The mission of the IAC is to mission is to promote the well-being of South Asian immigrants through services that facilitate their adjustment, integration, and friendship with the wider society, nurture their sense of community, and foster appreciation for their culture and heritage

As you go about your holiday merriment and cheer and your gift shopping, please consider supporting the Indo-American Center (IAC), one of SAPAC’s partners, as it conduct its annual holiday toy drive.

Every year, the IAC staff host a holiday party for the approximately 120 youth served by the Center’s youth programs. Each young person receives a toy and their family is served a delicious meal.

Many of the families served by the IAC are recent immigrants and just getting adjusted to life in a new country. This holiday party is a time to come together as a community and celebrate the families’ achievements.  In the past, the IAC was able to access funding to help buy gifts for the toy drive. This year, like many other organizations, the IAC is calling upon us, its community, to help make this another memorable holiday party for their families.

The IAC is trying to raise $1,200 and will accept monetary donations or unused toy donations (unwrapped) until Monday, December 12.

IAC youth participate in a puppet making workshop

Please contact Rachael Bruketta, Development Associate, at rbruketta@indoamerican.org, or Jay Luthra, Executive Director, at jluthra@indoamerican.org for more information.

Unwrapped new toys can be dropped off at

Indo-American Center
6328 N. California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 973-4444

The South Asian Progressive Action Collective
in partnership with Marwen
is proud to present

.

Voices of Resistance 10: REVISION

at Marwen, 833 N. Orleans St., Chicago

• Visual Art Exhibition

Friday, September 30 – Saturday, October 22, 2011
Opening reception: September 30, 5:00-7:00pm
Admission: FREE (no ticket required)

• Performance

Saturday, October 15, 2011
7:00-9:00pm
Admission: $10 advance / $15 at the door (18 & under FREE)
BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

Voices of Resistance (VOR) features performance and visual art dedicated to social justice and the illumination of progressive artistic perspectives on South Asian issues. As we approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11, this 10th annual VOR reflects on an event that drastically impacted the South Asian community and was the impetus for the creation of VOR.

The program highlights original work by Chicago-based performance and visual artists. The works, developed over a 3-month period of artist workshops and dialogues, address a range of issues including nationalism and belonging in America, conflict in South Asia, Islamaphobia/xenophobia in the United States, and personal hopes for creating a more just and accepting society.

GET ALL THE DETAILS and learn more about our artists!

Four of our fierce members–Rabya, Aparna, Chirayu, and Shilpa–drove from Chicago to Washington, D.C., to represent SAPAC at the SAALT (South Asian Americans Leading Together) annual South Asian Summit this weekend.

Follow along and join the conversation as they tweet their findings and activities from the conference! @sapacchicago #SouthAsianSummit

Are you a local South Asian artist committed to social justice and seeking a platform to advance your work and connect with like-minded artists?

The South Asian Progressive Action Collective (SAPAC) is seeking conscious artists (visual and performance artists, musicians, and dancers) for the 10th Annual VOICES OF RESISTANCE art & cultural evening to be held on October 15th, 2011 at Marwen; participating visual artists will be featured in a three-week exhibition at Marwen, opening on Friday, September 30.  We are curating a special VOR event to mark our 10th anniversary: VOR10: REVISION, a retrospective reflecting on the political issues that have faced the South Asian diaspora over the past 10 years–from Islamophobia to war and conflict in South Asia.

Three artists workshops will also be held this summer to provide participants an opportunity to reflect and share issues in their work and prepare their work for VOR10.  Please download the VOR10 Call for Artists for more guidelines and information.

The deadline for entry is April 1, 2011 has been extended to APRIL 15, 2011.

Please complete and return the call along with required supplemental materials via email to vorchicago@gmail.com or via snail mail to

MARWEN
c/o Sabba Syal
833 N. Orleans
Chicago, 60610

We look forward to your participation!

VOR10 Committee (Ahalya, Sabba, Shilpa, & Tina)

SAPAC is working with the Asian American Institute and a number of community organizations to mobilize Chicago’s entire pan-Asian community to vote in HUGE numbers on February 22. Here’s how you can contribute now:

We need to reach out to at least 1,000 infrequent registered voters in the 50th Ward before Election Day. We’ll be meeting on the following days in 2-hour shifts to do door-to-door canvassing and phone calling in the 50th Ward (we’ll provide you with training, maps, flyers, refreshments, and community service hours):

• Wed., Feb. 9: 5:00pm – 7:00pm. Meet at Dunkin Donuts, 3132 W. Devon Ave. (corner of Troy and Devon)
• Fri., Feb. 11: 5:00pm – 7:00pm. Meet at Dunkin Donuts, 3132 W. Devon Ave.

