I recently had the good fortune to meet Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) founder and executive director Aroon Shivdasani here in New York. I recorded that interview in The Huffington Post. I was so impressed with the breadth and depth of cultural programming the Indo-American Arts Council provides in New York City I wanted to bring it to the attention of my readers.
The IAAC supports all the artistic disciplines in classical, fusion, folk, and innovative forms influenced by the arts of India. They work cooperatively with their colleagues around North America to broaden their collective audiences and to create a network for shared information, resources, and funding. Their focus is to help artists and art organizations in the U.S. and Canada as well as to facilitate artists from India to exhibit, perform and produce their work here.
March 13 - April 9, 2011
IAAC Erasing Borders: Eighth Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Art
Queens Museum of Art, Flushing Meadows Corona Park Queens, NY.
May 19 - 27, 2010
Muslim Cultures of Bombay Cinema
Walter Reade Theatre, Lincoln Center, NYC.
May 24 - June 13, 2010
Pulse Ensemble Theatre: Anuvab Pal’s Chaos Theory
The TBG, 312West 36th St., NYC.
June 2, 2010
Pepita Seth’s Heaven on Earth book launch
Aicon Gallery, 35 Great Jones Street, NYC.
June 4 - 6, 2010
IAAC Erasing Borders Festival of Indian Dance
Asia Society, 725 Park Ave, NYC.
June 10 - July 24
IAAC Erasing Borders Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Art of the Diaspora
Twelve Gates Gallery, 305 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA.
June 17-18, 2010
Book launch: William Dalrymple’s "Nine Lives" In search of the sacred in modern India".
Asia Society, 725 Park Ave, NYC.
June 29, 2010
Kantha Exhibition and sale
Venue: TBA, NYC.
August 1, 2010
The Way We Are: A Celebration of Anglo-Indian Culture
August 3 - 24, 2010
IAAC Erasing Borders: Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Art of the Diaspora
The Guild Art Gallery, 45 West 21st Street, NYC.
August 17, 2010
IAAC Erasing Borders Festival of Indian Dance
Downtown Dance Festival, One New York Plaza, NYC.
August 2010
Isheeta Ganguly’s CD launch "Damaru"
Venue TBA.
Film: "Jodhaa Akbar" (2008, India; 213 min.)
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
I viewed the film Jodhaa Akbar last week and was delighted to see such an epic spectacle. In the words of the Indo-American Arts Council:
Enlightened rule never looked so good as in this sixteenth-century love story between the revered Emperor Akbar (Hrithik Roshan) and feisty Rajput princess, Jodhaa (the stunning Aishwarya Rai). Reviving the majestic splendor of the Historical genre, Gowariker (Lagaan) unleashes battling armies and grand romance in grand palaces, all set to a score by A.R. Rahman. But it’s also a fascinating modern interpretation of the story of Akbar—committed to Sufi principles yet respectful of Hindu traditions—and Jodhaa, whose sense of self-respect actively contributes to Akbar’s enlightened vision.
This film will be included in the IAAC’s May 19 – 27 program, "Muslim Cultures of Bombay Cinema," to be viewed at the Walter Reade Theatre at Lincoln Center here in New York City.
I viewed the film Jodhaa Akbar last week and was delighted to see such an epic spectacle.
As I said in The Huffington Post recently, Indo-American Arts Council founder and executive director Aroon Shivdasani pushes hard to help make it even smaller. For her drive, wisdom, sense of humor, and tenacity, I salute Aroon as a Thought Leader and Global Citizen. Aroon is a multi-colored tread in the rich tapestry that constitutes New York City, and by extension, our world. Our world is smaller – and more colorful – thanks to Aroon Shivdasani.
See other stories related to India by Jim Luce:
Meet the Amazing Aroon Shivdasani of NYC’s Indo-American Arts Council (Huff Po)
Thought Leader and Global Citizen, India’s Filmmaker Mira Nair (Daily Kos)
Indian Legend Bustard Amjad Ali Khan Plays NYC, Thanks Obama (Huff Po)
My Favorite Coffee Table Book: India Unveiled (Daily Kos)
Indian-American Med Student on Malaria and Poverty in Nigeria (HuffPo)
Indian Film Director to Open Orphanage (Huff Po)
Slumdog: Greater Insult "Slum," Not "Dog" (Huff Po)
Asia Society's Prez Vishakha Desai on Global Citizens Like Obama
