Becoming Artfully AWARE: Linking Local and International Communities through the Arts
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Shades of Healing
Contact: Alexander Rowe
Uptown Holistic Center
(847) 312-1298
Uptown Holistic
Center
Shades of Healing
Alexander Rowe, LLC in conjunction with the Uptown Holistic Center welcome “Shades of Healing” an exhibition of works presented by the non-profit organization Artfully AWARE. The exhibit opens with a reception on Friday Oct. 14th from 7-10 p.m. The pianist, Blake Stokes will perform. Artfully AWARE uses art for social improvement and emotional recovery of persons who have experienced traumatic events, disabilities and/or inadequate living conditions. The artwork on display will consist of colors, tones, and hues which emote comfort, solace, and enlightenment in your being.
What: Reception “Shades of Healing” Hosted by Alexander A Rowe Massage Therapist, LLC
In conjunction with Artfully AWARE
When: October 14, 2011
Where: Uptown Holistic Center
723 Hillary St. New Orleans, LA 70118
Time: 7-10pm
Snacks and drinks provided
New Orleans’ Business and Social Network for Women
Women & Wine on Wednesdays connects women:
for building new relationships and for re-connecting old ones, through a unique facilitated forum – an ideal opportunity for women in New Orleans who are striving to balance their own needs with those of their families, jobs, community involvement. The monthly events fulfill an ongoing and critical need for women to be able to share resources and discover new opportunities as they transition through the many stages of their lives, providing access to a larger network of both business,social, and community connections – for the growth and development of their professional and personal lives.
Wine, for centuries, has proven to liven the senses, cause thoughts to flow, and enhance friendly idea exchanges – so wine is a perfect accompaniment, blending to foster a relaxed and welcoming environment for sharing resources, idea exchanges, and a great reason to take time to maintain their own personal overall well-being.
Events are held each month on the third Wednesday. There are no dues or fees to participate.
Come enjoy a glass of wine, catch-up with old friends, or meet new ones.
Date:
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Time:
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Place:
Mia’s Balcony
1622 Saint Charles Ave.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Phone: 504-301-9570
http://miasbalcony.com/
or to have your non-profit featured,
This month’s wine specials for $5 a glass:
 Colome Torrentes, Argentina |
 Pascual Toso Malbec, Argentina |
The Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society, a non-profit literary organization devoted to assisting and providing first class literary entertainment for educated readers, announces that it is joining with the New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation, Loyola University: Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and the University of New Orleans: Latin American Studies to give Words & Music, 2011 an exciting salsa flavor. The festival will include important Hispanic/Latino authors in its array of literary headliners and events. The theme for general public sessions will be Literature & Life in the Global Village. Cuban-American writer and activist in the cause of worldwide human rights Armando Valladares will be keynote speaker, introduced by poet Amy Serrano. at the Society’s black tie gala, Faulkner for All, on Nov.11. Valladares, shown at top, wrote the bestselling memoir Against All Hope about his 22 years as a prisoner of conscience in Cuba. After his release, President Reagan appointed him U. S. Ambassador to the United Nations for Human Rights. He remains active in human rights causes today. Joining him at Words & Music will be two Latino winners of the Pulitzer Prize. Novelist Junot Diaz, left, of Dominican heritage and author of The Brief, Wondrous, Life of Oscar Wao, will appear at three events on Nov.10: a Master Class, Literature & Lunch, and Q. & A. following a live stage adaptation of his novel by The American Place Theatre of New York, starring: noted Latino actor Elvis Nolasco. Cuban-American playwright Nilo Cruz, above, will do a performance reading from his Pulitzer Prize play, Anna in the Tropics at the Old U. S. Mint on Saturday evening, November 12. The gala performance reading will be followed by an intermission for Mojitas. Then, Cruz will participate on stage in a conversation about stage writing with playwright John Biguenet. He will be guest of honor at After Hours at the Napoleon House later that night.
Friday, November 11, Featuring Armando Valladares
7:00 p. m. – Hotel Monteleone, Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom
FAULKNER FOR ALL
The Faulkner Society’s annual meeting and salute to all great writers,past, present, and yet to come.
Black Tie Gala. Part One, Keynote Address only, is included in Writers’ Tuition. $25, General Public, Students, $12.50. A number of student tickets are available on a complimentary basis, first-come, first serve. $100 General Public Ticket includes both keynote address and gals, $75 for registered writers and their guests.
Faulkner for All, both events, included in All Events festival package.
