Stories about Arts & Culture from August, 2007
Ukraine: Crimea
On the last day of summer, here's a translation of LJ user drugoi's photo report on his trip to Crimea, one of the favorite summer tourism destinations in the Soviet times, now facing fierce competition from resorts in Turkey and Egypt.
Morocco: Cheap Chinese Plastic
Everything Morocco questions why there's so many cheap plastic products “made in China” being sold in the traditional artisan souks of Fez.
Morocco: Books on Fez
The View From Fez shares a list of books pertaining to the grand city of Fez.
Bahrain: Nasfa Celebrations
Bahrainis marked the birth of the Shia Imam Al Mahdi with a lot of fanfare and blogger Mahmood Al Yousif was out with his new camera to record the celebrations.
Trinidad & Tobago: CCA7 Closes
“Caribbean Contemporary Arts will close its doors on the day the country celebrates forty five years of independence,” writes Thebookmann, who thinks that the Trinidad and Tobago gallery's final “show” was a fitting one.
Jamaica: “Miss Lou” Fundraiser to Benefit Dean Victims
Geoffrey Philp notes that part proceeds from an upcoming tribute and fundraiser honoring the late Jamaican cultural icon Louise Bennett-Coverley, will be donated to victims of Hurricane Dean.
Bahamas: The Power of Print
“There's an email making the rounds entitled ‘Blacks Don't Read’. Being Black, I read it”: Nicolette Bethel, guest authoring at Bahama Pundit, blogs about the power of print.
Iran:An abstract painting and a real Kebab!
Aref Adib has published two photos:one is a painting from Howard Hodgkin,a British painter, and the other one is a photo of a Kebab in Vienna.The blogger invites us to see similarities between two photos.The blogger adds “a representational painter of emotional situations” & below the painting is my represention...
Russia: Sakhalin Travel
White Sun of the Desert writes about his recent Sakhalin travel: “The journey back entailed me having to do one of those things I’d always hoped I’d never have to do: enter a 4-berth Russian railway carriage which has 3 people sleeping in it already, and the spare bed is...
Russia: “Anti-Akhmatova”
Languor Management writes about Tamara Katayeva's “600-page assault on the literary legacy Anna Akhmatova”: “This reminds me of Emma Gerstein's Moscow Memoirs, which was supposed to have debunked Nadehzda and Osip Mandelshtam's literary legacy, and really just portrayed them as particularly difficult people going through particularly hard times.”
Ukraine: Animal Shelter
On August 19, Ukrainian journalist Tanya Kremen paid a visit to an animal shelter located near a small town just outside Kyiv. Below are her impressions and thoughts, which she has posted on her blog at Korrespondent.net, as well as a couple of comments from her readers.
Trinidad & Tobago: Infinite Island
Antilles highlights Infinite Island, a contemporary Caribbean art show which opens tomorrow at the Brooklyn Museum.
Madagascar : Andriamanankoavy Jonny r'afa on why he writes
Malagasy Author-Musician-Sculptor Andriamanankoavy Jonny r'afa explains his art : “D'abord, à travers l'Art, entretenir et enrichir la ” Mémoire Collective ” des Malgaches. Celà reste un devoir par respect des origines. Trouver alors ce qu'il faut préserver, et les transmettre, les traduire.” “Through art, one can maintain and enrich the...
Cayman Islands: Caribbean Film Festival
Mighty Afroditee is impressed by the quality of films being shown at the Caribbean Film Festival.
Trinidad & Tobago: A Study in Contradiction?
“First world is not about having things, it is about how we value our musicians, artists, writers, actors as well as our businessmen. We talk about the arts et al, but do we appreciate their value?” asks Half Empty or Half Full as she contemplates the contradiction that is Trinidad...
Africa: Celebrating 100 posts
Fashion blog, Ladybrille, celebrates 100 posts: “Yay!!! Ladybrille celebrates its 100th post!!!! To mark our celebration, I thought it best to receive feedback from YOU, the readers. What do you like about Ladybrille's Blogazine, what are your favourite features?”
South Africa: Mandela statue in London
Nelson Mandela has a statue in London: “Attended by large crowds and graced by a gospel choir and some pomp and circumstance, a statue of Nelson Mandela was unveiled today in London, at Parliament Square, alongside those of Jan Smuts, Winston Churchill, Benjamin Disraeli and Abraham Lincoln.”
Bulgaria: A Wedding
Petya of Bighead writes about her Bulgarian Orthodox church wedding – and “the ability of people to reach across cultural and language barriers.”
Albania: A Vacation Report
Marko Bucik spends his vacation in Albania, a country that is “an endless joy” – despite the fact that “there are almost no street names, no mailboxes, few places have drinkable tap water.”
Egypt: Moulid Al Haggag
Egyptian Big Pharaoh takes us to the Moulid Al Haggag ceremony, offering us an explanation for the annual event and photographs.
Anguilla: Sea Bath
Bob Morris fondly remembers what Anguilla's “most famous citizen” taught him about the “unspeakable joy” of a good sea bath…