Helen Zughaib

Surfing through WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE ~ Poems, Short Prose & Art I just could not resist to ask permission to Jennifer Heath, curator of the show Water Water Everywhere Pean to a Vanishing Resource, and to artist Helen Zughaib to include this beautiful artwork to my blog:

Painting by Helen Zughaib©

Moonlight Fishing

A recollection of days gone by before Kuwait struck it rich with oil. Pearl diving is now just a highly respected folkloric celebration to remind the younger generation of the old days. Moonlight Fishing is a paean to a vanished tradition, a vanished resource.

Helen Zughaib was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and lived mostly in the Middle East and Europe before coming to the United States to study art. She received her BFA from Syracuse University, College of Visual and Performing Arts. She paints using gouache and ink on board, transforming her subjects into a combination of colors and patterns, creating a nontraditional sense of space and perspective.

Zughaib has exhibited widely in New York and the Washington D.C. area. Her paintings are included in more than 80 private and public collections, including the White House, World Bank, Library of Congress, United States Consulate General, Vancouver, Canada, American Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, and the Arab American National Museum in Detroit, Michigan. Most recently, she served as United States Cultural Envoy to the West Bank, Palestine.

Zughaib feels that her background in the Middle East allows her to approach the experiences she has in the U.S. in a unique way, remaining an observer of both the Arab and American cultures. She believes that the arts are one of the most important tools we have to help shape and foster dialogue and positive ideas about the Middle East.

Hopefulness, healing, and spirituality, are all themes that are woven into her work.

Moonlight Fishing, 24 x 24, gouache on board, collection of Russ Conlan and Doug Hansen.

Journée Mondiale de l’Environnement a geneva

While I am honoured to have my plastic bags partake to this very special event I would like to share with you an:

INTERVIEW D’ANNE-CÉCILE TURNER SUR RADIO CITÉ GENÈVE

Anne cecile Turner is the founder and director of Race for Water Foundation.

 

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in partnership with the United Nations Office at Geneva, the Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations in Geneva and the Race for Water Foundation have the honour to invite you to the World Environment Day (WED) Event in Geneva: Biking in Solidarity with Small Island Developing States Bains des Pâquis, Quai du Mont-Blanc 30, located on Lake Geneva on Wednesday, 4 June 2014 at 5 pm. In support of the UN`s designation of 2014 as the International Year of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the WED 2014 emphasizes the threats of climate change such as rising sea levels for SIDS around the world. This year’s slogan “Raise your voice, not the sea level” asks for the galvanization of individual actions into a collective force for generating a positive impact on the planet. Therefore, in solidarity with threatened SIDS: We are calling for UN high officials, Ambassadors and civil society representatives to donate their time, willingness and biking skills At the Bains des Pâquis, three stationary bicycles will be connected to interactive displays. As the UN high officials and Ambassadors are biking, mounted screens will show corresponding decrease in sea levels. These energetic and committed efforts to help SIDS will be recorded on video and will be available for publishing on your respective Agencies’ and Embassies’ online platforms for the official World Environment Day on 5 June. A light cocktail will be offered following the event. The event will serve to increase public awareness about the impacts of climate change and the associated sea level rise affecting Small Island Developing States.

A la veille de la Journée Mondiale de l’Environnement, les Genevois et Genevoise sont invités à venir pédaler le long du lac Léman en solidarité avec les petits états insulaires et ainsi contribuer à la préservation de l’eau et de l’environnement. C’est dans ce cadre qu’Anne-Cécile Turner, Directrice de la Fondation Race for Water était le “Grand Invité” du 26 mai dernier dans l’émission de Lynne Mabillon diffusée sur Radio Cité Genève.

Retrouvez l’intégralité de l’interview ici

Rappel de l’événement:

Date et Horaire
Mercredi 4 Juin de 11h à 18h

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Lieu
Bain des Pâquis
Quai du Mont-Blanc 30
1201 Genève

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Transport
Bus: 1, 25 (arrêt: Navigation)
Mouettes: M1, M2, M3 (arrêt: Pâquis)

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For more Info about Race for water got to: http://www.multioneattitude.com/en/

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Race for water and my plastic bags in Rolle

LA FONDATION RACE FOR WATER, PARTENAIRE DU CASINO THÉÂTRE DE ROLLE: ENSEMBLE, PRÉSERVONS L’EAU !

La Planète Bleue, opération de mobilisation autour de la préservation de l’eau, aura lieu les vendredi 23 et samedi 24 mai 2014 au Casino Théâtre de Rolle et sur les quais.