Uriel Quesada, Loyola
Elvis Nolasco
LIFE & LITERATURE IN THE GLOBAL VILLAGE: KEYNOTE ADDRESS
In Our Dramatically Shrinking World, Where Politicians Fear to Tread, Artists Must Use The Power of Their Talent in the Cause of Universal Human Rights Featuring Armando Valladares, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations for Human Rights, and author of the international bestselling memoir, Against All Hope, which detailed his 22 years as a prisoner of conscience in Castro’s Cuba. Ambassador Valladares continues to work for the cause of human rights all over the world, including especially a dedication to projects to secure human rights for children. Ambassador Valladares will be introduced by Cuban-American poet and filmmaker Amy Serrano, who also will do any translation necessary. Ms. Serrano, who is Chair of the Pan American Connections Committee of Words & Music, 2011, produced and directed the documentary Sugar Babies, about children of Haiti being used as slave labor in the sugar industry across the border in the Dominican Republic. The film was screened at Words & Music in 2007. Internationally acclaimed classical guitarist, Javier Olondo is invited to set the stage for Ambassador Valladares with classical Cuban songs in his honor.
8:30 p. m. – Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom
FAULKNER FOR ALL GALA, HONORING ALL GREAT WRITERS
Cocktails, Dinner, Awards Ceremony, and Dancing. Special Guests of Honor: Ambassador Armando Valladares & Sponsors Faulkner for All, the annual black tie meeting of the Faulkner Society including cocktails and dinner with Ambassador Armando Valladares. The Society will announce its ALIHOT (A Legend in His/Her Own Time) Awards for achievement in literature, philanthropy, and social justice and will award its gold medals to winners of the William Faulkner – William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition. Caribbean menu and Caribbean Music. The music for dancing will be by La Rumba Buena, led by Johnny Marcia, co-producer of the Hispanic/Latino television program, Qué Pasa New Orleans. Marcia, whose heritage is Honduran, grew up surrounded by music, as his father led the Latin band Los Sagitarios. Johnny first played with his father and, then, branched out to develop his own, unique sound, using the best Latino musicians in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas. The band specializes in the various rhthyms of the Caribbean and Mexico with a big band sound.
Jazz and Heritage Gallery Announcement
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‘Indzaba Yetfu’ Art Exhibition a success
MBABANE – Yebo Art gallery, the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and 22 local artists, celebrated an opening reception to launch the ‘Indzaba Yetfu’ art exhibition in Ezulwini on Friday.
The exhibition featured work by local artists who spent their time visiting PEPFAR partner organisations and worked across the country to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Each artist produced an art piece to reflect the work they witnessed. The result was the comprehensive exhibit portraying how Swaziland is working towards a healthier future for its people.
The guest of honour at this event was the American Ambassador to Swaziland, Earl Irving, who was the main speaker at the reception. He thanked the artists for participating in this very unique project.
“Through a variety of media we can now see what impact the PEPFAR partners are having in Swaziland and our eyes are also opened to the extraordinary talent of Swazi artists.”
Participation
He also thanked the PEPFAR partners and Aleta Armstrong, an artist and owner of the Yebo! Art Gallery for co-ordinating such an outstanding show and ensuring the participation of a range of Swazi artists.
Irving told PEPFAR partners that the artwork clearly portrays how their work is saving lives, preventing new infections and providing care to the people of Swaziland.
“The US Embassy and the PEPFAR programme are proud to support your work and we think this new way of highlighting your activities will alert others here, in the region and beyond to the innovative ways you address the HIV/AIDS epidemic every day,” he said.
Yebo! Art Gallery’s Aleta Armstrong, also expressed appreciation for the collaboration between the US Embassy, PEPFAR, and YEBO!. She further praised the commitment of the artists who created pieces for the exhibition. She highlighted the important role that art plays in helping interpret events, issues and emotions that arise in our daily lives. Armstrong encouraged people to come view the exhibits on display until July 23, and invited schools to book a time to bring pupils for a tour of the gallery.
Exhibitors on the day included Khulekani Msweli and House on Fire’s Phuzo Mtshali, to name a few.
For more information about Yebo! Art Gallery and to view the artwork in the exhibit, visit their website: www.yebo designs.com.
| A twice-weekly snapshot of the cultural escapes and social happenings on tap in New Orleans. From wine tastings and blueberry pickings to lazy river tubing and Cajun country must-sees, check in here for the best insiders’ guide that New Orleans has to offer, complete with hours, numbers, maps, and tips. Because only we know where to park at jazz fest…
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CONTACT:Lionel Lombard. 504.609.6353
Swazi festival boycott call
By LOUISE REDVERS
Swazi democracy activists are calling for artists and fans to boycott the country’s world-renowned Bushfire Festival later this month — they say that performing in the crisis-stricken country would send out the wrong message.
