RUMI FEST 2010 | Day 2 | Oct 24
Venue: Trinity-St. Paul Center
RUMI FEST 2010 - Day 2 featured performances by: Coleman Barks, Whirling Dervishes, (Canadian Sufi Cultural Center) Sohbat by Anwar Khurshid & Amir Amiri, cellist Brenda Muller and a special book signing opportunity of Coleman Barks' most recent work Rumi: The Big Red Book. It also featured art exhibits by: Hacer Ozcan, The Open Easel, and Leili Sherkat. Exquisite jewelery exhibition was also on display by: Seraglio.
> View Rumi Fest Day 1 (SOLD OUT)
*Partial proceeds from the Rumi Fest were given personally to Dr. Edhi of EDHI FOUNDATION and the other half were given to the new hospital in Pakistan built by the Turkish government. Thanks to all those who came to the event and to those who donated for the flooding victims in Pakistan. May we all open our hearts towards those in serious need.
Rumi: The Big Red Book
The Great Masterpiece Celebrating Mystical Love and Friendship
by Coleman Barks
Come and join us at the Canadian
Premiere & Book Signing of
Rumi:
The Big Red Book
Purchase and get your copy signed by Coleman Barks exclusively at Rumi Fest - Day2 | Oct 24
“Really, what other book would anyone ever need?”
-Naomi Shihab Nye, author of Honeybee
“Elegant and exquisite.”
-Deepak Chopra, author of Muhammad, Jesus, and Buddha
The Big Red Book is a poetic masterpiece from Jalaluddin Rumi, the medieval Sufi mystic whom Time magazine calls “the most popular poet in America.” Readers continue to be awed and inspired by Rumi’s masterfully lyrical, deeply expressive poems, collected in volumes such as The Illustrated Rumi, The Soul of Rumi, and the bestselling The Essential Rumi. With The Big Red Book, acclaimed poet and Rumi interpreter Coleman Barks offers a never-before-published translation of a crucial anthology of poems widely considered to be one of Persian literature’s greatest treasures.
It is claimed that over the last fifteen years Rumi has been the most-read poet in the United States. In the fall of 2010 Harper One will publish RUMI: THE BIG RED BOOK, which will collect all of the work on Rumi's ghazals and rubai that he has done over the past thirty-four years.
Dr. Barks taught American Literature and Creative Writing at various universities for thirty-four years, and has published seven volumes of his own poetry. The Univ. of Georgia Press published WINTER SKY: Poems 1968 -2008in September of 2008. In 2004 he received the Juliet Hollister Award for his work in the interfaith area.
Supported by:
Mevlana Jalalud'din Rumi
Mevlana Jalalud'din Rumi was born in 1207 to a long line of Islamic theologians and lawyers on the eastern edge of the Persian Empire in what is now Afghanistan. In order to escape the invading Mongol armies of Genghis Khan, his family moved west to a town now found in Turkey, where he eventually became scholar and a teacher. It was a blessed day in 1244 when he met Shams Tabriz, a passionate mystic with rare gifts and insight. The renowned scholar Rumi had found a soul mate and friend, Shams Tabriz, who would become his spiritual mentor.
Due to their friendship, Rumi wrote thousands of lyric poems and short quatrains in honor of his friend Shams Tabriz. They are poems of divine epiphany, spiritual awakening, friendship, and love.
Rumi wrote over 25,000 verses of inspiring and devotional poetry in the Masnavi, encapsulating the Sufi’s experience of union with the divine. These timeless classics have enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, as Rumi has become one of the most popular poets in the world. His poetry is wide ranging and encompasses many different ideas but behind all the poetry the essential theme was the longing and searching for the union with the divine. Rumi was himself a great saint and a mystic. His outpourings of poetry were a reflection of his own inner consciousness. It is claimed that over the last fifteen years Rumi has been the most-read poet in the United States.
> Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi and the Whirling Dervishes
> Rumi Books
Coleman Barks
Born in 1937 in Chattanooga, Tennessee and educated at the Univ. of North Carolina (BA 1959; PhD 1968) and at the Univ. of California, Berkeley (MA 1961), Coleman Barks has since 1977 collaborated with various scholars of the Persian language (most notably, John Moyne) to bring over into American free verse the poetry of the 13th Century mystic, Jelaluddin Rumi. This work has resulted in twenty-one volumes, including the bestselling Essential Rumi in 1995, two appearances on Bill Moyers’ PBS specials, and inclusion in the prestigious Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. The Rumi translations have sold over a million copies.
