Middle East/Mediterranean Calendar for October/November 2002

[To learn about getting events listed, email the Calendar Editor. Send all photos as small jpegs or gifs to Photos.]

October "A 9/11 Gallery" Continues Online at LevantineCenter.org.

A new online exhibit commemorating the events of 9/11 from the perspective of artists, poets, writers and photographers is on view now. This sample work is by Karenska Oslobod. Other artists include Frank Shifreen, Loretta Ayeroff, Doris Bittar, Meira Yedidsion and Douglas Fishbone. Drama by Shahid Nadeem, poetry by Murat Nemet-Nejat and much more. Please return to view "A 9/11 Gallery" often, and tell your friends.

Karenska Oslobod



Sept. 30 (Mon.), 7:30 pm—Salman Rushdie with Sue Ellicott of NPR at the Skirball in the Writers Bloc series

The controversial author of The Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie is a novelist who has outlived death threats and written several more books, including his most recent, Fury. A secular Muslim with strong opinions on the Middle East/West Asia, an evening with Rushdie will undoubtedly prove a heady experience. $18, Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., LA 90049. Reservations recommended, call 310.335.0917. SOLD OUT!



Oct. 4 (Fri.), 7:00 pm—Arvest 2002, Festival of Armenian Contemporary Arts, Opens at Pacific Design Center

Art exhibit reception, featuring work by Vartan Asadourian, Tina Bastajian, Vahe Berberian, Gregory Beylerian, Jean Marie Casbarian, Andrew Demirjian, Silvina Der-Meguerditchian, Dahlia Elsayed, Jean Kazandjian, Emil Kazaz, Vasken Matyan, Levon Parian, Naomi Pridjian and Seeroon Yeretzian. Reception tickets are $35 and there will be an art auction, entertainment and more. The exhibit will be on display Oct. 5-19. Hours Tues.-Fri., 11:00-5:00, and Sat. 11:00-3:00. There are some very talented and compelling artists in this exhibit. Highly recomended by Levantine Center. Info and tickets: 818.248.8077.


Oct. 5 (Sat.), 8:00 pm—Persian Traditional Music with Parisa & Dariush Talai, with Houman Pourmehdi at the Wadsworth Theatre

The Persian Art Society presents a rare performance of Parisa and Dariush Talai, accompanied by master percussionist Houman Pourmehdi, at the Wadsworth Theatre, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90025. For ticket prices, info and reservations, call 310.470.5177.


Oct. 6 (Sun.), 9:00 pm—"Mumya Firarda," Turkish Film's World Premiere, at Hollywood Film Festival

MUMYA FIRARDA Turkey - World Premiere 110 mins. On the day when the beautiful half-Egyptian and half-Turkish Fatima and the young, successful Turkish secret agent Ahmet meet each other at the airport, there are two coffins on the plane arriving from Egypt. And, by mistake, the stolen mummified Ramses is sent to Yayha's mourning family and poor Yayha to a passionate gangster, who hopes to cure his erection problem by using the mummy as an aphrodisiac. Will the mummy be taken back to its own land? Will it be a love story with a happy ending for Ahmet and Fatima? Will the gangster be able to spend the expected night with his wife? Director: Erdal Murat Aktas.

Arclight Cinemas, 6360 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, info: 323.464-1514. Theater 3, 9:00 pm.


Oct. 6 (Sun.), 1-3:00 pm—Body of Conjoined Movements: A Social Allegory, An Installation by Rheim Alkadhi

Exhibit: October 2 -30, 2002; reception: Sunday October 6, 1-3pm. Gallery hours: Thursday - Sunday, 12-4pm. Gooding Room LA Artcore [click for directions], Brewery Annex, 650 South Avenue 21, Los Angeles, CA. 90031. Info: (323) 276-9320.


Oct. 11 (Fri.), 8 pm—"Avetik," A Film By Don Askarian at the Pacific Design Center's Silverscreen Theatre.

"...both thrills the eyes and boggles the mind...stunning visual images that will haunt your memory and your dreamtime for weeks" according to Giovanni Fazio in The Japan Times. The Harvard Film Archive notes: "In this sensuous lyric tableau, Askarian explores racism, natural disasters, tranquil childhood memories, and images inspired by erotic medieval poetry." Says Arvest organizers, " Between the realms of poetry and history, this stunningly photographed work mixes metaphor and symbolism to tell the story of Avetik, an exiled Armenian filmmaker."

Tickets $15 donation with a reception to follow. Info: 818.248.8077.

Oct. 12 (Sat.), 7:00 pm—Oasis of Dreams, An Exclusive Evening of Palestinian and Israeli Culture: Come Dream and Speak Your Peace SOLD OUT!

Our guests include Dr. Nabil Azzam on oud + violin and Issam Aburaiya, Taieb Belghazi, Sami Shalom Chetrit, Rema Hammami, Sarit Helman, Nabil Kukali, Yoav Peled, Armando Salvatore, Walid Shomaly, Oren Yiftachel and their host Mark LeVine, with more special guests TBA. Join us for an unforgettable evening of live music, readings and a healthy Mediterranean buffet dinner, including wine/beer/soft drinks, all for just $25 per person ($20 Levantine Cultural Center members). Come dream and speak your peace with Levantine Center. This work by Palestinian painter Kamal Boullata.

