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A letter from the Aaina Co-Director: Prachi Vora
It is my honor to invite you to the 6th Aaina: A South Asian Women’s Focus 2011, presented by Tasveer in collaboration with the Gardner Center for Asian Art & Ideas. For the first time ever, Aaina will be held at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Indeed, it is a privilege for Tasveer and the local South Asian community to have the museum host Aaina, as it signifies a special milestone for us to be able to contribute to global social change efforts. Aaina, which will take place from the 25th through the 27thof March, celebrates the artistic work of or about South Asian women through film, visual and performing arts, and conversations.
I first experienced Aaina as a volunteer in 2009 and instantly fell in love with what the festival represents and its impact on the community. To me, Aaina is more than just another festival—it is a living, pulsating, and thriving colony that exudes soulful ingenuity. It is a “mirror” that reflects multiple realities about South Asian women in today’s society—their perceptions, expectations, and reactions. Aaina enables us to look through that mirror with more than our eyes.
I am excited to formally share this year’s Aaina schedule and flyer (designed by the talented Zaara from Kittenchops). Several programs are free and all promise to push boundaries, challenge social norms, and encourage dialogue within our community. The opening program, Gupshup, showcases local artists and their original creations of illustrations and paintings (Aaliyah Gupta, Shahana Dattagupta, and Sharda Monga), fiber art (Smriti Rai), photography (Ankita Patel), and video installation (Gazelle Samizay). The festival’s independent screenings offer wonderful glimpses into the varied facets of womanhood in the South Asian context, and nearly all of them will be followed by discussions with the directors! The films depict a unique approach to political activism (Gulabi Gang—Pink Saris), personal and sensitive conversations of coming out to parents (I Am), how mental health affects families (Hiding Divya), a heartwarming tale about three Nepali girls struggling to go to and stay in school (GirlWorld Project), an encounter between two women leading completely different lives (Chaukaith—Threshold), and soccer-playing girls tackling stereotypes (Afghan Girls Can Kick). The festival also features an international artist from Nepal, Asha Magarati, in a one-act play (Swasnimanchhe) about the lives of three women in contemporary Nepal, an exploration of Afghans in America through readings from “One Story, Thirty Stories” by three literary artist-activists (Zohra Saed, Sahar Muradi, and Gazelle Samizay), and Aaina’s spotlight event—Yoni Ki Baat (“YKB,” inspired by The Vagina Monologues)—written and performed by local South Asian Women and directed by the lovely Shahana Dattagupta. A portion of the proceeds from YKB is being donated to Chaya, a Seattle-based domestic violence organization.
I, along with Tasveer’s Executive Director, Rita Meher, thank the Aaina volunteers who are ardently working behind the scenes as well as all the YKB sisters who have been meeting diligently each week for the past few months to put on a great festival. Please visit www.tasveer.org for more information, ticketing details, and flyer…and, help us spread the word!
See you there!
Sincerely,
Prachi Vora
Co-Director, Aaina 2011
Aaina 2011 Schedule
A brief update on Yoni Ki Baat preparation from YKB Director Shahana Dattagupta
At the end of 2010, Yoni-ki-Baat concluded its story-building workshops series, a first-time dedicated and rigorously coached effort to draw out diverse and latent stories from nearly 20 local South Asian women. In developing this curriculum of intense, participatory, interactive workshop sessions, the first goal was to bring forth stories that make emotional connections and change lives (starting with those of the story-tellers themselves), not ‘polished writing’ as traditionally defined. The other goal was to stretch the canvas and include both the challenging and the celebratory aspects of being a South Asian woman, and all its various implications.
To our delight, authentic and powerful storytelling has emerged from participants, who otherwise may or may not have considered themselves writers or poets! Most importantly, through the willingness for vulnerable, open-ended, personal exploration in the witness of a sisterhood, we have laid the foundation for trust, safety, courage, creativity ... to give voice to things that remain unheard and unseen, and for forays into previously unchartered territories for an all-Seattle based writing and performing group. Ultimately, we are building a community of women willing to be the change they wish to see in the world.
In late December, 16 stories were accepted for inclusion in the show, and in January, a group of women committed to giving voice to these stories has moved into rehearsals! We can't wait to be on stage in two months!
Yoni Ki Baat, translated as "Talk of the Vagina", is inspired by Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues. This transformative play encourages South Asian women to speak out against the violence and stigma associated with our bodies. We are proud to have all our scripts submitted from our local community. Please visit Tasveer for more details.
Sponsorship Opportunity at Aaina 2011: $250
There are still sponsorship opportunities available during the festival. Make your business shine among the festivalgoers, museum patrons and South Asians of Pacific Northwest for only $250. You will receive acknowledgement and exposure through all festival activities and promotional materials. Promotional benefits include:
- Company name and link will be included on all e-newsletter related to the festival.
- Company name and link will be listed on our website.
- Your company slide in the slide show featured throughout the festival.On-site presence throughout the event to inform and distribute promotional materials. Acknowledgements before all events.
To find out more please write to Rita Meher rita@tasveer.org
Donate your miles to sponsor a filmmaker
We are in need of miles to fly in guest filmmakers for Aaina. If you want to make a donation of your miles for a filmmaker or a guest author coming from East Coast please contact us. Your in-kind donation of miles is tax deductible! Write to info@tasveer.org.
Also to make a Donation for Aaina or YKB please visit our homepage and click on "Make A Donation" button.
Community Events
Cure Sonia FINAL push in Seattle starts this weekend!
*WED 02/02 10a-3p UW Red Square: Bone Marrow Donor Registration Drive: University of Washington .
Pls RSVP to the drives you'll attend. If you'd like to volunteer onsite, just says so on the event's wall. Thank you!
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