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Arabs at Art-a-Whirl

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:23:11 PST

Mizna will soon be leaving the California Building and Northeast Minneapolis! So this year's Art-a-Whirl is a last-Northeast-hoorah. Stop by sometime on Saturday or Sunday, May 19 and 20, to view Fatima Zahra's visual art, catch Fatima doing some live painting, or hear the music of Amwaaj, an Arab music ensemble.

Visual art Saturday & Sunday.
Occasional live painting
Exhibition reception
Saturday, May 19, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Performance by Amwaaj
Sunday, May 20, 3 p.m.

Amwaaj's performance is co-sponsored by the Arab American Cultural Institute.

Literature in Revolution: Journal Release Reading. Saturday, March 31

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 10:36:49 PST

Join us on Saturday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m at Open Book to celebrate the publication of Mizna's 24th issue, with a focus on Literature in Revolution. This timely issue contains writing from people on the ground in Syria, Egypt, and Morocco, as well as the perspectives of Arab Americans including the literary luminaries and activists Mohja Kahf and Remi Kanazi. We are working on including Maimouna Alammar, an author in Syria, via Skype. Local authors will be reading their work from the journal. We'll pay tribute to the artist Ahmed Basiony who was killed in Tahrir Square during the Egyptian Revolution and feature his visual art. A percentage of the proceeds will go to benefit the Syrian people. Reception afterward.

April 26, Elias Khoury reads from his latest novel As though She Were Sleeping

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:26:28 PST

Join us for an exciting evening with the preeminent novelist Elias Khoury, reading from his latest novel, As Though She Were Sleeping (Archipelago Books). Thursday, April 26, 7 p.m. at Open Book. Book signing and reception afterward. Co-sponsored by Macalester College and Milkweed Editions.

Help plan Mizna's 2013 film festival.

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:51:43 PST

Have you been moved by the goings on in the Arab World recently? Are you a film enthusiast? Would you like to learn more about Arab art and culture? If so, join us to find out how you can help plan Mizna's next Twin Cities Arab Film Festival.

Mizna invites you to join its film festival committee for the upcoming edition of the festival scheduled for spring of 2013. Mohannad Ghawanmeh is returning to curate this edition, bringing his expertise and infectious enthusiasm for Arab film.

Cinema Arabiata, an Arab Film Blog

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:48:58 PST

During the long wait between Twin Cities Arab Film Festival editions, where do you go to stay tuned in to the landscape of Arab film? Mizna is proud to present Cinema Arabiata, a new blog about Arab film by film enthusiast and past TCAFF curator, Mohannad Ghawanmeh. From Mohannad, "Cinema Arabiata aims to cover Arab cinema primarily, but not exclusively. Its ambition is to persuade my readers that cinema, including Arab cinema, has the demonstrated potential not only to inform and impact, but to profoundly move and inspire, to leave a lasting and indelible mark on the lives of it audiences."

April 12, Hikayat Al-Mahjar (Tales of the Diasporas): Gibran and Beyond

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:01:30 PST

Novels, poems, and prose, it turns out, are laden with untapped information about how the first generation of Arab pioneers lived in the United States. Join us to hear scholar Hani Bawardi discuss early Arab American history and the largely neglected writings from early Arab American literary communities.

Thursday, April 12 at 7 p.m.
125 Nicholson Hall, University of Minnesota
Reception afterward.

Arabic classes, beginning in February!

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:35:51 PST

Beginning February 1, Mizna will be offering three classes in spoken and written Arabic: Arabic I, II, and III. The classes will take place in the Mizna office in Northeast Minneapolis with instructors Antoine Mefleh and Sondes Douzi Wooldridge.

Remi Kanazi: Performance & Workshop

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:25:26 PST

Mizna is partnering with the Loft Literary Center to present a spoken word performance by Remi Kanazi as part of the Loft's Equilibrium series. Remi is an amazing Palestinian American spoken word artist, and his performance on Saturday, December 3 is not to be missed! Also, the following day, Remi will be leading a spoken word workshop. Lunch will be provided and there will be an optional sharing of work. Space is limited, so sign up for the workshop today: mizna@mizna.org or 612-788-6920. The workshop is co-presented by Mizna, the Loft, and the Twin Cities chapter of the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN).

7th Twin Cities Arab Film Festival

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:31:39 PST

As always, Mizna's Twin Cities Arab Film Festival guarantees some excellent Minnesota premiers as well as a number of U.S. premiers. Join us November 10 to 13 at the Heights Theatre for this weekend of films that is not to be missed!

On the eve of the festival, join us for the Film Festival Fête at Saffron! Buy your ticket for the fête, as well as festival passes and tickets to individual films here!

