Volunteers Needed

We will need volunteers to act as "museum attendants" for 4 hour shifts to greet visitors, manage the guest sign-in book, answer questions about the art and artists, hand out information sheets, make and serve coffee and tea and keep a cookie plate full, direct people to the silent auction table, sell raffle tickets, handle art sales, and inform people of up-coming events.

Couples may volunteer together, and children can come with parents. Volunteers will not need to be responsible for locking or unlocking the building, as the art gallery staff will be there doing their regular business.

Sign up for one or more shifts on the volunteer calendar, including a phone number or email address. We will contact you with a date for a brief orientation meeting to be held before the exhibit opens.

Thank you for giving your time and energy to this once in a lifetime event. Your presence will make the show a memorable experience for everyone who attends.

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All events, unless otherwise noted, will take place at The ArtHouse Designs exhibit space at 420 B. Franklin Street, SE, Olympia, Washington.

SPACE IS LIMITED -CAPACITY 50

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May we suggest another great event happening in Olympia? It's a lecture series and community dialogue entitled:

The Search for Peace: The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict

We'll be there, hope you will, too!

Friday, February 6, 2004 - Opening Night
7:00pm-9:00pm

She has also traveled many times to Palestine's West Bank and Gaza Strip and has many heartfelt stories and pertinent information to share with us during this special event.

Bert Sacks - Though raised in the Jewish faith, Bert has a strong interest in Buddhism; he is a committed pacifist whose peacemaking efforts have taken him to Iraq at least 9 times in the last decade in violation of US/UN economic sanctions. For breaking US law in traveling to Iraq and bringing relief aid to Iraqi families, Bert was fined $10,000 by the US Treasury Department. In response, he raised an additional $10,000 to deliver medical relief to Iraq; Bert refuses to pay the fine.

Bert Sacks lived in Israel for five years and has visited the occupied territories of Palestine twice; his peacemaking has taken him across many borders, and through his practice of “compassionate listening” he expertly carries the human stories of war, nonviolence and reconciliation to thousands across the United States.

Dick Meyer - Owner of Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art in Olympia, which is a place to discover folk art products from cultures around the world, made available through fair and equitable trade relationships with low-income artisans and farmers from more than fifty countries.

Traditions is also a cafe and center for concerts, workshops and public forums; a gathering place for a community of interesting and involved people.

Saturday, February 7, 2004 - Another World Is Possible
7:00pm-9:00pm

Their focus was to connect with individuals and organizations throughout the region and to document the realities of military and economic occupation. Reports will cover the situation in the Occupied Territory of Palestine, in US Occupied Iraq and from the Free Trade Zones of Jordan. Br sure to join us and discuss with them the situation on the ground in the Middle East and the future of the occupations and join in the question and answer session following the presentation.

Friday, February 13, 2004 - Arab Women and Literature
7:00pm-9:00pm

Therese Saliba (The Evergreen State College) and other special guests will talk about some of the issues facing Arab women today and will read from selected contemporary and classic Arab literature.

Saturday, February 28, 2004 - Community Hafla - Dance for Peace
7:00pm-10:00pm

Join us in a community hafla to mark the closing of this unique art and cultural event.  We'll have live music, belly dancing, traditional line dance instruction, food and great fun! 

Read about the performing artists below:

The Brothers of the Baladi - Imagine the sensual sounds of the Middle East mixed with guitars and keyboards, the plaintive wail of ancient Arab/Turkish folk-horns, Moroccan string melodies and timeless rhythms-- and you have the infectiously danceable Middle Eastern/World Music of the Brothers of the Baladi.

Since 1975 the Brothers¹ filial bond has been at the root of their music. Known for their traditional Middle Eastern performances, the Brothers have successfully bridged the gap between traditional Middle Eastern music and American Rock n¹ Roll. They tastefully mix traditional acoustic instruments, vocals in seven languages [English, Turkish, Arabic, Armenian, Persian, French and Spanish], exotic rhythms and familiar grooves. Their music excites and motivates virtually any audience.

The Brothers of the Baladi have headlined a zillion colleges, festivals, concert halls and clubs. They have shared the stage with Maria Muldaur, It¹s a Beautiful Day, The Mamas & the Papas, 3 Mustaphas 3, Leon Redbone, Paul Horn, The Lovemongers [Heart], Poi Dog Pondering and Zachary Richard, just to name a few. Their credits include the 2000 Desert Rose Grammy Award, featured music on USA Network¹s Core Culture [Oct. 2000], soundtrack for the Tony Award winning [Ashland] Oregon Shakespeare Festival¹s Midsummer Night¹s Dream and Comedy of Errors, and soundtracks for over 50 Middle Eastern Dance videos.

Their discography includes nine recordings: Dance with Gladness [1982], Food of Love [1983], Beyond the Tenth [1989], Further Journeys [1993], Eye on the World produced by Michael Shrieve from the original Santana band [1995], Heart of the Beast (1998) Time of Peace, Hope [2002] and Hands of a Thousand Dances [2003]. Michael Beach, the Brothers¹ vocalist, drummer and leader, has also produced an educational series: Basic Middle Eastern Rhythms available on cassette and VHS video. Their catalog is available at their web site and their music is distributed internationally.

The Brothers of the Baladi offer something for everyone... a cohesive rhythmic package that transcends borders and animates an audience. They continue to present the most exciting, educational and highly danceable shows on this planet.

Hasani, a talented belly dancer and instructor will perform and give belly dance instruction for the adventuresome.  Click here to learn more about Hasani.

"Hasani began her fascination with the Dance at the impressionable age of 13, when her six brothers began teasing her about going through an "awkward" stage. Hasani did indeed learn to be graceful, but she discovered something even more important - what to do with her feminine energy and how to express herself...Hasani is devoted to teaching the Dance, and loves to see the self-realization that takes place as women discover the Dance for themselves."

We're hoping to have other traditional dancers from the Middle East region to perform and give instructions for the adventuresome. So don't miss this opportunity!

Come dressed in clothing from your place of origin or any costume of your choice and bring a friend or two!

February 6-28, 2004 - A Conversation With Art

Local students (K - college), artists, and all lovers of art are invited to engage in "A Conversation With Art" by visiting the exhibit and making their own artwork in response to their experience. This local art will be displayed alongside the Palestinian and Iraqi artist's work during the final week of the show. Participants may then choose to have their art become a permanent part of the traveling exhibit as it journeys on throughout the country. For more information about "A Converstaion With Art", click here.