Space is truly limited. You must RSVP now by calling 323.650.7010.

** Become a member today, and receive not only a discount to this evening, but a pair of tickets to enjoy the Persian Masters with the Philharmonic on October 20 (see below!). **



Oct. 12 (Sat.), 12-2:00 pm—"Challenges of American-Armenian Writers" at the Pacific Design Center

Micheline Aharonian Marcom (left, writer, Berkeley); Tina Demirdjian (poet, Los Angeles); Aram Saroyan (right, poet/author, Los Angeles) will be moderated by Arpi Sarafian. Open to the public. Part of the Arvest 2002 program. Info: 818.248.8077.



Oct. 20 (Sat.), 7:00 pm—Persian Masters at the Eclectic Orange Festival, O.C.

Mohammad Reza Shajarian - "The Iranian Paravotti"; Kayhan Kalhor - "Composer, fiddler, and collaborator with Yo Yo Ma on the Silk Road Project; Hossein Alizadeh - "Master of Persian Lutes (Tar)"; Homayoun Shajarian - "Tombak, Percussion, Vocals."
An awesome quartet. Click here to read abut Persian classical music. Presented by Philharmonic Society Tickets: $45, $30, $25, $15. Segerstrom Hall, Orange County Performing Arts, 600 Town Center Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

ABOUT ECLECTIC ORANGE FESTIVAL: Launched by the Philharmonic Society in 1999, this annual six-week Festival celebrates the eclectic nature of our cultural landscape, ignoring the boundaries separating arts disciplines and seeking great art wherever it is found. Center Click here for more details about the Eclectic Orange Festival series.



Oct. 26-27 (Sat./Sun.) 7th Annual Persian Autumn Festival, Mehregan 2002, in Orange County Features New Show of Ney Nava Dance Theatre

October 26-27, 2002 Mehregan is a celebration of nature, a festival of seasons, and the birthday of light. It commemorates the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. Mehregan is a festival of Mehr, Goddess of ...Love, Knowledge, and Commitment. Ney Nava Dance Theatre performs both days between 4:00-6:30 pm. Also other live performances, traditional arts and crafts, food, "ancient sports" and more. Orange County Fairgrounds, Costa Mesa. Mehregan is a non-profit event with no political or religious affiliation.. Info: 949.857.8213.


Oct. 30 (Wed.), 8:00 pm—Levantine BookGroup

The BookGroup meets again to talk about Ahlam Mosteghanemi's Memory in the Flesh. NOTE: We have six copies available at a discount of just $20 for the hardback version. This is a short but powerful novel. Read a review online at BookGroup. Call us right away to reserve your copy and arrange for pick up. 323.650.7010.

The BookGroup is always free to the public. At the Center, 10469 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles 90067, one half block west of Beverly Glen.



Nov. 2 (Sat.), 7:30 pm—Ziba Shirazi Live in Concert at the Wilshire Ebell

This native of Tehran exudes a powerful stage presence, imbuing her original songs with the passion of Joan Baez and the longing of Mercedes Sosa—in Farsi. Ziba Shirabi's latest recording is "Lost Dreams." Find out why at the Wilshire Ebell Theater. Tickets $35, $25, are available at Alef Market, Ani Market, Q Market, Super Irvine, Music Box (Westwood) or online (click here). Info: 310.445.1558 or visit Ziba Shirazi's web site.

Levantine Cultural Center has FIVE (5) pairs of tickets to see Ziba Shirazi for new member subscribers. To join now, just click on the sign-up page, fill out the form and mail it in with your check—you'll receive not only a year of great cultural arts programs by us, but free tickets to see Ziba AND an annual subscription to Al Jadid Magazine.

Board of Directors Meets Most Saturdays for Lrunch at Mediterranean Café

Levantine Center's Board of Directors is currently 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.

To attend, you must RSVP for address and time. 323.650.7010.

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LEVANTINE CULTURAL CENTER
Cultures of the Middle East & Mediterranean
10469 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90067 [facilities]
8424A Santa Monica Blvd., N.789, West Hollywood CA 90069 [office and mailing address]
323.650.7010, info@levantinecenter.org

Levantine Center advocates for, educates about, and in general promotes and supports Middle Eastern and Mediterranean arts and cultures. The Center exists to present music, literature, art, film/video, new media and history through education, scholarship and entertainment. We are strongly committed to the principle of cross-cultural cooperation, and support the strengthening of ties between all cultural, ethnic and religious communities of the Middle East/Levant as well as between all peoples of Middle Eastern descent.

 
See what Levantine Center has been up to and take note of other recent cultural events.

Feb 2002	March 2002	April 2002
May/June 2002	July 2002	August 2002
September 2002

See what Levantine Center was up to during our pre-opening season.