It is claimed that over the last fifteen years Rumi has been the most-read poet in the United States. In the fall of 2010 Harper One will publish RUMI: THE BIG RED BOOK, which will collect all of the work on Rumi's ghazals and rubai that he has done over the past thirty-four years.
Dr. Barks taught American Literature and Creative Writing at various universities for thirty-four years, and has published seven volumes of his own poetry. The Univ. of Georgia Press published WINTER SKY: Poems 1968 -2008in September of 2008. In 2004 he received the Juliet Hollister Award for his work in the interfaith area.
In March 2005 the US State Dept. sent him to Afghanistan as the first visiting speaker there in twenty-five years. In May of 2006, the University of Tehran awarded him an honorary doctorate. In 2009 he was inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame.
Links
Sohbat
When Amir Amiri (Iran) and Anwar Khurshid (Pakistan) played together for the first time it was as if two kindred spirits had met. Sohbat, the mystical conversation between two kindred spirits, is an evocative and innovative duo that uses the boundaries of tradition as a point of reference and through the conversation resolves them.
Sohbat: Amir Amiri and Anwar Khurshid - are both accomplished musicians in their own right. Amiri, a classically trained santur player from Iran, made Canada his home more than a decade ago in search for the inner harmony between Persian classical music and western musical traditions. In this he has developed his own melodic and harmonic approach which has resulted in a critically acclaimed body of original compositions. Khurshid, from Pakistan, has made Canada his home for more than 20 years. Because of Anwars' attention to the nuances of vocal music and his high technical ability, his instrument becomes a voice. Anwar explores the intricate spaces between notes and beats with ease and is fearless in his pursuit of pure music. His music has influences ranging from Indian Classical to Blues and Arabian music.
Brenda Muller
Ardeleana's founder and artistic director for 25 years, Brenda is known as an outstanding, innovative musician, poet, song writer and inter- disciplinary performer. From her roots as a classical cellist who graduated from the University of Western Ontario with an honours degree in music performance, Brenda has gone on to create conceptual art events from the linkages between art music, popular music, theatre, poetry, dance and visual art. Her excellence as a cellist and her original artistic voice as a poet and songwriter have been acclaimed both nationally and internationally.
Brenda has produced six recordings. Five of these focus primarily on the art music of Canadian women composers. She has toured as a chamber musician throughout Canada and the United States, has been broadcast on the CBC and other radio stations, and released four recordings with Ardeleana. Brenda has premiered many works of new music and performs frequently as a soloist.
Brenda is also an award winning artist. Her most recent awards include an Applause Award for Excellence from the York Region District School Board for her children's story-theatre musical Melissa's Song. She has also been named "Entertainer of the Year" for York Region by Awards for Women in 2003.
Agah Ecevit
Agah began his music studies in 1997, under the scrutiny and careful guidance of master Ney'zen (ney player)Ilyas Celikoglu who is the last student to have studied under the discipline of the great poet and neyzen Tevfik in the late 40's.In 1999, Agah continued to pursue studying ney under the new auspices of the esteemed Hakan Alvan, a directing musician at the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Between 1999 and 2002, Agah participated in a multitude of various Turkish classical chorus based concertos as works presented by the ministry as well as having played live in various professional music performaces as leading ney and clarinet.
In 2003, after migrating to Toronto in pursuit of an English education, Agah pioneered the initial footsteps of what is now known as the Bosphorus Project. Agah has since appeared in on stage with various Canadian and Turkish performing artists including recorded contributions and an apperance in the award winning documentary "Breath" and is now working on mastering the clarinet.
Ergun Gulbay
Ergun was born in Istanbul where his persistent interest in music and constant pleas for music lessons did not go unnoticed by his family whom after having identified with his passion for music, enrolled Ergun into Turkish Classical Kanun lessons at the age of eight.
