Reviewed by Afsaneh Ashley Tabaddor

What does it mean to be "White" in America today?

The American Friends Service Committee in downtown Los Angeles hosts “Colors of the Art World,” an exhibition running June 11-Nov. 12, 2009, during regular office hours, M-F, 9 am-5 pm, and 6-8 pm on Art Walk nights. "Colors" appears in the AFSC's Friends Gallery.

"Colors of the Arab" World highlights the artistic interpretations of the region’s rich cultures, diverse peoples and continued struggle for peace amid historic conflicts.  In an attempt to personalize and humanize their experiences, these artists have captured everyday life, coalesced among classical and historical imagery.

Featured artists
Paul Batou
Rev. Wilfredo Benitez-Rivera
Brian Biery
Dalah Faytrouni
Reem Hammad
Muhammadi Zuhal Karamanli
Gary Simpson
Omar Yashruti

More info.

A festival of arts helps fund a cultural center: May 23, 2009
Incredible performers dedicated to their art
Arts of the Middle East!

Reviewed by Catherine BatruniBook Cover

The processes of self-discovery, inner growth, and understanding oneself and the world are only a handful of the numerous intrinsic rewards of traveling. Every so often, something in our hearts stirs us in a kind of epiphany and encourages an abandonment of our monotonous routines. This is exactly what happens to Maliha Masood, author of "Zaatar Days, Henna Nights", when she quits her tech job in Seattle and buys a one-way ticket to the Middle East. She spends approximately a year and a half exploring Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey. What some may find unusual is that a Muslim woman-and an American at that-was sufficiently footloose to brave the Middle East alone.

Language for a New Century: your purchase benefits LCC programmingKudos to Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from the Middle East, Asia, and Beyond. This handsome new anthology (Norton 2008) celebrates the artistic and cultural forces flourishing today in the East—gathering an unprecedented selection of works by East Asian, Middle Eastern, South Asian and Central Asian poets as well as poets living in the diaspora. The volume is organized around nine themes—including childhood, politics and oppression, identity, war, homeland and love—and includes more than 400 unique voices from 59 countries. Each section of the anthology—organized by theme rather than national affiliation—is preceded by a personal essay from the editors that introduces the poetry and invokes the readers to examine their own identities in light of these powerful poems.