Film Screening - Wham! Bam! Islam!

Community Cinema and Traffic will hosting a screening of Wham! Bam! Islam! on Wednesday, 29th February at Traffic.

Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, the subject of the film, will be present after the screening to will talk about the film, THE 99 and social entrepreneurship in the Middle East. I really admire Dr Naif Al Mutawa and this is a great opportnity to meet him and learn more about what he does. 

I've featured Wham! Bam! Islam! before  and I'm glad it's finally going to be screened in Dubai, although I do wish it got released in cinemas across the country, instead of a one night screening at a gallery. 

WHAM! BAM! ISLAM! tells the story of Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa and his venture to create the first team of superheroes from the Muslim world called THE 99. Following the tumultuous journey of THE 99 from concept to reality, from acclaim to censure by Islam’s cultural gatekeepers, from the edge of bankruptcy to plans for theme parks and an animation series, Al-Mutawa dodges cultural minefields and tries to tackle the harsh realities of the global marketplace while doggedly pursuing his vision to bring new heroes to Muslim children while re-introducing Islam to the West. 

Event details
Date and time: Wednesday, 29th February starting at 7pm
Venue: Traffic, 79 Umm Suqeim Road, Dubai (location map)
Phone: +9714 347 0209
Free entry.

 

www.whambamislam.com
www.the99.org
www.al-mutawa.com
www.isaacsolotaroff.com

www.viatraffic.org 
www.facebook.com/communitycinemame

Film Screening - Cultures of Resistance

 

Community Cinema is screening Cultures of Resistance by Iara Lee this Wednesday, 30th November at Traffic. This is Community Cinema's second screening (they screened Budrus last month), part of an ongoing series of films that deal with social, humanitarian, environmental, cultural and urban issues to shed light on and/or directly address current relevant concerns.

Community Cinema's aim is to use film screenings as a platform to bring individuals from the community to engage in framing current and relevant social issues, exposing different angles and sharing ideas to facilitate solutions.

The screenings are free and it's a great opportunity to meet like minded people and to discuss topics that go beyond the film.

Does each gesture really make a difference? Can music and dance be weapons of peace? In 2003, on the eve of the Iraq war, director Iara Lee embarked on a journey to better understand a world increasingly embroiled in conflict and, as she saw it, heading for self-destruction. After several years, travelling over five continents, Iara encountered growing numbers of people who committed their lives to promoting change. This is their story. From Iran, where graffiti and rap became tools in fighting government repression, to Burma, where monks acting in the tradition of Gandhi take on a dictatorship, moving on to Brazil, where musicians reach out to slum kids and transform guns into guitars, and ending in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, where photography, music, and film have given a voice to those rarely heard, Cultures of Resistance  explores how art and creativity can be ammunition in the battle for peace and justice.

Featuring: Medellín poets for peace, Capoeira masters from Brazil, Niger Delta militants, Iranian graffiti artists, women’s movement leaders in Rwanda, Lebanon’s refugee filmmakers, U.S. political pranksters, indigenous Kayapó activists from the Xingu River, Israeli dissidents, hip-hop artists from Palestine, and many more...

Event details
Date and time: Wednesday, 30th November at 7pm
Venue: Traffic, 79 Umm Suqeim Road, Dubai (location map)
Phone: +9714 347 0209
Free entry. 



www.culturesofresistance.org
www.facebook.com/communitycinemame
www.viatraffic.org

Gayathri - Champion of Broken Hearts

© Aya Atoui

Gayathri is one of my favourite singers in Dubai. She is releasing her new single and video Champion of Broken Hearts on Thursday, 10th November at Traffic. The event will be an homage to the 1940s Jazz Club days of big bands and tap dancing featuring a live performance by Gayathri accompanied by The Little Band with other celebrated local musicians making guest appearances. If you are in Dubai that evening, please don't miss this event.

Gayathri describes herself as "a singer/songwriter and an ol’ fashioned audiophile. My songs are my mouthpiece, my confidantes and my most honest expression. Driven by simple self-taught guitar chords and notes, the occasional piano, thick string motifs, rhythmic sniffs, foley, the music I make, tells the stories of the mind, its workings, the loves, the losses and everything in between."

© Aya Atoui

I've seen Gayathri perform live on three occasions and each time she adds something different to her shows which makes each one a unique experience. The song Champion of Broken Hearts has already received positive reviews and I just heard the song and I like it, particularly the catchy chorus:

Jumpkicked in the heart
Defeated from the start
Champion of Broken Hearts
DING! DING! DING!

To whet your appetite, here's a trailer to the video Champion of Broken Hearts, directed by Mrinal B.

As an added bonus, the launch night will also include a limited edition CD/DVD release of the single with free custom-made ‘Champion of Broken Hearts’ give-aways created by Vikram Divecha (5% of all the proceeds from CD sales will go to charity).

A sample of the art work in progress

So all in all, you should expect a night packed with some good creative energy. Please go and show some support to our musicians and buy the single if you like it. Many people are still suprised to find out we have a creative community and we need to celebrate them more often, particularly the ones paving their own way.

I leave you with some older tracks by Gayathri to give you a taste of what to expect on Thursday.


Sinking Superhero

Bombay

 

Eager Arms

 

Event details
Date: Thursday, 10th November at 8.00pm (free entry)
Venue: Traffic, 179 Umm Suqeim Road, Dubai (location map)
Phone: +9714 347 0209

www.gayathrimusic.com
www.abudhabibigband.com
www.viatraffic.org
www.ineverknowwhatimdoing-aya.blogspot.com

Film Screening - Budrus

Budrus is an award-winning documentary by Julia Bacha. It premiered in Dubai in 2009 at the Dubai International Film Festival. It's back again in Dubai, this time, it will be screened at Traffic on 5th October. 

Click to read more ...

Local - new exhibition at Traffic

Designed by Katrin Greiling during her residency at traffic, this line was created for the Bidoun Lounge at Art Dubai 2009 and inspired by the nomadic Arabs (Bedouins) and their furniture and lifestyle. The sofa system involves several mattresses stacked onto a base and fixed with cord. The cord comes from the same inspiration source - the Bedouin tent. It expresses the flexibility and mobility of the design.

Local is a new line of furniture, clothing and objects that aims to facilitate design in the United Arab Emirates, encouraging designers to produce their pieces here, using local materials and resources.

Click to read more ...

Art Dubai 2010

James Clar, For You Anything, 2010. Medical X-Rays, Acrylic, FL Tubes

The 4th edition of Art Dubai starts this week, between 17th-20th March. Over 70 galleries from 30 countries will be taking part, plus a line up of events including the Global Art Forum, the Abraaj Capital Art Prize and special projects curated by Bidoun Projects will be part of the schedule this year.

One can feel a bit 'arted-out' after this event, because there is a lot to see and do. But I am looking forward to seeing some new local and international art

Click to read more ...