The annual music, poetry, dance and art event, planned for May 27 to 29, attracts people from around the world and is seen as a highlight of Swaziland’s social calendar, second only to the Reed Dance. Top acts this year include South Africa’s Goldfish and Black Coffee, Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi from Zimbabwe, Habib Koité from Mali, the Yale Concert Band from the United States and France’s Mime Decol. Tickets cost between R150 and R700.
Bushfire director Justin Thorne said he was extremely disappointed to hear of the planned boycott and stressed that all profits from the event were donated to a local Aids orphan charity in Swaziland.
“The Bushfire Festival is a pioneer on the continent in socially responsible event staging, generating economic empowerment for Swazis through a world-class platform.
“As an independent organisation, it supports the growth and development of the arts while highlighting and raising funds for some of the most pressing social needs facing Swaziland. According to Thorne, “100% of the profits from the Bushfire Festival are donated to Young Heroes, an NGO providing education, healthcare, food and general support to Aids orphans”.
But Mary Pais da Silva, co-ordinator of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign, said: “The point is to raise as much awareness as possible. We can’t just continue going on as if Swaziland is a normal place. We want to send a strong message to the government and the rest of the country. “There are some people who appear to not be bothered by what is happening in our country, but we hope this will make them sit up and listen.”
Last month trade unions, students and pro-democracy campaigners tried to hold a mass protest to call for change, but they were dispersed by the police, who fired teargas and water cannons and detained more than 100 people. Two youth leaders still in custody have been charged with possession of explosives. Last week police staged a dawn raid on the home of high-profile union member Simon Mvubu and questioned him about his connections to a Facebook group promoting an uprising.
Last week a delegation of advocates from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Lawyers’ Association went to the country on a fact-finding mission to prepare a report for the next regional bloc meeting.
SADC has been heavily criticised for its silence on Swaziland and the mission was welcomed by activists in the country. Last week the International Labour Organisation (ILO) also went to Swaziland to meet the government. Mission head Vic van Vuuren said he raised concerns directly with the labour and justice ministers about allegations of heavy-handed policing during what was supposed to be an organised labour march.
Van Vuuren said: “It’s not totally clear exactly what happened on April 12 and 13 but we made it clear that, for one thing, union leaders should not have been detained on their way to take part in the march.” He said the government had agreed to an ILO-hosted workshop to train the police in how to deal with labour protests.
Meanwhile, unionists are planning to take legal action against members of the Swazi Police Force over the way their colleagues were treated during the recent crackdown.
Thuli Makama, a lawyer and director of the Swaziland Legal Assistance Centre, said: “We’re speaking to the unions now to gather evidence, such as doctors’ reports, so that we can present our case.
“The police really overstepped the mark; people were assaulted, man-handled, abducted and dumped in remote forest areas.” Makama said that lawyers visiting clients in detention were made to sit on the floor and were aggressively searched. Some were considering taking civil action of their own.
New Artwork has arrived on Artfully AWARE’s Online Store
Art is a motivator, a force of empowerment and a source of support for people of all races, nationalities, ages, economic situations and genders. Art comes in the form of strength to those who lack confidence, wish for a mental escape from harsh environments or who seek to restore happiness and hope in times of great need.
We are proud to partner 
with professional artists who recognise the struggles their communities are confronting while developing creative and innovative approaches to address these issues and bring about change. They are visionaries, providing inspiration and optimism in the face of these challenges. Please visit our online store to view over 40 individual items created by professional artists, photographers and community members:
Please click here for our online store.
An income reduces poverty levels immeasurably, yet many communities have limited opportunities when it comes to participating in income generating activities. Artfully AWARE teaches training programmes and workshops to enable communities to create meaningful, beautiful artwork such as paintings, jewellery and crafts which are sold to generate an income, thus reducing poverty. We purchase what they produce at a fair market value and the communities make make a profit. To continue the cycle and develop sustainability, we show and promote the artwork to receive proceeds that are fed right back into our programmes.
Artfully AWARE’s own Artwork Line incorporates sellable products that include but are not exclusively limited to: paintings, photographs, prints, greeting cards and specially designed accessories. Proceeds are fed back into our educational and therapeutic programmes.
You can help support communities that are benefiting highly from our income generating activities by providing us with an opportunity to market and sell our unique and special items at retail stores, gift shops, craft stalls, festivals or galleries. All purchases are tax deductible and are shipped directly to your home. Your support dramatically helps us maintain our work in communities by purchasing art supplies, funding teachers and training participants in new skills.
