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Through July 23—Sharq Reception/Exhibit, Rudik Ovsepyan, Abstractions: Yerevan, Berlin, Los Angeles

Nahid Massoud and Robert Rosenstone present Rudik Ovsepyan's Abstractions at their Pacific Palisades gallery.

Rudik Ovsepya's recent works may best be described as “passionate abstraction.” His mixed media canvases are as contemporary as the headlines in the multilingual newspapers from which he clips words, phrases, and pictures to mix into his richly layered oil surfaces. The result are mysterious yet compelling works, in which meaning is as fragmented as is our contemporary world. Yet a touch of history haunts his canvases. You can see it in the stamps from many countries that nestle in the newspapers, the vibrant yet dark colors appropriate to a century of conflict, and to the tragic history of Armenia, the land in which Ovsepyan was born.

Raised and educated in Yerevan, Rudo attended art school and, after graduation, worked there for some years before moving to Moscow. When the Soviet Union collapsed, he took his family to freedom in Germany, where he showed widely over the course of a decade, developing a considerable following among German art lovers. Longing for a climate bright and temperate as that of his native land, Rudo emigrated to California a few years ago.

Ovsepyan has had a number of solo exhibitions in both Russia and Germany, and has been part of group shows in five different lands – in Yerevan, Moscow, Berlin, Kiel, Munster, Alkman, Hollywood, and most recently, at Bergamot Station in West Los Angeles. Works of his are owned in many private and public collections, including that of the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, UNESCO in Switzerland, the Museum of Modern Art in Yerevan, and the Sparkasse Museums in Munster and Schleswig-Holstein.

Exhibition June 25-July 23 by appointment. SHARQ, 537 Arbramar Ave., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. RSVPs highly recommended. Call 310.454.6826 or email Nahid Massoud or Robert Rosenstone.


July 8 (Fri), 8 pm—Cheb Khaled, King of Raï, and Friends, at Grand Performances

For millions, raï musician Khaled is not just an artist, he's a phenomenon. The Algerian-born but Paris-based musician has led the raï music movement ever since his 1992 Don Was-produced hit single "Didi." He is an artist who has blended various western styles into raï—a form of music originally birthed on the streets of the Algernian port city Oran. His new CD, a return to raï's traditional roots, is hailed by critics as his best work. Grammy-award winning producer Don Was, Was Not Was and other guests join Khaled on stage for an evening of extraordinary music.

California Plaza. 350 S. Grand St. Free to the public. For more about Khaled, visit the Grand Performances page on Khaled.


July 10 (Sun), 6 pm—"Sulha Raivolution: Concert in the Key of Peace" at the Los Angeles Bahai Center

Vibrant Raï/North African groove with MC Rai featuring Omar Fadel, Anis Seheri and Nissim Malul. Jazz/R & B/Latin & world music grooves with Glenda Benevides and the World Tribe. Special guest artist Yuval Ron.

Sulha is an indigenous, Middle Eastern way of reconciliation, among Arabs/Muslims, Jews and others. This concert event includes people of all faiths and cultural traditions, and is an outgrowth of the Sulha Peace Project. A portion of all concert proceeds benefit Sulha's work in Israel/Palestine.

Levantine Cultural Center at the Los Angeles Bahai Center, 5755 Rodeo Road, Los Angeles CA 90016, at La Cienega (across from Target). DIRECTIONS: Enter parking lot from La Cienega, just north from the Rodeo Rd/La Cienega corner, across the street from Target store. Entrance to building is NOT on Rodeo Road; enter the center from the BACK of the building thorugh the parking lot.

6 pm reception with refreshments and Middle East booths featuring clothing, jewelry, books, music and more. 7 pm concert. Tickets are only $20 Preferred seating (reserved front rows in a limited number), $15 General seating, and $12 Students (with i.d.). Purchase now online, or call 310.559.5544.

July 15 (Fri), 5:30-8:30 pm—"Tribal Jazz" with master world percussionist Cristina Berio and drummer John Densmore at LACMA

They dazzled jazz and world music lovers last summer, and they're back for another great adventure. Tribal Jazz featuring John Densmore (The Doors) and Cristina Berio combines traditional jazz and world rhythms. Densmore and Iranian musician Reza Derakshami teamed up this year in Los Angeles and created music that satisfies the mind, body, and soul, and this evening offers a satisfying fusion.

LACMA is located at 5905 Wilshire Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90036. 323.857.6000.

July 16 (Sat), 6-9 pm—"Balkan Beats" Outdoor Concert at the Getty

The Toids perform an eclectic mix of electronica, improv and the traditions of Bulgaria, Greece and the Middle East. They are a group infused with a diverse modern aesthetic ranging from Bulgarian to Bluegrass to Electronics. Dazzling virtuosity and deep emotion mark their intricately crafted compositions. With influences as ranging from the traditional musics of Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and Turkey to John Zorn, Eric Dolphy, and Aphex Twin, their performances are always full of surprises for themselves and the audience. Featuring Ryan Francesconi, Dan Cantrell, Lila Sklar, Bill Lanphier, and Tobias Roberson, their first release, Ruupert Dances In Fins is available on Odd Shaped Case Records. Listen here.

