OPENING RECEPTION:

SATURDAY, APRIL 4th at 7pm

About the Exhibit

Iraq & the U.S. – Children, Art & Building a Culture of Peace is an exhibit of artwork exchanged between Iraqi refugee children living in Jordan and students at our own Van Duyn Elementary School. We will have an opening reception to celebrate this milestone of understanding through art on Saturday, April 4, 2009. Joining us will be representatives from our sponsoring organizations; Laura Reeder from Partners for Arts Education and Claudia Lefkow from the Iraqi Childrens’ Art Exchange, as well as third grade students from Van Duyn Elementary School and their art teacher, Ilene Layow. The exhibit will display a joint mural, an Iraqi mural and other artwork from children connected to the project.

Of equal importance is the contribution made by Iraqi children who fled war-torn Iraq and now live in Syracuse. These children graciously acted as “emissaries” and spent time with the 3^rd graders to provide face-to-face contact with a completely different culture. They will also attend the opening and contribute artwork to the exhibit.

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Jafeth’s Good-bye Fundraising Party!

To bid a loving farewell to our visiting artist, Jafeth Gómez Ledesma, and to help support ArtRage, Colleen and “Some Guys”  and the Eudy Fernandez  Latin Jazz Band will play at a concert/dance party during our current exhibit of Jafeth’s paintings; Hope In a Time of Turmoil. Join us to eat, drink, dance and generally celebrate life with Jafeth and the gang!

“Joe Hill would be proud.  Singer and organizer at the same time”,  Pete Seeger says of Colleen, a bi-lingual singer songwriter of New Song and Nueva canción.  She performs original alternative acoustic music in a splendidly energetic mix of poetry and rhythm.  Her voice can be both strong and tender and has been likened to that of Joni Mitchell, Natalie Merchant, and Shawn Colvin.  Colleen has performed for diverse audiences at colleges and universities, women’s festivals, environmental festivals, and Latin American and labor solidarity events.

Nationally, she has toured  with the acclaimed multi-media project Sing it down!, a music/video/discussion program designed as part of the movement to educate about the infamous US army School of the Americas. Folk legend Pete Seeger has called this struggle to close the school “the singin’ist movement he knows”.  Aside from singing with Seeger, Colleen has shared the stage with folks such as Bruce Cochburn, Holly Near, and Tom Paxton.  Colleen combines music and activism, recognizing the guitarra armada or ‘armed guitar’ concept of Latin American troubadours like Mercedes Sosa and Silvio Rodriguez who know that the guitar and voice are mightier than the sword.

Colleen at ArtRage: $10-$25 sliding scale suggested donation.

For more on Colleen visit: www.colleenkattau.com and www.myspace.com/colleenkattau

The Humane Society of the United States is hosting a free Lobbying for Animals Seminar where participants will learn how to make a tremendous difference for animals in New York and beyond.

The U.S. Congress and the New York state legislature will be considering
legislation that would significantly impact animals, such as a bill to help strengthen dogfighting laws and a bill to prohibit canned shoots. We want you to know the most effective ways to get involved!

We will show you basic “lobby” techniques for citizen activists and provide information regarding some of the bills and issues being considered this year. Please take time to attend this meetings to support the ongoing efforts to protect the animals of New York. And feel free to bring friends and share this message to others who might like to join us.

PS: Have you registered for the New York State Humane Lobby Day yet?

Lobbying for Animals Seminar Syracuse, New York

https://community.hsus.org/humane/events/lobby101_SyracuseNY_Feb25/

NEW YORK STATE HUMANE LOBBY DAY
Albany, New York – Monday, March 30, 2009
https://community.hsus.org/humane/events/lobbyday_AlbanyNY_March30

http://www.humanesociety.org

Eye-opening Inspirational Film Everyone Should See!

Do you want to know who has caused our current economic crisis?  Would you like to know the real story behind all the wars and terrorism?  Would you like to hear about some amazing solutions to the ills of today’s society?  Do you want to learn what you can do TODAY to effect REAL change in America and around the World for all of humanity?  Come watch this amazing film with us!  You’ll be glad you did and it’s totally free!

A short discussion period will be held afterwards. Information about local resources for the various solution suggestions made at the end of the film will be provided. For more information, contact Jenny Skates at 751-5510.

Film run time: 2 hours and 3 minutes