may 14, 2013: lamas building a sand mandala during the ecumenical mass at immanuel baptist church, park ave, rochester, ny.
May 16, 2013
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Category Archives: local
May 7, 2013
by mara.ahmed
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asian pacific american heritage family day
asian pacific american heritage family day at the memorial art gallery last sunday may 5, 2013. qawwali music from the pakistani community and dancers from the chinese dance company of rochester.
April 23, 2013
by mara.ahmed
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bidder 70 and earth day
april 22, 2013: just saw “bidder 70″ a doc about environmental activist tim dechristopher’s bid to save 22,000 acres of land in utah from oil and gas extraction. he was imprisoned for disrupting an auction, even tho the auction was … Continue reading
April 23, 2013
by mara.ahmed
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Teilhard de Chardin’s ‘Planetary Mind’ and Our Spiritual Evolution
yesterday, on april 21st 2013, i went to see “divine milieu: the last confession of teilhard de chardin” at the space theatre in rochester. pierre teilhard de chardin (1881 – 1955) was a french philosopher and jesuit priest, a paleontologist … Continue reading
April 14, 2013
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garchen rinpoche in rochester
i’ve been interested in buddhism for a while. one, because unlike hinduism and islam, it originated in the indian subcontinent, and two, because according to a friend of mine who’s a professor of religious studies, buddhism is first and foremost … Continue reading
April 7, 2013
by mara.ahmed
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PINK SARIS
march 24: today nowruz at the memorial art gallery and then “pink saris” at the little.
April 7, 2013
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missi’s visit
march 24, 2013: spent the weekend with my buddy missi, who was visiting from toronto. eastman museum, village gate, dark horse coffee, little theatre and spot coffee. the weather was sub-optimal but we still had a lot of fun.
April 7, 2013
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ywca’s stand against racism
went to a press conference yesterday where the ywca (and the city of rochester) launched their third stand against racism. there will be important events and discussions taking place all over the city. join the movement and sign the pledge. … Continue reading
April 7, 2013
by mara.ahmed
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Travel Postcard: 48 Hours in Rochester, New York
“Synonymous with film photography, lilacs and classical music, Rochester offers an unusual array of attractions for a mid-sized U.S. city that brought industrial prowess to a scenic river gorge on Lake Ontario’s southern shore.” More here.
March 15, 2013
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media and popular culture
march 12, 2013: i was invited to speak about “media and popular culture” to high school students at the global citizenship conference at nazareth college today. i used photographs and videos to showcase the power of media in shaping our … Continue reading
March 7, 2013
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glenn greenwald at suny brockport today
march 7, 2013: glenn greenwald gave a lecture at suny brockport today. what a brilliant, incisive and energetic mind. he discussed civil liberties, the implications of perpetual war, the targeting of a marginalized muslim minority and the slow but steady … Continue reading
February 24, 2013
by mara.ahmed
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“5 Broken Cameras” in Rochester
Screening of Oscar nominated documentary “5 Broken Cameras” and a response from Joyce and John Cassel, who lived in Bethlehem and Hebron from September through November 2012. Feb 26, 2013 at 5:00 pm, Basil Hall, Rm 135, St. John Fisher … Continue reading
February 16, 2013
by mara.ahmed
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Honour crimes and Islamophobia
from the brilliant belen fernandez! went to this round table discussion at the university of rochester, armed with this article and sherene razack’s book! my comments about the symposium on “honor crimes”: i didn’t have as much time as i … Continue reading
January 18, 2013
by mara.ahmed
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lecture about partition film and artwork from “this heirloom”
just spoke to a PEO chapter, here in pittsford, about my third film “partition stories” and the new series of artwork inspired by it. showed them clips from the film and a collage from “this heirloom.” excellent audience, great questions. … Continue reading
November 26, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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Dr Stephen Sheehi on Islamophobia and the Arab Spring, at Nazareth College
The War on Terror and much global conflict are rooted in Islamophobia. Dr Stephen Sheehi has written an excellent book on the subject. We are lucky that he will be in town this week and will be speaking at Nazareth … Continue reading
November 20, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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2nd gaza solidarity rally, rochester, ny – november 17, 2012
November 20, 2012
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gaza solidarity rally today in rochester, ny – november 16, 2012
November 20, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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iyad burnat in rochester – november 11, 2012
met iyad burnat yesterday evening. he was here in rochester to talk about 8 yrs of non-violent resistance to military occupation, in the village of bil’in. he’s been arrested 12 times and life is unimaginably challenging in palestine, but he’s … Continue reading
November 11, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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my artwork from the new series “this heirloom” up at the little theatre cafe!