• Sat., Feb. 12:  10:00am – 12:00pm, 12:15pm – 2:15pm, 2:30pm – 4:30pm. Meet at Indo-American Center, 6328 N. California Ave. (corner of California and Devon)
• Wed., Feb. 16: 5:00pm – 7:00pm. Meet at Dunkin Donuts, 3132 W. Devon Ave.
• Fri., Feb. 18: 5:00pm – 7:00pm. Meet at Dunkin Donuts, 3132 W. Devon Ave.

• Sat., Feb. 19 and Sun., Feb. 20: 10:00am – 5:00pm. 2-3-hour shifts available. Meet at Indo-American Center. During these 48 hours, we’re going to reconnect with voters who have already heard from us through phone banking and door canvassing to confirm if they have already voted or have plans to vote on Feb. 22.

If you’re interested in volunteering on any of these days and being part of a historic election, please email Aisha Qidwae at aisha.qidwae@gmail.com. If you have any other questions about our voter mobilization work or the election, please email info@sapac.org.

While much of the mainstream media has suffered declining audiences in the past several years, WikiLeaks and Al Jazeera have captured the world’s attention.  The impact these unconventional journalists will ultimately have on global events, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia, is still unknown. I attended the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) forum on South Asians and the Media in Chicago on January 29 to learn more about the state of international press, and to familiarize myself with local (and a couple national) South Asians in the media.  The panel was largely composed of mainstream South Asian journalists, and ethnic media and creative writing were also represented.

The backdrop of the presentation was a slide show of covers of U.S. periodicals with South Asian themes from 1919 onward. This show provides interesting insight into changing views of South Asia over the years.  The most immediately relevant part of the discussion concerned the catalyst role Al Jazeera played in recent events in the Middle East, which was characterized by Aparisim “Bobby” Ghosh, World Editor of Time magazine, as activist journalism.  Referring to unfolding events in Egypt and Tunisia, Ghosh stated, “This is Al Jazeera’s moment.” He drew a sharp contrast between the Western media’s “arms-length,” avowedly nonpartisan view of Middle Eastern revolutions and the passionate advocacy of Al Jazeera.

Some of the other issues covered in the rest of the wide-ranging discussion:

• The importance of collaboration between ethnic and mainstream media.  Alongside the decline in mainstream media, a 2009 New America Media poll reports increasing utilization of ethnic media in recent years, estimating a quarter of the overall U.S. population and four out of five African American, Latino, or Asian adults in the U.S. utilize such press.

• South Asian representation in the media.  There is a need for more South Asians as subjects of stories, more South Asian-themed stories, and more South Asians in visible media roles. Several panelists pointed out that beyond these needs, though, it is also important to have South Asians behind the scenes, and as bystanders or expert witnesses giving thoughts on issues unrelated to the South Asian community.

• Resources for up-and-coming journalists.  Fellowships are available through SAJA and Chicago is the World. Panelists noted that while funding is scarce, demand for online content is high, and a potential point of entry into larger publications.

• Collaboration with community groups.  For organizations seeking publicity for their work, establishing a longitudinal relationship with a journalist can be helpful to spotlight events or issues the group is working on.

In the spirit of SAJA, it’s worth noting that while Mahatma Gandhi is well-known as a lawyer and organizer, he also wrote for and published newspapers for most of his adult life.  He described his prolific writing as essential to shaping his consciousness and overcoming his notorious shyness to successfully communicate his ideas.  In regard to the power of his newspaper in the civil rights struggle in South Africa, he remarked, “Satyagraha would probably have been impossible without Indian Opinion…which therefore was certainly a most useful and potent weapon in our struggle.”

Last updated January 25

Happy New Year!

The holidays and winter weather have left the calendar a little light this month, but there are still some great events to check out. Please leave a comment or email us at info@sapac.org if you have anything to add!

