Arab Film Fest This Weekend
Unless you’re a regular at Sundance, Cannes, Toronto or another international film market, your chance to view rarely-screened Arab-themed films comes this weekend! The Third Annual Arab Film Festival at the Arab American National Museum this Friday through Sunday features 10 films – each “package” contains a short film and a feature-length film. Friday night’s program is English-language, while the rest of the weekend’s films are in Arabic with English subtitles, making them accessible to all. Post-screening discussions are set for Friday and Saturday. Tickets for a single package are $5 for Museum Members, students and seniors; $6 all others; weekend passes available. Click HERE for the lineup or to buy tickets or passes online. Tickets/weekend passes also available at the door.
Historic Weekend for Arab America
Southeast Michigan played host to several significant gatherings of the Arab American community this past weekend. Last Thursday in Dearborn, the National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC, a project of ACCESS) launched its 6th annual Network Conference, with attendees representing 17 partner organizations from nine states (at right). Not far away, actor/activist Kathy Najimy wowed the sold-out crowd as Arab Detroit held its 5th annual Diversity Workshop at the University of Michigan – Dearborn. On Friday, NNAAC conventioneers joined their counterparts attending the Arab American Institute’s National Leadership Conference, also in Dearborn, which drew appearances by several Democratic presidential candidates.
Historic Weekend, Part II
Then, on Saturday night, Arab musical history was made in downtown Detroit. Egypt’s national orchestra, the Umm Kulthoum Orchestra, gave a magical performance for more than 2,000 people, including many conventioneers, at the ornate Detroit Opera House. The concert, which served as the Arab American National Museum’s annual fundraiser, marked the first time Arabic classical music has been presented at the Opera House.
Silver Speaks Opens November 15
Ever wondered how intricate silver jewelry is made? See it done live at the Arab American National Museum on Thursday, November 15. It’s the opening reception for Silver Speaks: Traditional Jewelry of the Middle East, the new exhibition at the AANM. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with refreshments and live entertainment in the Museum’s Community Courtyard, followed by a lecture and tour with Silver Speaks jewelry collector Marjorie Ransom. Completing this opening reception are a demonstration by silversmith Kamal Rubaih of the World Friend shop in the silver souk of Old Sana’a, Yemen (a jewelry-making hot spot), and a live showing of silver and costumes by young women of Dearborn. To attend this free event, please RSVP to fsaad@accesscommunity.org or call 313.624.0200. Read more about the exhibition HERE.
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.
AANM Honors Museum Adventure Pass
You can now visit your local library and “check out” a museum along with your books and DVDs. Free admission to 25 Detroit-area cultural institutions, including the Arab American National Museum, is being offered to public library card holders through the Museum Adventure Pass presented by Macy’s. The program is designed to encourage attendance at both libraries and cultural institutions. Visit www.detroitadventurepass.org to learn exactly how the program works and to view a list of participating libraries and museums. The Museum Adventure Pass is good for up to four free admissions to the AANM.
November 1:
Ford Comerica Global Thursdays: Gaida
A leading New York City Arab vocalist, Gaida has the "most beautiful, expressive voice, the sort of voice that violins and clarinets try to imitate." Damascus-raised Gaida learned from the recordings of Sabah Fakhri, Umm Kulthoum, and Fairouz. With her passionate voice and innate style, Gaida and her band deliver a powerful and heart-moving performance. Tickets are $8 for Museum Members and students; $10 in advance at the Museum or by phone with a credit card at 313.582.2266 or 313.624.0215; and $12 at the door.
November 1, 8, 15 & 29:
Free Meditation Sessions
The “Learn to Meditate Series” continues at the AANM at 6:15 p.m. Thursdays until further notice (no session on November 22, Thanksgiving). 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.
November 4, 11, 18 & 25:
Free Craft Sundays
Kids ages 6-12 are invited to free craft sessions from 2-4 p.m. on Sundays in November, including the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. On November 4, kids will make cross-stitch handkerchiefs inspired by the current exhibition Threads of Pride: Palestinian Traditional Costumes. The Palestinian version of the famous Arab dance known as debkeh is the activity on November 11. Then, on November 18, belts and necklaces will get beaded decorations inspired by a new AANM exhibition, Silver Speaks (see In The Galleries below). And on November 25, bracelets will be made with knots and beads, and a video about Yemen, a jewelry-making hotspot, will be shown. No advance registration necessary; call Lynn at 313.624.0210 with questions.
November 8:
Ford Comerica Global Thursdays: 
Stratospheerius
These psychojazz trip funk masters fill their live performances with funky dance grooves; rip-roaring guitar/violin jams, and hooks that mix jazz, funk, and world beat. Featured in Relix Magazine's "On The Verge" section, they’re also "Best Jam Band" in the Musician’s Atlas Independent Music Awards and a winner of the BMI John Lennon Songwriting contest. Tickets are $8 for Museum Members and students; $10 in advance at the Museum or by phone with a credit card at 313.582.2266 or 313.624.0215; and $12 at the door.
November 15:
Ford Comerica Global Thursdays: Edmar Castaneda
Combining Latin jazz with traditional Colombian music, Castañeda has carved a firm place in the international jazz scene. A jazz harpist of imposing talent, he transforms the harp into a lead instrument to phenomenal effect. Castañeda produces cross-rhythms like a drummer, and smashes chordal flourishes like a flamenco guitarist. Tickets are $8 for Museum Members and students; $10 in advance at the Museum or by phone with a credit card at 313.582.2266 or 313.624.0215; and $12 at the door.
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.
This exhibition made possible in part by The Wallace Foundation.
Opening November 15:
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 lecture and gallery tour with Silver Speaks collector Marjorie Ransom and a demonstration by a silversmith from Yemen, a jewelry-making hot spot.
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