Cette initiative, organisée en collaboration avec le Casino Théâtre de Rolle autour de la journée des contes a pour but de permettre à tous de découvrir le plaisir des contes tout en sensibilisant de manière ludique aux enjeux environnementaux de notre planète et de notre région.

La tente « Pavillon de l’eau » de la Fondation Race for Water en forme de demi-goutte y sera déployée afin de sensibiliser le grand public à la préservation de l’eau.

Quizz sur l’eau, visualisation du volume d’eau virtuelle, calcul de son empreinte en eau, signature de la charte du Water Guardian, solutions pour préserver l’eau, des animations pour enfants, présentations d’œuvres artistiques, projection de films, sculpture, photographie seront à découvrir.

La journée du vendredi 23 mai sera dédiée aux écoles, des classes de Rolle et environs se verront offrir par la Fondation Race for Water un programme de sensibilisation, disposant comme outil principal du livret pédagogique Titeuf créé par notre ambassadeur ZEP.

Le samedi 24 mai sera destiné au grand public. L’occasion de venir rencontrer nos Water Guardian tels que le skipper Stève Ravussin, la comédienne Anne Richard qui a écrit un conte spécialement pour cette occasion et bien d’autres surprises….

Le programme de la journée :

5 sessions de contes
Une opération de nettoyage des rives et fonds du Léman organisée par Net’Léman
Des visites du circuit de l’eau potable de la région rolloise avec le SIDERE
Une exposition Race for Water dans le «Pavillon de l’eau », tente en forme de demi-goutte
Une exposition d’espèces animales invasives de nos cours d’eau et du Lac du service de l’environnement de l’Etat de Vaud
Une exposition sur l’énergie de la Commune de Rolle
Un atelier ludique WATERGAMES du Musée du Léman
Un atelier de création d’un bateau « Race for Water» recyclé
Un jeu de piste
Nous vous attendons nombreux ! Samedi 24 mai 2014 de 9:30 à 17:00

Pour que nous devenions tous des Water Guardian !

Contes: Lieu :

Age conseillé : dès 3 ans Casino Théâtre de Rolle, quais et Jardins Anglais
Tarif individuel CHF 10.- Rue du Port 15

Tarif groupe (4 personnes) CHF 35.- 1180 Rolle
Billetterie: en ligne http://www.theatre-rolle.ch

Rolle Tourisme ou sur place le jour même Entrée libre pour les activités extérieures

 

APPEL AUX BENEVOLES

Si vous êtes en mesure de nous offrir quelques heures, elles sont précieuses ! Contactez: info@theatre-rolle.ch afin de communiquer vos disponibilités, et les tâches qui vous intéressent. Repas et boissons offerts.

For more info go to: http://www.multioneattitude.com/en/

WHY DO YOU WANT TO STOP THE SEA INSIDE ME?

THE RACE FOR WATER CONTINUES

In the context of our exhibition: ”Race for Water – Preserving  water” we are pleased, to invite you to a round table followed by a lunch buffet to be held on Thursday 5 December 2013 from 11:30 to 13:30 at “Quartier Libre SIG”, Pont de la Machine in Geneva, on the theme: “Plastic pollution in water – what solutions?”

This roundtable will bring together professional actors on the subject, an opportunity to share and work together on water pollution.

http://www.multioneattitude.com/en/

THE RACE FOR WATER IS APPROACHING

Press release in English and in French

Press release 23 september 2013 Discover the new exhibition “Race for Water – Preserving water”! rom 4 October to 15 December 2013 Race for Water Foundation is co-organising with the SIG (Services Industrials of Geneva) an exhibition on the preservation of oceans and freshwater !Visitors will be led in a fun and interactive way to explore the mysteries of water, in order to better understand why and how our Planet’s most precious resource needs to be better preserved ! The exhibition is located in a symbolic place on the water in the heart of Geneva, and will be divided in three spaces: FRESHWATER OCEANS PRESERVATION Not to forget our common thread named TITEUF, the most precious ambassador of the RACE FOR WATER Foundation ! EXHIBITION LOCATION Quartier Libre SIG, Pont de la Machine 1, 1204 Genève OPENING HOURS From Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm – FREE ENTRANCE GUIDED VISITS AND FAMILY WORKSHOPS Register here: 00 41 (0) 22 420 75 75 or exposition@sig-ge.ch Quartier Libre Espace Expo SIG Pont de la Machine 1 1204 Genève 0041 (0) 22  420 75 75 exposition@sig-ge.ch www.sig-ge.ch/espace-exposig Anne-Cécile Turner, Directrice 0041 (0) 79 897 31 07 acturner@multioneattitude.com www.multioneattitude.com Race For Water Foundation Av. de Provence 4 Lausanne 1007 Switzerland Add us to your address book WWW.MULTIONEATTITUDE.COM The RACE FOR WATER Foundation is a charity dedicated to water preservation. It aims to educate and raise awareness on two major issues related to water pollution of lakes and oceans by plastic and preservation of freshwater. The Foundation has set up a program on three principles:LEARN: to raise public awareness SHARE: work together to make a difference ACT: implement concrete solutions

RACE FOR WATER coming soon in GENEVA

This exhibition will be held in “Quartier Libre -Pont de la Machine” in the heart of Geneva City from 4 October to 15 December 2013. The entrance will be free. The visitors will discover the mysteries of water to a better preservation and it will be divided in three spaces.