C.M. Naim @ University of Chicago
Thursday, January 6 @ 4:30pm

The Theory and Practice in South Asia (TAPSA) program at U of C presents Naim, Professor Emeritus of South Asian Languages & Civilizations, for a talk on “Individualism within Conformity: A Brief History of Waz’d?r? in Delhi and Lucknow.”

Karma Kitchen Chicago @ Klay Oven
Sunday, January 9 @ 12:00pm

It’s not strictly a desi event, but it was started by desis and happens at an Indian restaurant. The concept is simple but somewhat difficult to explain, a social experiment in kindness and paying it forward. Click the link to learn how it works.

Rachel Lehr @ University of Chicago
Thursday, January 13 @ 4:30pm

In the same TAPSA lecture series, Lehr, a PhD candidate in Linguistics at U of C, discusses “Tense and Aspect in Pashai Morphology.”

Rhythm of Rajasthan @ Old Town School of Folk Music
Wednesday, January 19 @ 8:30pm

This group of Rajasthani musicians performs the traditional music of the Langa and Manganiar in addition to Kalbelia dance.

Lawrence McCrea @ University of Chicago
Thursday, January 20 @ 4:30pm

McCrea, a professor of Sanskrit Studies at Cornell, speaks about “The Dark Age of Brahmanical Logic and the Transformation of Ny?ya in the Late First Millennium.”

Funkadesi @ Old Town School of Folk Music
Sunday, January 23 @ 12:00pm

Our favorite local multicultural band plays a show for kids of all ages.

SAPAC General Meeting @ Coffee Chicago
Sunday, January 23 @ 2:00pm

Join us at SAPAC’s first meeting of the year to discuss our plans for Voices of Resistance 10 and the Mayoral/50th Ward elections!

Indo-American Center Young Professionals Networking Event @ Indian Garden ADDED 1/25
Wednesday, January 26 @ 7:00pm

Come meet IAC’s Leadership 21 board, network with other young professionals, and learn how you can contribute your talent and leadership skills while giving back to the community.

Rama Mantena @ UIC ADDED 1/25
Thursday, January 27 @ 3:00pm

UIC Institute for the Humanities Fellow and Assistant Professor of History Rama Mantena presents a lecture titled “Disciplining History: The Making of Colonial Archives in South India, 1780-1880.”

Subcontinental Drift South Asian Open Mic @ The Joynt
Thursday, January 27 @ 7:00pm

Come out and support local artists at the latest edition of this increasingly popular open mic and dance party.

South Asians and the Media @ Columbia College Chicago ADDED 1/21
Saturday, January 29 @ 3:30pm

Join several prominent journalists from the mainstream and ethnic media outlets for a discussion on how the media covers the South Asian community and how the coverage can be improved.

For Radiostan Episode #20, I spoke with a couple from San Francisco who spent a year trying to live aviation-free, traveling across continents and oceans while talking to people exploring solutions to transportation and the climate crisis. During our conversation, they mentioned how for many desis in the U.S., our stories begin in airports. We talked about the challenge of trying to fly less when our families are halfway around the world.

Barnali Ghosh is a landscape architect with a focus on parks and children’s play environments. Anirvan Chatterjee is a tech geek, and the founder of BookFinder.com. Check out their website and blog, Year of No Flying, for more info.

To podcast this Radiostan episode and past shows, visit http://www.radiostan.com.

Guest blogger Sung Yeon Choi-Morrow is the Community Organizer at Asian American Institute. Born in Korea and raised in India, she now enjoys working with various Asian American communities in Chicago.

You want a voice? Vote!

The other day while I was sipping a hot masala tea at a sweet shop on Devon I overheard a conversation about voting. What surprised me was not the content of the conversation but the fact that I still remembered enough Hindi from my childhood in India to understand what they were saying! Unfortunately the content of the conversation was far too familiar.

“Are you voting next week?”

“Oh, it’s election again? No, what’s the point?”

“Yeah, I know, it doesn’t make much of a difference, whether you vote or not.”

“That’s what I mean. Brother, your time is better spent somewhere else.”

Haven’t we all heard this conversation, or even participated in this conversation at some point?

