artsNOW: beyond the 100th issue
SUPPORTING ART AND CULTURE

exhibition opening: A CELEBRATION OF DIFFERENCES 
"Idealistically, it would be a positive influence if people started realizing that only thing that they had in common were their differences." - Artist Robert Rauschenberg

Demonstrating and celebrating the cultural diversity that is Mississauga, this exhibition will showcase seven local painters and one photographer. Their styles of work are highly diverse, encompassing figure, landscape and form; both abstract and realistic. This exhibition represents the essence of diversity that is present today; by coming together, not seeking to find commonality, but to open ourselves to the rich variety that we all share.

theatre: Rasik Arts
Ashwatthama JD will be returning from India in November to encore his Dora Award-Winning performance of “Ek Qatra Khoon—A Drop of Blood” at the Factory Theatre Mainspace. Performances will run from November 23 to December 3. More details will be sent soon, but make room in your calendar now to make sure you won't miss this enlightening and impassioned performance that pleads the case for Humanity and peace. You may buy tickets from us until Nov 6 (416-654-9231), and thereafter from the Factory Theatre box office:

Nov 23 - Dec 3, 2006
Performances Wed - Sat at 8pm
Matinees Sat & Sun - 2:30pm
Tickets $25 / $20 (seniors & students)
The Factory Theatre, (corner of Bathurst St. & Adelaide St.)

lecture: Buddhist Reliquaries from 1st to 5th Century AD Gandhara
David Jongeward, Visiting Scholar, Asian Institute

Friday, December 8, 2006, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
108N - Seminar Room, North House
Munk Centre for International Studies
University of Toronto
1 Devonshire Place

Register online at:
http://webapp.mcis.utoronto.ca/EventDetails.aspx?eventid=2588

Dr. David Jongeward will summarize findings to date for a survey and art historical analysis of Gandhara Buddhist reliquaries. Gandhara is a relatively small geographical area in what is now northern Pakistan. The area is well known to art historians and historians of religion as a thriving centre for Buddhism and Buddhist arts between the 1st and 5th centuries AD, primarily during the time of the Kushan Empire. Kushan cities and trade centers generated tremendous wealth from Silk Road trade. Gandhara Buddhist art reveals an ancient crossroads of cultures that characterized the Kushan era, with influences from Greece, Rome, India, Persia and China.
 
Gandhara reliquaries were originally created for the purpose of establishing stupas (Buddhist monuments) to honour distinguished monks and patrons of Buddhism. The discussion will include the historical, archaeological, and art historical context in which the remarkable variety of reliquaries were produced, featuring material from Pakistan’s museums.
 
Bio  David Jongeward is an independent Cultural Historian and Research Associate with  the University of Toronto’s Asian Institute and the Royal Ontario Museum. His current research project Buddhist Reliquaries from Gandhara is funded by SSHRC and administered by the Asian Institute. His catalogue of the Royal Ontario Museum’s collection of Gandhara Buddhist sculpture was published in 2003.

film festival: Bengali Film Festival,2006
(Presented by Center of South Asian Studies)

Saturday,December 9,2006

University of toronto
 Innis Town Hall,
2 Sussex Dr.,
2 blocks south on St.George
from Bloor Street (St.George subway)
Underground Parking opposite the hall.
 

First Session-!2.00 P.M. to 1.30 P.M.
 
 A Bangladesh Feature Film titled “Liliputs will overcome someday” A very entertaining story about a teacher,his students and the present-day society. The teacher is insopired by the story of  Gulliver’s Travels written by Jonathon Swift. He wants his students to grow up as responsible citizens for his country. There is opposition from a section of the society.
Script and Direction by Rasikul Hassan Stirring Rasikul Islam Aisal,Afsana Minu and others
 
Second Session-2.00 to 3.15 P.M.

A Satyajit Ray Short Film titled “Pikoo” A well-to-do family life in Kolkata as seen through the eye’s of a child.
Story, Direction by Satyajit Ray,  Starring Aparna Sen,Victor Bannerjee and others
A documentary film from Bangladesh titled “Colour of Faith” A clourful description of a rural folk fair based on the teachings of a naked fakir. This can be called an assembly of people where religion is blended with culture. It goes beyond the bounds of all existing myths and can be termed as a true meeting of many faiths. (shown at Montreal Film Festival)

Third Session 3..45P.M. to 6.00P.M.

A Satyajit Ray Feature Film titled “Abhijaan” Based on a story by Tarashankar Bannerjee the movie received the National Award in 1962. A taxi driver of the warrior Rajput origin struggles to survive in a West Bengal town facing competition, hatred,lack of compassion and evils of the so-called rich business class people. His courageand fighting spirits enables him to survive with added inspiration from a Christian girl ( low-caste origin) and the love of an abused village woman of out-of-town Origin.
Direction, Screenplay and music by Satyajit Ray starring Soumitra Chatterjee, Waheeda Rehman, Robi Ghosh, Ruma Guha Thakurata and others.
 