my artwork is up at the little theatre cafe (nov 10-dec 7). thx to gallery manager kathleen farrell and photographer jason flack for helping me put it up – it looks brilliant. so happy!
November 4, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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my new collage series “this heirloom” on show at the little cafe, starting nov 10th
this is the first collage in the new series inspired by my filmwork on the partition of india and by the idea of bearing witness as a dynamic act. that’s my maternal grandfather in the foreground. he went to aligarh … Continue reading
October 26, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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another screening of the muslims i know
just came back from a screening of “the muslims i know” at an OASIS community class called “the descendants of abraham.” the class is taught by jewish, christian and muslim instructors. extremely excited that they’ve been using my film in … Continue reading
October 26, 2012
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the playoffs are on!
brilliant interception by my son at the game against east high. 42-0 win for pittsford.
October 19, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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freud’s last session at geva theatre
went to see “freud’s last session” yesterday. written by mark st germain, the play is based on an imaginary meeting between freud and c.s. lewis. lewis is a young professor at oxford. freud is in his 80s and dying of … Continue reading
October 11, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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witness palestine film series 2012: “one family in gaza” and “home front”
MC melanie duguid-may along with panelists dr ismail mehr (who worked as a doc in gaza for 9 days during the 2008-2009 attacks) and “one family in gaza” director jen marlowe (who was skyped in from jerusalem), little theater, sept … Continue reading
September 28, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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witness palestine film series 2012: “salt of this sea”
with haneen ali and julia c hurley both panelists for “salt of this sea” – second film in the witness palestine film series, sept 23, 2012 (photograph by elaine johnson).
September 28, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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Friends of Education Excellence: Helping Students Succeed
check out this pro bono project i worked on earlier this year. shot the footage in two days and edited/post-produced the video myself in another two days. worked with my friend bruce pollock, the man behind FREE partnerships.
September 21, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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palestinian film series starts on sept 20th
opening of the palestinian film festival today, at the little, with “occupation has not future.” terrific attendance, in spite of everything else going on in rochester, and enthusiastic response to the film. here is MC jim tiefenthal and panelists dianne … Continue reading
September 19, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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MOVIE PREVIEW: Witness Palestine by Dayna Papaleo
City News September 19, 2012 It’s difficult to know where to even begin when discussing the conflict between Palestine and Israel, a decades-old schism with passionate stances on both sides, each believing theirs to be the just one. Yet as … Continue reading
September 10, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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the witness palestine film series is coming up soon…
September 10, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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code pink in pakistan
my friend, judy, is going to pakistan with code pink, to protest drone attacks, alongside imran khan and other pakistanis. she made this wonderful banner on which i got to write in urdu: band karo, band karo! drone humlay band … Continue reading
August 26, 2012
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after the pasor eid dinner
this picture was taken by my husband after the pakistani american society of rochester eid dinner tonight.