The truth is, it may seem that it doesn’t matter, but it does.  I’d like to introduce to you the “Cockroach Effect” (sorry for the nasty visual here).  When you discover one little cockroach in the cabinet underneath your sink, you probably freak out for a second but then find Raid or a paper towel or something and just kill it. Unless you have an exceptional fear of roaches, you’ll probably forget about the incident and not think much about it.

But let’s say you opened up your cabinet under your kitchen sink and you saw hundreds if not thousands of roaches crawling around! The first thing I’d think is, “Yikes, I should’ve written down that phone number from the Orkin commercial!” And then I’d frantically Google “Orkin” and get a terminator out to my house.

In some ways politics works the same way. Yes, if one Indian American living on Devon decided to vote, no one may notice. Not the elected officials, not the candidates running, not the media, NO ONE. But if ALL the Asian Americans living in the 50^th Ward voted and had a historic turnout for November 2^nd, people would notice.

We need to work to create the Cockroach Effect! We need everyone to vote and get others out to vote.

If Asian Americans want to have a voice, get recognition, and bring resources to our community, we must vote, and get our people out to vote!

Please consider volunteering with the Asian American Institute for this weekend and Election Day in the 50^th Ward to make history by turning out the highest number of Asian American voters for a midterm election!

Please email Brandon@aaichicago.org for more information or call him at 773.271.0899 x200.

Commit to vote!

This month’s varied offerings include local and international film screenings, theatre performances, LGBT History Month readings, dance shows, political discussions, art exhibits, and galas, all featuring people of South Asian descent. Plus, we remind you to REGISTER TO VOTE by Oct. 5!

American Association of Retired Asians Gala @ Ashyana Banquets
Friday, October 1 @ 7:00pm

This nonprofit dedicated to the needs of aging South Asian Americans presents its second annual fundraising dinner.

Merchants of Bollywood @ Auditorium Theatre
Friday, October 1 – Saturday, October 2 @ 8:00pm

The “international dance spectacular” comes to the beautiful Auditorium in downtown Chicago.

Chicago South Asian Film Festival @ Chicago Cultural Center & Columbia College
Friday, October 1 – Sunday, October 3

Check out our previous post on the festival for more details.

Falling Petals @ Theatre 773
Saturday, October 2 @ 1:00pm

Erasing the Distance and the Asian American Suicide Prevention Initiative (AASPI) present this multimedia theatre performance that shares true stories of people of Asian and Indian descent who have been impacted by mental illness and suicide.

Anila Sinha Foundation @ North Shore Center for the Performing Arts
Saturday, October 2 @ 7:00pm

The Anila Sinha Foundation, in collaboration with the University of Chicago’s International House, presents “6th Element,” a multimedia Kathak dance performance that addresses the issue of global warming.

Sringara: Love and Devotion @ North Central College
Sunday, October 3 @ 4:00pm

The Samskriti Foundation presents a Bharatanatyam performance by the duo of Shijith Nambar and Parvathy Menon with a live orchestra.

Voter Registration Deadline
Tuesday, October 5

Tuesday, October 5 is the deadline to register to vote or update your voter information for the November 2 General Election!

Chicago Voter Registration Info

Suburban Cook County Voter Registration Info (outside Chicago)

Illinois Voter Registration Info

Seats up for grabs in this election include IL Senator, Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, some Representatives, some State Representatives, Cook County Board President, a slew of judges, and a whole lot more. It’s an important election, so make sure you’re registered!

SAPAC will be sharing more election information in the coming weeks, so stay tuned to our website.

Darpana Performing Group @ Old Town School of Folk Music
Wednesday, October 6 – Thursday, October 7

The Darpana Academy of Performing Arts of Gujarat presents a diverse dance program that uses classical, folk, tribal, and contemporary choreography to celebrate India’s multiculturalism and plurality. The 10-member troupe will also host a workshop as part of the school’s Thursday Workshop Series on October 7.

Yasmin Nair @ Chicago Public Library – Bezazian Branch ADDED 10/7
Saturday, October 9 @ 2:00pm

Against Equality: Queer Critiques of Gay Marriage, published by the Against Equality collective, documents the historical foundations of queer resistance to the gay marriage mainstream alongside contemporary critiques that engage issues of race, class, gender, citizenship, and age. The panel will feature presentations by three of the anthology’s contributors: artist and collective founder Ryan Conrad, historian and UIC professor John D’Emilio, and Yasmin Nair, a local writer and member of Gender JUST.