Over the following years after having demonstrated an advanced musical talent and understanding, Ergun applied to the Istanbul Technical University where he examined for and earned the opportunity to study the Tanbur under the guidance of the University's music faculty at the prestigious Istanbul state conservatory in 1994. His Tanbur training progressed through the Turkish equivalents of middle school and high school until his interests returned to the Kanun up until he graduated University in 2004 just prior to immigrating to Canada.
During his education and tenure as a professional musician in Turkey, Ergun performed for a multitude of popular and influential artists before his arrival to Toronto in pursuit of a career and to further explore his musical interests. The now Turkish-Canadian musician has since secured his place on stage as lead vocalist and kanun player for the Bosphorus Project along with his involvement with other local artists and performances of varying styles since 2004.
Fatih Tandogan
Fatih was born in Zug, Switzerland.
He moved to Istanbul, Turkey at the age of 12. After living 14 years in Istanbul and finishing his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Masters in Statistics he decided to immigrate to Toronto, Canada. The first instrument he played was the xylophone at age eight in primary school. He was introduced to the piano at age 10 after which he began playing the guitar during his University years in Istanbul. Once in Toronto, he enjoyed playing the frame drum (bendir) and Turkish dumbek (darbuka). He has been actively playing the darbuka since 2001. He joined the Turkish band Bosphorus Project, active in Toronto, year 2005.
Ebru: by Hacer Ozcan
Hacer Ozcan met with Turkish Marbling Art (EBRU) in 2007, through her mentor, Salim Sahin and took about six months of Marbling lesson from him.
Ebru is a method of aqueous surface design, which can produce patterns similar to marble or other stone, hence the name. The patterns are the result of color floated on either plain water or a viscous solution known as size, and then carefully transferred to a sheet of paper (or other surfaces such as fabric). This decorative material has been used to cover a variety of surfaces for several centuries. It is often employed as a writing surface for calligraphy, and especially book covers.
"Nobody can say that to embroider on water surface is impossible..."
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Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi
Art Exhibit by: Leili Sherkat
Leili Sherkat is an abstract painter whose work leans towards realism; capturing the realities of this world through simplified elements, her work provokes continuous reflections for the viewer. Born in Iran, she holds a B.A. in Graphic Arts and Design from the University of Tehran.
In the Rumi collection, Leili abstracts the dominant visual forms of Iranian calligraphy to decipher the profound mystical poems of Rumi for a wider range of audience. Using the mediums acrylic, oil and watercolour, Leili captures the purity and magnificence of Rumi's words. Leili`s work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in various countries including England, Russia, Japan, Iran, and Canada.
Her colourful and detailed paintings are represented in private collections and introduced in various magazines and TV programs. When not creating her own art, Leili holds classes for aspiring artists in her private studio.
Art Exhibit by: The Open Easel
The Open Easel was founded by Toronto's visual artist, Samia Shaheen. Samia's work reflects the atmosphere and ambiance of the eastern cities she has lived in and visited. Oil, acrylic and water based media are used to capture the splendour of South Asia 's Mughal and Islamic architecture. In a play of lights, her paintings adhere to the style and tone of the romantic schools of impressionism and cubism, studied under the guidance of renowned South Asian artist Mansur Rahi Sahaab. Selected works have been exhibited in Islamabad , Lahore and Toronto and commissioned pieces have found their way into homes and offices across Ontario and Quebec.
Image credits: Coleman Barks background and Sohbat background are copyrighted by The Open Easel.
Jewelery Exhibit by: Seraglio
Seraglio (se-ra-glee-o) is a jewelry couture house that designs and produces ethnical Ottoman era hand made jewellery and accessories in unique designs.
The principal behind Seraglio is to combine a reverence for the past with a nod to the present. Our collection celebrates the traditional intricate beauty of jewelry worn in the Turkish Ottoman Court as well as provide styles which accommodate more urban tastes. Our products are guaranteed never to loose their lustre making them ideal as heirloom pieces.
The gallery pieces, although for sale, are only examples of what we sell. To learn more about Seraglio Accessories, you may email us at: info@seraglio.ca
Venue: Trinity-St. Paul Center (Spadina & Bloor)
Directions:
427 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1X7
Trinity St. Paul Center is located in the heart of the Annex near Spadina subway station.
Google map:
This event is produced by:
