Abstract
You are cordially invited to the 11th Abrahamic Traditions Dinner which will feature a presentation by Laurie Wohl, a textile artist, with musical accompaniment by Voices of Sepharad, an ensemble of musicians representing Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions on Thursday, October 25, 2018.
This event will bring community members from different cultures, religions, and experiences together to share the joy of friendship and universal values to learn the art of living together. People from all walks of life of diverse communities, religions and organizations will come together to discuss religious education today from different perspectives.
Dinner - All meat is Halal; Vegetarian options served; Kosher meals ordered upon request.
Sponsored by Niagara Foundation Minnesota Branch in association with:
- Turkish American Society of Minnesota
- Jay Phillips Center Interfaith Learning at the University of St. Thomas
- Jay Phillips Center Interfaith Learning at St. John's University
This exhibit of Laurie Wohl’s stunningly beautiful “Unweavings,” as she calls her fiber art pieces, interweaves Christian, Jewish and Muslim spiritual writings from the Convivencia in Spain (8th-15th centuries) with contemporary Middle Eastern poetry, particularly Palestinian and Israeli. Wohl emphasizes the striking parallels between Arabic and Hebrew texts, with the common themes of love, exile, nostalgia, mistrust of enemies and yearning for reconciliation. An audio component includes readings in English, Arabic and Hebrew and a specially-composed soundscape by composer Daniel Wohl, illustrating the commonality of the Middle Eastern languages. The exhibit will be in the Gorecki Gallery in the Benedicta Arts Center at the College of Saint Benedict where it will be untill October 28.
Laurie Wohl is an internationally known fiber artist whose unique Unweavings® convey spiritual narratives through form, color, texture and calligraphy. Her works are held in the collections of the Museum of Arts and Design, Constitutional Court of South Africa, Catholic Theological Union, and numerous other public and private collections. Among her special projects have been interactive set designs for full-length dance pieces by Callince Dance (New York City) and Jan Erkert & Dancers (Chicago). She speaks frequently on art and worship, as well as on text and textile.
Voices of Sepharad, a Twin Cities-based ensemble founded in 1986 and directed by David Jordan Harris, celebrates the rich multicultural world of Sephardic music, dance and storytelling.
- David Jordan Harris is co-founder and artistic director of Voices of Sepharad. He has pursued study and performance of Sephardic music throughout North America, Morocco, Greece, France, Israel, Turkey, Poland, Bosnia, and Spain. He is executive director of Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council and interfaith arts special consultant for the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning.
- Mick LaBriola is a freelance performer/percussionist, educator, residency artist, dance-theater accompanist, and founding member of Voices of Sepharad. He is a roster artist with a number of arts organization, including the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Nevada State Arts Council.
- David Burk plays a variety of stringed instruments used in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Latin, African, Caribbean, and North American musical traditions. While maintain a full private lesson studio for guitar, bass, banjo, and mandolin students, he has performed regularly with The Rose Ensemble (since 2005) as well as with Voices of Sepharad (since 1998).
- Salah Abdel Fattah, a native of Egypt, has played the Arabic violin since the 1960s and has recorded in Egypt for television with Abdel Aziz Mahmoud. He currently plays with the Minneapolis-based classical Arabic music ensemble Amwaaj, which he founded more than 15 years ago.
- Maryam Yusefzadeh received her early musical training in Iran at the Tehran School of Music, later earning a BFA in Art, Music, and Dance Performance at the University of Minnesota. A co-founder of the ensemble Roboyat, she is actively involved with Persian music as a vocalist, percussionist, educator, and guest lecturer.
This project was made possible with support from the Howard B. & Ruth F. Brin Jewish Arts Endowment, a fund of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation's Foundation