Arts Roundup: Orthodox Jewish Art Meets Muslim Bengalis in London’s East End
May 23rd, 2007 by Menachem Wecker
“Sometimes in criticising [sic] artists, we might actually be stoning prophets,” observes urbanmonk, “By barring any expression of negetivity, or glancing over outlandish or controversial artistic expressions with a narrowly slitted moral eye, we cut off something vital from our humanity and from our spirituality.”
[Supermarketmonkey]
On May 8, American Ambassador to Kuwait Richard LeBaron toured the [American Mission Hospital in Kuwait City with Sheikha Hussah Sabah Salem Al-Sabah, director general of Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah–”a cultural institution that encompasses the world-renowned Al-Sabah Collection of Islamic art that is on loan to the State of Kuwait under the auspices of the National Council for Culture Arts & Letters”–as guide.
[Kuwait Times]
Right: Artist Gitl Braun with Baroness Uddin of Bethnal Green
With the argument “We are all Eve’s daughters,” Orthodox Jews are meeting new immigrant Muslim Bengali women through art in London’s East End.
[East London Advertiser]
“Would it mean all I could do is write worship songs? Am I severely limited if I give up music to God?” wonders Dan Chang in a discussion about Francis A. Schaeffer’s Art and the Bible. Dan’s answer? “…if I were to truly believe in God and realize who he is and what he has given me, I should gladly give in return everything in me - including music … Art begins with the way you live your life, and for me, music should be a reflection of that change.”
[Daniel’s Loft]
“Don’t sing, write, laugh. Only live in fear.” — From a placard read during a protest in Mumbai on May 16, quotes Born on a Cusp, “To a foreigner like me, it is sad. Because you witness these things side-by-side with signs of progress, and it boggles the mind the way archaic thinking can still ram its way through.”
[Born on a Cusp]
Offstumped on the artist’s “Right to Revisit”:
Offstumped Bottomline: If Vadodara is too prudish for your taste then move to Mumbai and indulge yourselves. Dont begrudge Vadodara as illiberal or fascist for it is no more morally obliged to indulge your licentiousness as Mumbai is obliged to condone morality.
[Offstumped, HT: Blogger News Network]