Also performing is De VotchKa. With violin, accordion, sousaphone, theremin, drums, trumpet, piano, upright bass, guitars, and soaring vocals, the four-piece DeVotchKa create a beguiling mix of Eastern European, South American, and American folk and punk influences unlike anything you've ever heard. Their music has been hailed from all quarters as nothing short of remarkable, landing honors on NPR's All Things Considered "Best Songs of the Year" list in 2004.

Click here to learn more about the concert and listen to musical samples.

Summer Concert Series, 6-9 pm, Getty Museum Courtyard and Garden Terrace. Admission free; no reservations required. Food and drink specials from 4:00 to 8:30 p.m.


July 23 (Sat), 10-11 am—Carolyn Krueger's Gulistan Dance Theater: "Princess Firuza and the Horse Prince" at the Ford Amphitheatre

Directed by Carolyn Krueger, Gulistan Dance Theater's original adaptation of this classic Persian tale brings to life a whimsical, dancing world where imagination meets tradition. As the brave Princess Firuza's adventure unfolds, we meet delightfully costumed and masked magical beings, enchanted animals and frightening devs (monsters). Princess Firuza's important mission takes her on a journey through Iran and into her deeper self. For children, this is a story about overcoming obstacles and finding inner strength in the name of love. For adults, it is a myth about the pyschological integration of our male and female aspects that allows us to experience authentic love.

The 16-member cast is anchored by Gulistan's dynamic dance ensemble featuring Tara Devi, Diana Goodwin, Nikii Henry, Carolyn Krueger, Laurie Miller and Donna Speckman. Exciting guest soloists Kathy Inscore, Marguerite, David Yohe and Zahra Zuhair create colorful characters as storyteller Marie Silva-Alexander unveils our charming and surprising tale. Paul Boynton appears as Prince Selim and Laurie Buenafe stars as Princess Firuza.
Gulistan Dance Theater is hailed for its captivating performances of classical and folkloric dance and music traditions of the Silk Road and beyond. Carolyn Krueger and Gulistan have been featured on Tashkent Television in Uzbekistan, Persian Television in the U.S. and Iran and in a variety of venues across the Southland and the Southwest. To find out more, visit the Gulistan Dance Theater.

The John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood 90068. Children Free; Adults $5.00; Parking $1.00. Call the Ford at 323.461.3673 or visit The Ford web site and look for Family Programs.


Volunteer with Levantine Cultural Center's Programming Committee

Bring your ideas, enthusiasm and support to the Center by participating in a new Programming Committee, that will cooperate with our Board of Directors in creating new arts programs in the weeks and months ahead. Visit our volunteer opportunities page. To get on the reservation list for the next meeting, email us now!


Board of Directors Seeks Community Leaders

Levantine Center's Board of Directors is continually in formation, and welcomes inquiries—we are actively searching for more people with our passion and conviction! The board consists of diverse members of the community who are of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean heritage or who have a strong professional or artistic interest in furthering our mission. As directors, board members represent the organization officially, are responsible for its financial health, and make the priority strategic decisions, with counsel from Advisory Board members where possible. Board members work with activists heading specific committes, including the Film/Video, Literary, Education Performing Arts and Membership Committees.

Our Advisory Board is also in formation. Advisory board members are known professionally in their own communities and offer valuable counsel and services to the organization; they are eligible to attend the organization's annual retreat and receive other benefits.

Please contact us at 310.559.5544.

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To join/support Levantine Cultural Center, simply go to our membership page and fill in the blanks, use your credit card, or print and mail in your check for $120 annual membership dues (that's just $10 per month! and you'll receive many discounts and a pair of free tickets to an upcoming event, a minimum $40 value) to: Levantine Center, 8424A Santa Monica Blvd., N. 789, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

LEVANTINE CULTURAL CENTER
Cultures of the Middle East & Mediterranean
8424A Santa Monica Blvd., N.789, West Hollywood CA 90069
310.559.5544, info@levantinecenter.org

Levantine Center advocates for, educates about, and in general promotes and supports Middle Eastern and Mediterranean contemporary arts and traditional cultures. We present or cosponsor programs of music, literature, art, film/video, publications, new media and more, often from educational and historical perspectives. While acknowledging the value of entertainment, we emphasize scholarship and substance. We are strongly multidisciplinary and non-sectarian, do not embrace any political or religious doctrine, and are committed to the principle of cross-cultural cooperation. We support the strengthening of ties between all cultural, ethnic and religious communities of the Middle East/West Asia/Levant, as well as between all peoples of Middle Eastern descent in diaspora.

 
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