1. Freshwater:
Water footprint – in the first part, visitors can discover the various challenges of water conservation including key facts and figures, videos explaining the stakes, and information panels on the subject.

2. Oceans:
Sailing for the planet!
In the second area, visitors will discover an unique approach: How Race for Water Foundation is inventing a new tangible way of preserving the most precious resource on the planet, through an offshore sailing race, and its ambassador boat Race for Water, skippered by Steve Ravussin.

3. Preservation:
The end of this exhibition will take the visitor to reflect on his personal involvement on water footprint, discover the stakes of plastic pollution in the oceans and will be invited to offer his own solution to reduce his water consumption!

The opening will be on Thursday 3^rd October

IMPORTANT LINKS: http://www.multioneattitude.com/en/

http://www.multionedesign.com/en/teams/15/race-for-water.html

For this exhibition I have made 19 flowers to be hanged by the curators inside the Venue.

Here are pics of one sample out of its future context:

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The TITLE of the work is: FORGET ME NOT. and this is my statement to go with it:

How to frame the sea? How to trap water?

Both seem impossible tasks, yet man has been prolifically industrious in damaging great parts of this vital asset: our most comprehensive resource. But can he create a new replacement for water or even just a close imitation of it? “Ceci n’est pas une pipe”, Magritte would then say!

Art has great influence but is not supernatural and nor is man. He would have to be invested with nature’s magical powers. Then again, could he really be a self-contained substitute as generous and responsible as nature?

As much as he is trying to fool around with nature, the best he can really do is try to complement it, if not with love then with gratefulness, if not with respect then with education, because ultimately we all need our water. I like mine clean, pure and crime free, and you?

For many, to advocate for water might seem a romantic, maybe naive, possibly poetic banal act, maybe just as obvious as marvelling a timid wild flower or an overlooked plastic bag.

‘Forget me not’, for water will remember when we will not have nor memories or identity left but a consumed landscape of discarded leftovers.

An ocean framed by flowers, is the nostalgic image of ‘green’ beauty and purifying sensations that I keep trapped in my mind while the rustling of plastic bags remind me of the freshwater ‘forget me nots’ need to bloom.

Water and plastic bags, both commodified global goods, symbols of the daily struggle between nature and western culture.

WAITING ROOM AT CAP LANDEN

Waiting Room was filmed at Cap Landen, or better at Enrico Landini’s beach, my favourite place when in Italy. I have been going to this beach for years and always finding it very inspirational. Loads of my videos material and footage have been filmed here. Shame that the plastic bags you’ll see in this video I have rescued from the beach.

WAITING ROOM

WAITING ROOM and the previous two videos  (FOR SALE NOT FOR SALE and TRA ORIZZONTE, INFINITO E PRECIPIZIO C’E’ IL MARE) posted prior to this, are my last works for this season.

Next week I’ll start a new adventure at OTIS College for Art and Design in Los Angeles. For the next two years I will be a student again attending Suzanne Lacy’s Public Practice MFA programme.

While I am very excited for this amazing opportunity and to the prospect to intensively learn and experiment again I am also holding my breath in trepidation, wondering what will happen next to my art and I. Where will we be going?

This video WAITING ROOMS was inspired by PAUL KIKUCHI’s music. The piece is from the album OPEN GRAVES: HOLLOW LAKE and titled: WAITING ROOM! Although other circumstances influenced the making of the film I really liked the idea that this time a video work was created to complement a piece of music rather than the other way around.

I am a great fun of Paul’s work and this is not the first time that we ‘collaborate’ or better that he lends his work to me!

I met Paul at the Montalvo Arts Center in 2012 and would love to meet JESSE OLSEN BAY too. Jesse and Paul perform together in this album, check it out: OPEN GRAVES:HOLLOW LAKE PREFERTURE RECORDS© 2009

AND HERE IS THE VIDEO IN QUESTION, I HOPE YOU LIKE IT!

TRA ORIZZONTE, INFINITO E PRECIPIZIO C’E’ IL MARE