Arab Arts | Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture

An archive of News, Events, Teacher's Corner blog posts, and In The News notes that are tagged with the subject of "arab arts"

September 09: Film Screenings

August 1, 2009

Still from Amreeka

Check out Amreeka, a new film that received rave reviews from the New York Times. It beautifully narrates the immigrant experiences of Palestinians/Arabs in America. Listen for the violin! Al-Bustan’s Music Director (and Palestinian-Israeli) Hanna Khoury plays violin throughout the film.

The film will open on September 25 at Ritz Theaters in Philadelphia — with a special screening on Sept 23 (more details to be posted soon).

Free Tickets to Amreeka!

The Middle Eastern Cultural Society (MECS) of Swarthmore College in co-sponsorship with the Middle Eastern Center of the University of Pennsylvania invites you to join the group for a Palestinian American film and Turkish dinner.

With the co-sponsorship of the Middle Eastern Center of the University of Pennsylvania, we are able to offer free movie tickets to the first 25 people who RSVP for the movie.
What: Discounted/free matinee of “Amreeka” and Turkish dinner and musical performance
When: Saturday, September 26th
Where: The Ritz 5 Theatre and Konak Turkish Restaurant, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Discounted movie tickets at $8 per person, discounted dinner at $11 per person

RSVP to Camilia at ckamoun1@swarthmore.edu with how many spots you want to reserve for these discounted prices, and whether you are planning to join us for both the dinner and movie, or just the movie.

Amreeka made its world premiere in dramatic competition at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, and played as Opening Night of New Directors/New Films, a co-presentation of The Museum of Modern Art and The Film Society of Lincoln Center. Amreeka made its debut internationally in Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

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Still from Slingshot Hip Hop

On Thursday, September 8 at 7 PM at the I-House in Philadelphia, don’t miss Slingshot Hip Hop, an acclaimed documentary film about the lives of Palestinian hip-hop artists and how they resist occupation and deal with poverty and daily hardships. The film was an Official Selection in the Sundance Film Festival 2008.

$8 general admission, $5 student tickets
International House: 3701 Chestnut Street, West Philadelphia

By Chloe Tucker | Posted in Events | Also tagged teens, video | Comments (0)

June 5 & 6: Tatreez Exhibit opens at Philadelphia Folklore Project

June 3, 2009

Beautiful detail of Palestinian Embroidery

Opening Celebrations June 5: 6-8 PM and June 6: 10AM-1PM, Exhibit on Display until December 2009

Gallery open to the public Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10AM-6PM

Visit the Folkore Project for more details

Please come to 735 S. 50th Street in West Philadelphia to celebrate the ways in which Palestinian culture thrives in the U.S.!

About the exhibit: ‘Working with photographer Sarah Green, Khader began to seek out and document the embroidery traditions of local Palestinian women who came to Philadelphia after the Nakba, in 1948, and again after 1967. The needlework patterns that women use for domestic decorations and clothing were originally from their home villages, but since the occupation and refugee camp experience, these traditions have mingled and mixed. The embroidery remains a trace of home villages, even as those homes are destroyed, inaccessible or gone. Making homes here in Philadelphia and building a community here, women still exchange needlework. Embroidered work is part of a wedding trousseau and makes a Palestinian home look Palestinian. Khader says, “I believe that these arts are important and that the stories of the women who have continued to make them over 60 years are also important.”‘

This exciting exhibit is curated by the fabulous and talented Nehad Khader, who worked at Al-Bustan for two years as a volunteer, teaching artist, Arabic instructor, Program Coordinator, and general ombudsman. We are thrilled that she is doing this important work with support of the Leeway Foundation and Philadelphia Folklore Project, and we hope you can join us at the opening to support this wonderful undertaking.

Refreshments provided. FREE. All are welcome. If you have questions or wish to RSVP, call the Folklore Project: 215.726.1106

By Chloe Tucker | Posted in Events | Also tagged tatreez | Comments (0)

May 21: Arab Arts and Heritage Celebration

May 20, 2009

Celebration in May 2008

Please Join Us For the Second Annual
Arab Arts and Heritage Celebration

Thursday, May 21, 2009
Atrium, School District of Philadelphia

440 N. Broad Street
metered street parking available, some parking lots nearby

Performances 11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Activities/Demonstrations 12:30-1:15 pm
Arabic coffee and tea will be served

Join Al-Bustan’s staff of fantastic teaching artists as we celebrate the inspiration they have given to students and teachers through the Arab Arts and Heritage program in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia.

The poetry of Arab-American author Naomi Shihab Nye was our theme this year and served as a framework for students to explore their lives and heritage and express themselves through the arts. The celebration on May 21st is a culminating showcase of Al-Bustan’s Arab arts programming in various Philadelphia public schools this academic year.

The event will showcase the hard work, creativity, and enthusiasm of students as they present a performance of music, dance, art, and poetry from the following schools:

•    John Moffet Elementary School
•    Feltonville School of Arts and Sciences
•    Penn Alexander School
•    Motivation High School
•    Philadelphia Military Academy at Leeds
•    Philadelphia Military Academy at Elverson
•    Benjamin Franklin High School

We hope that you will attend to see the beautiful work of these young people and to show your support for Al-Bustan’s partnership with the School District to bring quality Arab arts education for Philadelphia students!

For more info, call 267-809-3668 or email ctucker@albustanseeds.org

By Chloe Tucker | Posted in Events | Also tagged arab music, art, Music Instruction, Naomi Shihab Nye, percussion, poetry, workshop | Comments (0)

The Bulletin highlights Arab Arts & Heritage Celebration

May 19, 2009

Students from John Moffet Elementary School prepare for a percussion performance at the Arab Arts and Heritage Celebration last year.

A View of the Arab World Through Art

by Erin Maguire, The Bulletin
published May 19, 2009

More than 200 students from seven city schools will showcase Arab culture in the form of dance, poetry, music and art Thursday, at the School District of Philadelphia’s atrium on 440 N. Broad St. from 11:15 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. The program is the second annual Arab Arts and Heritage Celebration, presented by Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture and the School District of Philadelphia. It is free and open to the public, and attendees will have the chance to drink Arab coffee and meet with students in sessions following the event.

Dennis Creedon, the administrator of the School District’s Office of Comprehensive Arts Education, and Hazami Sayed, Al-Bustan’s executive director, will open the event, which will begin with a 4-minute video highlighting Palestinian poet Naomi Shihab Nye’s February visit to Philadelphia schools. Students were encouraged through reading Ms. Nye’s poetry to explore their own heritages and express themselves through art. Ms. Nye’s work — which served as the catalyst for this year’s Arab Arts and Heritage Celebration — has a diverse intended audience, from children to adults, and centers on the universal themes of heritage and peace.

Click here for the full article.