Sunday, November 13, 2005

Entry #12

The week of November 7th to 13th, 2005

Monday November 7th
In Jewelry class today I started work on two bracelets-- one for my daughter and one for myself, and a pair of earrings for my mother. Each piece uses a different technique. I am having so much fun. I wish the jewelry class were every day instead of only three days a week.

Tonight's Santa Fe Workshops Photography Lectures are given by Marcela Taboada http://www.marcelataboada.com/ and Debbie Fleming Caffery
http://www.debbieflemingcaffery.com/go.cfm?id=49102&CFID
=5723701&CFTOKEN=47386062

Check out their web sites for samples of their work.

Wednesday November 9th
Tonight I went to two films back to back. At 5 pm I saw
The Dream of Sparrows (USA/Iraq, 2004). This is the synopsis from from Atencion: "Most Americans will never realize the plight of Iraqis as they struggle to lead normal lives uner American occupation. This historic documentary explores the controversial occupation of Iraq through interviews with Iraqi painters, writers and filmmakers. With the tragic killing of producer Sa'ad Fahker, the filmmakers find their own beliefs shaken to the core." Producer Aaron Raskin was in attendance to answer questions after the film. Americans and Canadians need to see this film. http://www.iraqeye.org/

After a coffee break, I stayed at the Biblioteca for the 7:30pm show: 1 Giant Leap, which uses music and visuals from 25 countries. The directors went on "a global journey that included Senegal, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, India, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, America and Europe, equipped solely with a digital video camera, a laptop and a vision - to capture and weave together a unique fusion of sound, image and spoken word from some of the world's most happening musicians, authors, scientists and thinkers and to explore 'The Unity in the Diversity'." http://www.1giantleap.tv/
Both were memorable films, but
1 Giant Leap was inspriational. This would be an excellent film to have in my own DVD collection and I plan on purchasing it after I return home. Who would ever think that Dennis Hopper and Ram Das had more than one thing in common?

Thursday November 10th
Author of On Mexican Time, Tony Cohan adapted the prison diary and letters of Nigerian journalist and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was falsely accused of the murder of four of his Okoni tribesmen/ relatives and executed ten years ago today. All around the world today PEN chapters are commemoorating Saro-Wiwa, his writings and his mission: to bring world attention to the plight of Nigeria's tribal populations and the exploitation of them and their environment by multinational oil companies like Royal Dutch Shell Group. Find more about Ken Saro-Wiwa at http://www.groundwork.org.za/Pamphlets/Shell.htm


Friday November 11th
At 6pm there was a gallery opening of paintings by Chi Kaplan. His work uses multimedia and text, reminding me a bit of Basquiat. Also in the gallery at 21 Recreo were many beautiful pieces of jewelry---necklaces and matching earrings at reasonable prices. I had a ticket for the 7pm benefit concert by local musicians Mayahuel, just south of the Allende Institute. The concert was sold out. The musicians donated their time for the charity Jovenes Adelante, which raises money to educate rural young women from middle school through university. The students are recommended by their principals and they are given a no-strings attached scholarship that continues throughout their educations
. Their only obligation is to stay in school and earn a B average.

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