English subtitles for all the movies

$50, $20
For tickets and tax reciepts
Contact : Amar Mukherjee Festival Coordinator 905-2023823
                Email: ruby_amar@yahoo.com

Call for Volunteers

Friends of South Asia Committee at the Royal Ontario Museum
Friends of South Asia (FSA) Committee at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) needs you! We are looking for passionate, creative and enthusiastic individuals who are interested in volunteering their time and professional expertise. We are an already thriving and active committee that creates programming and events related to, and in support of, South Asia and the South Asian collection at the ROM.

Please submit: Your resume and contacts with a one-page letter of interest, outlining:the expertise and skills you can bring to the team – give us your top five,  the time commitment you can give to FSA – weekly? monthly? onsite at events only? ,  why you want to volunteer with FSA and/or the ROM
To: Farzana Syed at farzanas@rom.on.ca by 5 pm, December 18, 2006 with “Volunteer Application” in the subject line. Feel free to pass this on to anyone you know that may be interested, as well.
 
 FSA is a membership group which supports a deeper understanding and appreciation of the diverse and rich history of South Asian arts at the ROM through the Sir Christopher Ondaatje South Asian Gallery, special events and programs. For more information, visit http://www.rom.on.ca <http://www.rom.on.ca/> .
 



Call for Artist Submissions

Are you an artist whose work reflects South Asia? Are you looking for a new showcase for your work? Do you want to reach and inspire the people of a City amidst a cultural renaissance? The Friends of South Asia (FSA) Committee creates programming and events related to South Asia and the South Asian collection at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). We are gearing up for an exciting new phase at the Museum and are looking for artists of all kinds to contribute to future programs.
 
What FSA Is Looking For: Artists who represent the various countries that are a part of South Asia – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka & Tibet;   Work that reflects or is inspired by the creative and cultural contributions of South Asia;  Traditional and contemporary artists. We invite proposals from artists of ALL types: painters, sculptors, multi-media artists, performance artists, singers/songwriters, musicians, dancers, poets/writers, photographers, fashion designers, graphic artists, film makers.
 
What FSA Offers You: The chance to be a part of history as the Sir Christopher Ondaatje South Asian Gallery re-opens in 2007 in the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal – part of the Renaissance ROM project! The opportunity to showcase your work to diverse audiences at the ROM, from intimate settings to large-scale events. The chance to work with other creative, fabulous, enthusiastic, high-energy people like yourself! The beauty of the ROM and all its treasures – trust us, it’s a magical place!
 
Your proposal should include:
1.      Your bio with at least one paragraph about you and one paragraph about the type of work that you do.
2.      Your performance history – where have you performed/exhibited in the past?
3.      Average rates for performance/exhibition
4.      Link to your website/online portfolio/reviews, etc. If you have supplemental materials such as CDs, DVDs, etc that will be mailed, please indicate this in  
         your email to us. Mailing address is noted below.
5.      Email and phone contact information and the best times to reach you.
 
Please submit the above to Farzana Syed at farzanas@rom.on.ca by 5 pm, December 20, 2006 with “Artist Proposal” in the subject line. If you have supplemental materials as noted above IN ADDITION to your email submission, please mail them to Farzana Syed, Friends of South Asia Committee, Department of World Cultures, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park Crescent, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6. Feel free to pass this on to anyone you know who may be interested, as well.
 
FSA is a membership group which supports a deeper understanding and appreciation of the diverse and rich history of South Asian arts at the ROM through the Sir Christopher Ondaatje South Asian Gallery, special events and programs. For more information, visit http://www.rom.on.ca <http://www.rom.on.ca/> .

2007....artsNOW in the 3rd year

bookclub: Toronto South Asian Book Club
Part of desilit, Toronto,

The first Monday of every month @ 7PM
Starbucks (inside Chapters) 142 John Street   - at Richmond (Osgoode subway)

Open to all: Reading list
January 8      – Rohinton Mistry’s Family Matters
February 5    – Anar Ali’s Baby Khaki’s Wings
March 5         – Romesh Gunsekara’s Heaven’s Edge
April 2           – Anita Desai’s Fasting, Feasting
May 7            – Shani Mootoo’s Cereus Blooms at Night

If you are interested in joining, simply attend one of the meetings, contact Janice Goveas - jmgoveas@rogers.com

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artsNOW  is compiled by Arti Chandaria.
The purpose of these e-mails is to  inform you of art and cultural happenings in and out of Toronto, Canada.
Please circulate information widely.
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