Zafira the Olive Oil Warrior

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:51:00 PST

Mizna is co-presenting panel discussions and workshops accompanying Pangea World Theater's production of "Zafira the Olive Oil Warrior," opening on the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001. Written by former Mizna director, Kathryn Haddad, "Zafira" takes place in the not-so-distant future, when suicide bombers have hit simultaneous cities across the United States. Arab and Muslim Americans are official Enemies of the State and have been ordered into internment camps. "Zafira the Olive Oil Warrior" tells the story of one Arab American woman's experience leading up to, during, and after her internment.

September 11, 2011 through October 2, 2011
Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre
1500 E. Lake St. | Minneapolis | 55407

Perspectives on Borders and Occupation

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:32:15 PST

Mizna is participating in Flo Razowsky's powerful photography exhibit and installation, Up Against the Wall, exploring the separation walls built around the Palestinian West Bank, on the U.S./Mexico border, and surrounding Spanish Melilla. The exhibit runs through September 17.

On Saturday, August 27, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mizna will present "Perspectives on Borders and Occupation," academic, personal, and artistic reactions to the Israeli occupation and the wall surrounding the West Bank. Please join us for this free event!

Registration closed for Arabic classes, beginning in September!

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:16:09 PST

Beginning September 10, Mizna will be offering three classes in spoken and written Arabic: Arabic I, II, and III. All Arabic classes will take place in the Mizna office in Northeast Minneapolis with instructor Sondes Douzi Wooldridge.

"Food and Fadwa" workshops July 28 to 31

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:10:58 PST

Welcome to life in the occupied West Bank, where 30-something Fadwa escapes reality through her quirky cooking show. Join us for a workshop performance of this Edgerton award-winning comedy before it premieres off-Broadway in 2012! By Lameece Issaq and Jacob Kader, and directed by Shoshanna Gold, this is a show not to be missed.

Journal Release Party, Saturday, July 9

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:32:21 PST

Join Mizna and the Loft Literary Center to celebrate the publication of the latest issue of Mizna's eponymous literary journal. Mizna will be presenting authors reading from the journal including Mary Barghout, Nahid Khan, Abdifatah Shafat, and D. Daryoush. A reception will follow. Saturday, July 9, 7:30 p.m.

Register now for Arabic classes, beginning in May!

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:10:48 PST

Beginning May 21, Mizna will be offering four classes in spoken and written Arabic: Arabic I, II, and III, as well as Advanced Arabic: Media and Culture. All Arabic classes will take place in the Mizna office in Northeast Minneapolis.

Sham-e-Ali Nayeem, April 16, 8 p.m.

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:24:42 PST

Mizna is partnering with the Loft Literary Center to present a spoken word performance by Sham-e-Ali Nayeem and Tomás Riley, with music by DJ Nak, as part of the Loft's Equilibrium series. Sham-e-Ali's poetry has appeared in our literary journal, Mizna. Along with Sham-e-Ali and Tomás, there will be opening readings by local poets See More Perspective and Nimo Farah. Equilibrium is the Loft Literary Center's long-running spoken word series.

Arab American Theater Events, April 9 to May 1

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:58:05 PST

Mizna is pleased to cosponsor, with Pangea World Theater, Arab American selections from Pangea's Alternate Visions Festival. The line-up includes a reading of Kathryn Haddad's forthcoming play, Zafira (Warrior Princess of the World) and Andrea Assaf's performance Eleven Reflections on September and eleven days of related events. The associated events include open mic nights, a panel discussion about the ongoing revolutions in the Arab world, an art exhibit, and a dialog between Kathryn and Andrea. Join us for this exciting line-up!

Shared Cultural Spaces Feb. 24 to Feb. 26

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:15:14 PST

Mizna is excited to be a community partner for the University of Minnesota's conference on Islam and the humanities, Shared Cultural Spaces. The conference is free and open to the public. This is a wonderful opportunity to attend lectures by scholars exploring the many ways in which Muslim and Western humanities coexist.

Each night will feature a presentation of Journey by Mohammed Ghaffari, a play premiering at the conference. This is an adaption of "Hay ibn Yaqzan," a twelfth century novel by Ibn Tufayl, considered one of the spiritual and scientific masterpieces of the medieval Islamic world.

FILM SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED!

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 11:25:50 PST

Mizna's 7th Twin Cities Arab Film Festival is now accepting submissions. The festival is seeking narratives, documentaries, experimental films, and animated films, both feature-length and shorts, by and/or about Arabs and Arab Americans. The deadline for entries is now August 29, 2011.

Spring Arabic Classes: Registration closed

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 17:23:12 PST

Mizna will be offering spoken and written Arabic classes at the beginner and intermediate levels the Spring of 2011. Classes will take place in the Mizna office in Northeast Minneapolis.