August 13, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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Wisconsin Temple tragedy brings Rochester community together for vigil
i spoke at an interfaith vigil at liberty pole yesterday to honor the victims of the oak creek shooting in wisconsin. i talked about racism against those who stood out on account of their turbans or hijabs, their skin color … Continue reading
August 11, 2012
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Interfaith Prayer Vigil at Liberty Pole – Aug 12th at 6 pm
Interfaith Prayer Vigil: Praying with Our Sikh Neighbors Sunday, August 12, 2012 6:00 PM Liberty Pole Main Street and East Avenue Rochester, NY The interfaith community of Greater Rochester – over twenty faith traditions – expresses their shock at the … Continue reading
August 9, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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Local Sikhs honor victims of Wisconsin shooting
my husband and i attended a candlelight vigil at the gurdwara of rochester today, in honor of the victims of the massacre at a sikh temple in wisconsin. as pakistani-american muslims we have deep connections to the sikh community – … Continue reading
August 6, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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Drone Protest in Rochester, NY
ROCHESTER AGAINST WAR will be at Twelve Corners in Brighton on Wed August 8th from 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM with our drone model, signs and flyers. PLEASE JOIN US IN OUR OPPOSITION TO DRONE KILLING. For more information, contact … Continue reading
August 3, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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What’s Your Project? Pakistani art exhibition by Alishba Kassim
just came back from the opening reception of “1947″ a pakistani art exhibit organized and curated by alishba kassim at the black radish gallery, rochester, ny. i broke my fast with some delicious samosas, chicken kebabs, gulab jamun and mango … Continue reading
August 2, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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rochester teen film festival – screenings and awards
yesterday i presented the award for best conceptual film to my favorite movie at this year’s rochester teen film festival. “jet lag” is a film about modern-day disconnectedness, about the challenges of being mentally and emotionally anchored in an era … Continue reading
August 2, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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Witness Palestine (Rochester) on Facebook
pls join the witness palestine facebook group to keep up to date on this year’s film series. this will be the FIRST palestinian film festival in the history of rochester! check it out here after u’ve logged into facebook.
July 24, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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Rochester Teen Film Festival
was a judge at the rochester teen film festival 2012 and saw some wonderful movies made by high school students. come and check out the 9 best films and attend the award ceremony on aug 1st at the little theater, … Continue reading
July 24, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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summer walks…
walks by the erie canal with my husband, almost every day, all summer long when we’re in pittsford (he took this picture).
July 10, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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with medea benjamin, co-founder codepink
july 6, 2012: with codepink co-founder medea benjamin who was here in rochester to discuss her new book “drone warfare, killing by remote control” and for campaign building to limit the role of killer drones and robotic warfare. i had … Continue reading
July 1, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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weekend at canandaigua lake
beautiful beautiful day at the lake with my husband, my kids and my parents – what could be better? my son took this picture.
June 21, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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an evening of rumi poetry
attended a wonderful event at RIT today. it started with the splendid shahin monshipour giving us some background on mevlana jalaluddin rumi’s early life and his mind-blowing encounter with shams-i tabrizi. she went on to play some “ney” (long reed … Continue reading
June 9, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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Transforming Media
terrific screening of “pakistan one on one” at the indymedia convergence, last night at 9pm. it’s going to be a great weekend – democracy now’s senior producer mike burke is in town. check out the schedule here.
May 21, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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Muslims and Jews in America: Commonalities, Contentions, and Complexities
attended a v disconcerting book discussion last week. the book was Muslims and Jews in America: Commonalities, Contentions, and Complexities but the discussion was broader. the conversation was to be moderated by two interfaith leaders, one muslim, one jewish, but … Continue reading
May 13, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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lilac festival 2012
for mother’s day today: after a sumptuous nicaraguan breakfast prepared by my better half (including eggs, rice and beans, fried plantains and fried halloumi) we went to highland park to enjoy the lilac festival.
May 3, 2012
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jen marlowe reads from her book “the hour of sunlight” in rochester, ny
elaine and i with activist, writer and filmmaker jen marlowe (center) who was here in rochester on may 1st, at writers and books, to read from her book “the hour of sunlight: one palestinian’s journey from prisoner to peacemaker.”
May 3, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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zizek conference at suny brockport (april 28-29, 2012)
May 3, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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stand against racism and the screening of “pakistan one on one”
with david tang and another member of the monroe county bar association’s diversity committee. i screened “pakistan one on one” for them on april 27th, the ywca’s stand against racism national day. more on events that took place on april … Continue reading
April 4, 2012
by mara.ahmed
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documentary panel at st john fisher’s college
on march 29, 2012, had a wonderful discussion with co-panelist and filmmaker linda moroney and film critic jack garner. tom proetti was the moderator and organizer of this terrific conversation about filmmaking at st john fisher’s college. such fun to … Continue reading