ARTS & entertainment
ARTS & entertainment culture club Arts celebrated at E’rootha event 3 By Dominic Anton Photos by James Wallace Opening the doors to the Tre Monti Ristorante in Troy, and the imaginations of everyone in attendance, E’rootha’s Evening of the Arts on September 30 showcased 18 artists along with a strolling gallery, live auction and performance pieces from singers to poets. This was the event’s fifth year and as always, the goal was to preserve the Chaldean culture and tell its story through various forms of art created by the bright, featured artists, said Mathew Kalasho, Erootha’s chief executive officer. The evening was emceed by Caldin Konja. The event held a strong sense of community, and the stories of our past were portrayed beautifully by the works of art created by the many talented showcased artists. Sabah (Sam) Selou Wazi has created hydro-stone (hard plaster) pieces including replicas of ancient Babylonian and Sumerian pieces for about six years. “I start with a subject matter, then I carve it on oil-based clay and after I carve it, I do brush-on rubber mold,” he said. “After that I pour hydro-stone and it’s complete.” Oakland University student Reema Naman displayed pictures including her friends and unique places. “Photography is my passion and I also enjoy drawing and painting. I did yearbook in high school and I got obsessed; I started my company right after,” she said. “I’m also a student at Oakland University studying biology with a studio art minor.” Naman said her inspiration comes from trying to capture anything she sees and turning it into something beautiful. Art is a lifestyle. It is a way we think, feel and express ourselves and that was embodied through the pieces showcased at the event. Valine Abro sits on the board of E’rootha and is the director of the administration. “It’s been such an honor to work with an organization that is based on the youth. It’s awesome because there are so many organizations in the community but this one is youth based and we want to continue that,” she said. The majority of the artists at the show are college students who share a passion for what they do for themselves and even how they represent the community. “We just really look for young people in our community that are really motivated and want to make a difference and push for our main missions, which are cultural preservation and cultivating youth leadership,” Abro said. The celebrated artists were eager to display their work and inspire the guests to embrace art. Shay Gabbara uses spray paint to create pictures of scenes and people. His inspiration comes from the people he meets and the stories they share with him, he said. “I use spray paint and house paint and I make my own stencils and spray paint them onto the canvas,” he said. “The idea is to make something that no one has seen before.” Throughout the night live performances including songs and poetry were performed by 10 artists including Daniel Bahoora, Heather Sinawe, Chanel Shamami, Candice Nofar, Weam Namou, Alex Zayid, Ray Jonna, Jenelle Faranso, Maria Kesto and Noor Toma. Dunya Mikhail, an awardwinning author for books such as The War Works Hard and Diary of a Wave Outside the Sea, was presented with a special award for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts. She has also written six poetry books in Arabic and currently teaches Arabic at Oakland University. More than a hundred people experienced the event and 100 percent of the proceeds go to E’rootha, the Chaldean Assyrian Syriac Youth Union. Each piece showcased beautifully reflected the Chaldean culture and was portrayed through the artist’s personal touch, from the songs from Jenelle Faranso, Candice Nofar and Danielle Bahoora to the canvases inspired by religious icons by Christina Abro. Art is the essence of our culture and it is important that we all embrace it, said Valine Abro. “Down the line, years from now we want to be able to see pieces that were made by our people,” she said. “Cultural preservation is so important and part of our mission.” 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 36 CHALDEAN NEWS NOVEMBER 2013
9 14 17 20 10 15 18 21 11 16 19 22 12 1. Ashley Velardo, Ned Stojkovic and Michael Velardo 2. Matthew Kalasho, Dunya Mikhail and Valine Abro 3. Bernie Garmo, Shelia George and Paulette George 4. Josh Noffke and Kristin Britten 5. Melody Delly, Melissa Bahoora, Nadine Abbo and Danielle Bahoora 6. Mazin Hana, Augeem Kalasho and Masood Brikho 7. Jenny Kalasko, Nadwa Kakos and Jamie Kakos 8. Stephen Kaz, Kevin Mattia, Jacob Mattia, Kristin Mattia and Candace Gumma 9. Shay Gabbara 10. Alex Zayid 11. Michael and Mazain Hanna 12. Raymand Hannish, Matthew Seba and Cassidy Kassab 13. Tarik and Lyla Shovnia 14. Sabah (Sam) Selou Wazi 15. Reema Naman 16. Weam Namou 17. Christina Abro 18. Anthony Samona and DJ Brandon Kajbou 19. Heather Sinawe 20. Candice Nofar 21. Patrick Setto 22. Maria Kesto 13 NOVEMBER 2013 CHALDEAN NEWS 37
