Monday, March 2, 2015: Golden Thread Productions-Celebrating Women in the Arts

"Allow every artist to speak their own truth."

We preview some of the many cultural events celebrating International Women's Day and women's history month. Kate talks to Torange Yeghiazarian, artistic director of Golden Thread Productions. Torange talks about her new play Isfahan Blues and her love of jazz.  Listen now or Get MP3. 12:36.

What Do the Women Say? A Celebration of International Women’s Day

Poetry of Resistance, Prose of Resilience
with Elmaz Abinader, Anita Amirrezvani, Saousan Jarjour, Najia Karim and Deema K Shehabi

March 12 at 8:00 pm | La Peña Cultural Center | 3105 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley

$12 in advance | $15 at the door

Golden Thread will honor over a century of activism by women artists for freedom, self-determination, and justice at its annual International Women’s Day celebration, What Do the Women Say?. This year’s program features the work of Middle Eastern women artists, who counter and shatter stereotypes, and engages in a conversation with history in light of the sweeping changes across the Middle East. Golden Thread is honored to present award-winning Syrian American opera singer Saousan Jarjour‘s Bay Area debut featuring new work by Nahal Navidar (New Threads 2014) and composer Julia Adolphe, as well as Syrian folk songs. Early 20th-century writings by women from Iraq, Tunisia, and Algeria selected from the anthology, Opening the Gates, A Century of Arab Feminist Writing, will be presented alongside readings in English and Persian by leading Bay Area poets and authors: Elmaz Abinader (This House, My Bones), Anita Amirrezvani (The Blood of Flowers, Equal to the Sun), Najia Karim, and Deema Shehabi (Thirteen Departures From the Moon). Golden Thread artistic associate Haleh Hatami will facilitate a conversation with the artists following the presentations.

Opening the Gates, a Century of Arab Feminist Writing features stories and essays from as early as 1867. “In these wonderfully diverse documents, women eschew their role as silent helpmates, “ write editors, Margot Badran and Miriam Cooke. The collection brings together many women’s voices including, Etel Adnan, Mary Ziyada, Nawal Al Saadawi, Huda Shaarawi, as well as authors never before translated into English. Published by the Indiana University Press, 1990.
Sponsored by WomenArts, a SWAN Day Event

Come sing, dance and enjoy this family event in honor of women!

Click here to listen to entire show. 59:50 min.

Also on today's show:
Surviving GamerGate
Las Almas

Also these IWD events:

• March for Intenational Women's Day in Oakland. Meet at Lake Merritt, 12th Street and 1st Ave. amphitheater at noon for rally and speak out, march at 12:30 and celebration at 1:30 PM. Organized by Gabriela.
• Kitka at the Freight and Salvage, Sunday, March 8, 2015, 8:00 pm (doors open at 7:00pm), $24 adv / $28 door. Celebrate International Women’s Day with Kitka. The world-renowned women’s vocal ensemble includes excerpts from the recently commissioned CD, I Will Remember Everything, based on the story of Russian Jewish lesbian poet Sophia Parnok. Kitka’s stunning dissonances, asymmetric rhythms, and lush harmonies are inspired by Eastern European folk traditions. The evening also includes the Shofar Award ceremony honoring Ronnie Gilbert of the folk music revival group the Weavers. Ronnie has dedicated her rich voice and background of Jewish values to the lifelong pursuit of social justice.
• Reception at KPFA Honoring the Women of KPFA, Nina Serrano, Jennifer Stone, and Avotcja, March 8 from 4 PM at 1929 MLK Way, Berkeley, CA