wife team, Ibis Editions has published English translations of works in Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, French, German and Judeo-Spanish—all relating to the Levant.

4th Annual God Loves Beauty Festival, an Arts & Interfaith Initiative

Date/Time: 
Nov 12 2008 7:00pm
Price: 
Free to the public. Some events $15.00
Where: 
Wilshire Boulevard Temple
3663 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90010
info 323.842.2869
Temple tel 213.388.2401

The 4th Annual God Loves Beauty Festival, Nov. 12-20, 2008

“Art Knows No Borders” Features Mideastern Performances Benefiting Doctors Without Borders

Date/Time: 
Nov 18 2008 7:00pm
Price: 
Suggested donation $20
Where: 
The New Safari Sam's
448 S. Main Street
In downtown LA, 90013.

No Borders: by Anna-Marie Lopez de LeonNo Borders: by Anna-Marie Lopez de LeonThis eclectic event benefitting Doctors Without Borders includes a silent art auction with work by dozens of contributing artists including Anna-Marie Lopez de Leon, and performances by the Middle Eastern-jazz fusion group Saffron Parade Arabesque Band, Tehran’s heavy metal band TarantisT, belly dancers, deejays and much more. Pic Vicious and Killsonic will perform later in the soirée.

ARPA International Film Festival Oct. 24-26 at the Egyptian

Date/Time: 
Oct 24 2008 7:00pm - Oct 26 2008 11:00pm
Price: 
Where: 
Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
For complete film schedule and tickets call 323.663.1882.


From October 24-26 in Hollywood, Arpa International Film Festival will screen 50 films from 21 nations, including Armenia, Australia, Canada, China, Congo, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tobago, Trinidad, Turkey, UK, and Venezuela.

Arpa International Film Festival
, which goes green in 2008, is produced by Arpa Foundation for Film, Music, and Art (AFFMA), a non-profit organization dedicated to artists exploring identity, multi-culturalism, war, exile, genocide and global empathy.

Muslim/Arab Coverage in News & Entertainment: What Effect Does It Have on Election 2008?

Date/Time: 
Oct 23 2008 6:30pm
Price: 
Free to the public
Where: 
Los Angeles Press Club
Steve Allen Theater
4773 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood (across from Barnsdall park just west of Vermont)
ample free parking in lot, enter on Berendo St.

Against the backdrop of the current presidential election, this diverse panel will give an overview of the portrayals, often negative, of Muslims and Arabs in mainstream media and what circumstances and issues help perpetuate those portrayals. It will further seek to shed light on current efforts to engage more realistic Muslim characters, storylines and news coverage, bring depth and balance to a faith and people frequently misunderstood in the media, and expose efforts meant to characterize political candidates in an “extremist” manner.

Natacha Atlas weds Arab electronica, jazz and roots music

Subtitle: 
the sound of the diaspora

Best of Natacha Atlas: your purchase benefits LCC programmingBest of Natacha Atlas: your purchase benefits LCC programmingNatacha Atlas has long been one of our favorite Arab fusion artists, though it’s been several years since we’ve seen her in Los Angeles. The London-based singer was born in Belgium of Egyptian and Moroccan heritage. She sings in Arabic, French and English. Natacha cut her teeth singing with the Transglobal Underground and has more than half a dozen solo albums to her credit. She’s also served as Good Will Ambassador for the United Nations and has always been an outspoken peace advocate.

12th Annual Arab Film Festival Returns for 2nd Year to L.A.

Date/Time: 
Oct 24 2008 7:00pm
Price: 
Where: 
Writers Guild Theatre
UCLA
USC

Arab Film FestivalArab Film Festival12th Annual Arab Film Festival (16-28 October 2008) Features Screeings at the Writers Guild Theatre, UCLA and USC, Oct. 24-26, 2008.

The Arab Film Festival screens films from and about the Arab World that provide realistic perspectives on Arab people, culture, art, history and politics. Visit the Arab Film Festival site for complete schedule of the following selections (not all films screen in Los Angeles):