Natya Dance Theatre @ North Central College
Saturday, October 9 @ 8:00pm

The dancers of Natya perform “Invitation to the Dance” with the DuPage Symphony Orchestra, featuring works by Weber, Ravel, and Berlioz.

SAPAC General Meeting @ Chava Cafe ADDED 10/7
Sunday, October 10 @ 1:00pm

Join us for our next general meeting to discuss our 2010 voter outreach campaign, past and upcoming events, and more!

Candidates Forum @ Bombay Hall ADDED 10/7
Sunday, October 10 @ 2:00pm

The American Muslim Task Force on Civil Rights & Elections and Illinois Committee for Honest Government present a Candidates Forum in the West Ridge/Devon neighborhood for the offices of U.S. Senate, Governor, Attorney General, Cook County President, Treasurer, Comptroller, Cook County Sheriff and several others. Bombay Hall is at 2448 W. Devon Ave.

Gurcharan Das @ University of Chicago ADDED 10/7
Tuesday, October 12 @ 6:00pm

The author of India Unbound discusses his newest book, The Difficulty of Being Good, a treatise on the ethical dilemmas presented in the Mahabarata and “how we can come to terms with the uncertain ethics of the world today.”

Sapna Kumar @ Gerber Hart Library
Wednesday, October 13 @ 7:00pm

Indian comic and storyteller (and Friend of SAPAC) Sapna Kumar joins a lineup of writers reading from their works about LGBT people, places, and events in history as part of Gerber Hart’s LGBT History Month celebration.

CA$H Film Screening @ AMC River East 21
Thursday, October 14 @ 5:30pm

Columbia [College Chicago] Night of the Chicago International Film Festival features the film CA$H, starring Sean Bean and produced by Chicago filmmaker Naveen Chathappuram. Filmmakers, cast, and crew are expected to participate in a Q&A session after the screening.

Rex Ghosh @ Borders ADDED 10/15
Friday, October 15 @ 3:00pm

Indian-born author and economist Ghosh signs his new thriller Nineteenth Street NW at the Borders on State St.

Natraj Dance @ University of Chicago ADDED 10/15
Friday, October 15 @ 7:00pm

The Natraj Dance Academy will perform with a live orchestra at U of C’s International House as part of Nobel Laureate Chandrasekhar’s Centennial Program.

Swati Avasthi @ Barbara’s Bookstore ADDED 10/15
Saturday, October 16 @ 7:00pm

Young Adult novelist Avasthi (Split) joins fellow YA author Alexandra Diaz for a YA Authors Night at the UIC branch of Barbara’s.

Shabana Azmi @ North Shore Center for the Performing Arts ADDED 10/15
Sunday, October 17 @ 6:30pm

Shabana Azmi appears in Girish Karnad’s play Broken Images for one night only. What more do I need to say? It’s Shabana Azmi!

Natya Dance Theatre @ Daley Plaza
Tuesday, October 19 @ 12:00pm

Natya performs Bharatanatyam as part of the City of Chicago’s “Under the Picasso” series of free weekday cultural programs.

Imtiaz Gul @ University of Chicago ADDED 10/7
Tuesday, October 19 @ 6:00pm

Gul, Executive Director of the Centre for Research and Security Studies at Islamabad, speaks on the flood disaster in Pakistan.

Coffee Conversations with Pakistani Legislative Fellows @ WorldChicago
Wednesday, October 20 @ 8:00am

World Chicago (formerly the International Visitors Center of Chicago) presents an opportunity to chat with 6 legislative research professionals from Pakistan who will be in Chicago for 3 weeks completing fellowships with federal and state legislative offices while living with Chicago-area families.

From Chicago to Lahore: Connecting Edge @ Chicago Cultural Center
Wednesday, October 20 @ 5:00pm

The Lahore Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International presents this exhibit of drawings, films, photographs, writings, and paintings by artists from Lahore and Chicago. Opening reception at 5:00pm.

World Music for Pakistan Benefit @ Mayne Stage ADDED 10/7
Wednesday, October 20 @ 7:00pm

A benefit for Actual Size Global for Pakistani flood relief, featuring Lamajamal (gypsy surf), Eyes Manouche (Balkan gypsy jazz), Kevin Leeds and Global Cooling (rock/soul/world fusion) & DJ RomaSoul (gypsy/eastern beats).

