Thursday Events Celebrate Threads of Pride
Come to the AANM this Thursday for a free lecture on Palestinian embroidery traditions and contemporary practices, inspired by the current exhibition Threads of Pride: Palestinian Traditional Costumes. A 6 p.m. reception with complimentary refreshments gives way to the 
6:30 p.m. lecture by Rabiah Shafie of the Palestine Aid Society, followed by a 7 p.m. sale of embroidered apparel and accessories. Then, at 7:30 p.m., it’s a Ford Comerica Global Thursdays performance by Palestinian American actor/author Betty Shamieh (right). This one-woman show features excerpts from Shamieh’s off-Broadway New York productions. Tickets for Betty Shamieh are $8 for Museum Members and students; $10 in advance in person at the Museum or by phone with a credit card at 313.582.2266 or 31.3624.0215; $12 at the door.
Sununu Visits AANM
It’s not unusual for people whose stories are told on the walls of the Arab American National Museum to stop by in person to take a look. Last week, it was U.S. Senator John E. Sununu (R-New Hampshire), at right, who is currently the youngest U.S. senator and the only current U.S. senator of Arab descent. Sununu followed in the footsteps of his father, John H. Sununu, governor of New Hampshire from 1983-89 and White House Chief of Staff under President George H.W. Bush from 1989-91. The elder Sununu’s accomplishments are also chronicled here, in the Museum’s Making An Impact exhibit.
Marketplace Vendors Sought
Artists, craftspeople and other creative types – sell your wares to an enthusiastic multicultural audience at the AANM’s 2nd annual International Holiday Marketplace & Fashion Show. Set for 6-9 p.m. Thursday, December 13, this free event includes a variety of multicultural merchandise, complimentary refreshments, music and a live fashion show. Nonprofit organizations may rent a 6-foot table for $30; all others $50. Vendors of culturally inspired apparel also get the opportunity to participate in the fashion show. Table rental deadline is Wednesday, November 21. Call 313.624.0215 for details. Space is limited, so register today.
Film Festival Spotlight: Dunia
Authorities in Egypt banned public screenings of this 2005 film by director Jocelyn Saab. It’s the cerebral tale of a student of poetry and belly dancing whose artistic expression is inhibited because she cannot experience desire. Mentored by the ardent public intellectual Dr. Beshir (played by Mohamed Mounir, Egypt’s biggest pop star), Dunia begins an all-consuming search for ecstasy in poetry, music, and dance. Ultimately, she must confront the traditions that have destroyed her capacity for pleasure before she can experience it. Arabic with English subtitles. Screening at 2:15 p.m. Sunday, November 4, as part of the Third Annual Arab Film Festival at the AANM. Tickets available at the door or online HERE.
October 18:
Free Meditation Session
Positive response has brought the “Learn to Meditate Series” back to the AANM, with a new start time of 6:15 p.m. Thursdays, through October 18. Come see for yourself why so many people from every culture and walks of life are learning to meditate. Release stress and bring benefits to mind, body and emotions. Become a deeper, brighter person. Look and feel younger. In the Lower Level Classroom. Free and open to the public. Questions? Contact Terry Freel at 248-227-7595 or tlf157@comcast.net.
October 25:
Ford Comerica Global Thursdays: Yuri Yunakov & His Romani Wedding Band
In Bulgaria, some of the best, most innovative music is generated by that country’s colorful, competitive wedding music scene, with many musicians emanating from the Roma or Gypsy tradition. Saxophone virtuoso Yuri Yunakov (right) and his band of rising stars, featuring clarinetist Sal Mamudoski and electric guitarist Vasil Angelov, create a lyrical, exuberant Eastern European weave of vibrant sounds, beautiful melodies and frenetic improvisations that impresses even seasoned jazz players. Tickets are $8 for Museum Members and students; $10 in advance in person at the Museum or by phone with a credit card at 313.582.2266 or 313.624.0215; and $12 at the door.
October 25:
Arab Detroit Diversity Workshop
Actress and activist Kathy Najimy (right), author and media critic Dr. Jack Shaheen and Dr. George Saliba, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Science at Columbia University, are set to speak Thursday, October 25 at Images and Perceptions of Arab Americans, a daylong conference at the University of Michigan – Dearborn. Subtitled From Immigration to Discrimination: Understanding a Diverse Community, the conference is recommended for business leaders, public officials, media and any community member interested in learning about Arab Americans. Click HERE for registration information about this annual cultural education workshop presented by www.ArabDetroit.com.
October 26-28:
AAI's Yalla Vote '08
The Arab American Institute’s 2007 National Leadership Conference, “Our Voice, Our Future, Yalla Vote 2008,” is set for October 26-28 at several sites in Dearborn. A key event in the Arab American political calendar, the conference draws hundreds of participants from around the country. Presidential candidates are expected to appear throughout the weekend; confirmed speakers include U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Michigan Department of Human Services Director Ismael Ahmed and Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean. For registration info, click HERE.
October 27:
Concert Gala with Umm Kulthoum Orchestra
Starting at just $25, you can have a fabulous seat at the ornate Detroit Opera House (right) for the 4th Annual Concert Gala featuring Egypt’s Umm Kulthoum Orchestra – the national orchestra of Egypt. Order now to get great seat locations at all prices -- $25, $50, $75, $100 and $150. Premium seating is guaranteed for ticket holders at the $200 Patron and $500 Benefactor levels. Read more about the Gala and the Orchestra HERE. Order tickets online HERE or cal Wafa Salah at 248.626.2522, the Museum at 313.624.0200 or Ticketmaster at 248.645.6666. Proceeds benefit the Arab American National Museum.
Through October 28:
SURA Arts Academy Student Photography Exhibition
Imagesof family, friends and community as seen by 6th-9th graders fromDearborn and southwest Detroit, who were equipped with digital cameras,then instructed and inspired by professional photographers andeducators. Through October 28 in the Lower Level Gallery. At right,Untitled, by Reine Hamdar of Dearborn.
This exhibition is made possible by The Skillman Foundation and the U.S. Department of State.
Through November 25:
Threads of Pride: Palestinian Traditional Costumes
Threads of Pride features over 40 Palestinian embroidered dresses and ceremonial costumes from the collection of Farah and Hanan Munayyer, founders of the Palestinian Heritage Foundation of West Caldwell, New Jersey and stewards of the largest collection of Palestinian embroidery in the United States. This exhibition is in the Museum’s Main Floor Gallery. A lecture and embroidery sale related to this exhibition is set for Thursday, October 18; see News item above or click HERE.
This exhibition made possible in part by The Wallace Foundation.
Coming Soon:
Silver Speaks: Traditional Jewelry of the Middle East
Opening Thursday, November 15 at the AANM is Silver Speaks: Traditional Jewelry of the Middle East, featuring selections from the David and Marjorie Ransom Collection. The Ransoms began collecting silver jewelry during their careers as U.S. diplomats in the Middle East, and became amateur preservationists as they investigated smithing techniques and the historical, cultural and social meaning of various jewelry designs. The show runs through March 30, 2008 in the Lower Level Gallery. Click HERE to read more about the exhibition and details of the November 15 opening reception, including a demonstration by a Yemeni silversmith.
Membership
Receive the following membership benefits:
- Free AANM admission plus advance notice and invitations to upcoming events
- Reduced ticket prices for AANM events
- 10% discount at the Museum store
- 10% discount on Museum facility rentals
- Free guest passes
- Ability to borrow books from Museum Library & Resource Center
Call (313) 624-0200 today for your Museum membership or click here