Sarwat Rumi @ Gerber Hart Library
Thursday, October 21 @ 7:00pm

The library continues its celebration of LGBT History Month with another set of readings from local writers including Friend of SAPAC Sarwat Rumi.

Rochona Majumdar @ University of Chicago ADDED 10/7
Saturday, October 23 @ 2:00pm

The Indian historian speaks about Radical Cinema and the “Film Society” Movement in India for the university’s 32nd annual Humanities Day. Additional South-Asia-related programs that day include a screening of Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali and talks about How Islam Begin; War, Trauma, and Humanism in Literature from Sri Lanka; and Women in Modern South and Southeast Asian Buddhism.

Crossing Cultures feat. Natya Dance @ Harold Washington Library
Saturday, October 23 – Sunday, October 24

In its first annual cross-cultural dance festival, Natya Dance Theatre bridges traditions from not just North and South India, but also the Eastern and Western hemispheres. The festival, which spans the weekend of October 23rd and 24th, brings together a group of diverse and innovative artists including Krithika Rajagopalan, Uma Dogra, DanceWorks Chicago, and Hedwig Dances. Each evening also features a unique collaboration between Mordine & Co. and Natya, to exemplify the bridging of classical and modern dance forms in this festival.

Kavita Ramdas @ Blackstone Hotel
Monday, October 25 @ 12:00pm

Ramdas, a senior advisor to the Global Fund for Women and a visiting fellow and scholar at Stanford University’s Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society and the Center for Democracy, Development, and Rule of Law at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Affairs, participates in the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ panel called “Smart Money: Granting Opportunities for Women Worldwide.”

Stir-Friday Night’s “Bubble Tea Party” @ Chicago Center for the Performing Arts ADDED 10/7
Friday, October 29 @ 7:30pm

The Chicago Asian American sketch comedy troupe celebrates its 15th anniversary with a new show that opens October 29 and continues through November 20.

Jai Ho(rror)! @ Big Chicks ADDED 10/7
Friday, October 29 @ Time TBA

Trikone Chicago hosts a Halloween edition of its wildly popular queer desi party. Exact details TBA–click the link above to join their Facebook group and get an invite when it’s available.

Hamdard Center Gala @ Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Saturday, October 30 @ 6:00pm

SAPAC is proud to support the Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services’ 18th Annual Gala. Guests will enjoy Indo-Pakistani cuisine, a cultural show, live auction, and ethnic bazaar while raising funds for the agency’s social service programs. Featuring Sufi Qawwali superstar Amjad Sabri and master of ceremonies Ravi Baichwal of ABC7 News.

Music and Dance from Asia @ North Central College
Saturday, October 30 @ 7:00pm

The Naperville-based Xilin Art Center presents a celebration of Asian heritage featuring music and dance from countries including India.

Bharatanatyam dancer Chande performs and discusses using dance in storytelling.

Ravi & Anoushka Shankar @ Symphony Center ADDED 10/18
Saturday, October 30 @ 8:00pm

Shankar and daughter Anoushka perform in a celebration of the sitar master’s 90th birthday.

The World Stage: India-Sri Lanka @ Rhona Hoffman Gallery
Continuing through October 23

Wiley’s portraits of young men from New Delhi, Mumbai, and Sri Lanka are based on major historical paintings but with the subjects placed in new, culturally specific settings. Wiley has done similar series featuring young men from Brazil, China, and Africa, all vivid and striking.

Water Ways @ Walsh Gallery
Continuing through November 13

The West Loop-based Walsh Gallery presents an exhibition exploring the way art and water intersect as seen by prominent artists from China and India, including Vivan Sundaram, Reena Kallat, Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, and Sheba Chhachhi. While the pics don’t do some of the work justice, a preview of the show is available on the gallery’s website.

Jitish Kallat @ Art Institute of Chicago
Continuing through January 2, 2011

“September 11–today the date alone refers to the unforgettable events of 2001, the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Yet, 108 years earlier in 1893, this date was marked by a very different occasion, the landmark speech by Swami Vivekananda at the First World Parliament of Religions promoting religious tolerance. Internationally renowned Indian artist Jitish Kallat draws attention to the great chasm between these two events with his site-specific installation, Public Notice 3,” which opened on September 11, 2010.