North America’s decade-old, internationally renowned arts festival of the South Asian diaspora will present the freshest Cultural-Art-Collision on June 18th to 20th 2010 at the venerable Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica.
Grass-roots in nature, modern in form and collaborative in context, ArtWallah’s music, dance, performance, stand-up comedy, literature, poetry, and visual art dig deeply into ethnic roots to find its fusion in a uniquely American expressionism.
Co-presented by The South Asian Artists Collective and Highways, the tenth anniversary festival celebrates the theme of “Afterlife†with a presentation of original artist collaborations and multi-disciplinary performance – and an engaging children’s program for families.
Tickets available online at www.highwaysperformance.org or via 
the Highways box office at 310-315-1459.
EVENING SHOW PERFORMANCES
Artist performances in the 2010 festival evening show co-directed by Shishir Kurup and Sheetal Gandhi include:
• THE PIECES – Through dance, music, and live body art, Achinta S. McDaniel’s premiere of The Pieces tells a young girl’s tragic story, exploring dreams, doppelgangers and alternate realities through live performance by blue13 dance company, with music by Tej Gill and the late Chris Webb. Art design and live painting by Ahrong Kim.
• MAMTA – Interdisciplinary dance and theater artists Shyamala Moorty and Sheetal Gandhi collaborate on a theater and dance portrait of a quirky 62 year-old South Asian woman whose fantastical world full of Kings and Queens, coconuts, and a fear of corn chips, transforms as s
he peers through a soda bottle into a Bollywood style re-imagining of her own past. Visual art by Yatin Parkhani.
• FADE TO INFINITY – Best-selling author Shilpa Agarwal (“Haunting Bombay†) and author Natashia Deon explore how the lives of mothers and daughters are impacted by the violent politics of men, including the Partition of India and American slavery. Agarwal and Deon spin a story of love, betrayal, and survival to an original score composed by Juhi Bansal. Musical accompaniment by Colm O Riain on violin and Satnam Ramgotra on tablas.
• CREMATION! – In a lighthearted comedic song, Rasika Mathur explores the ancient custom of cremation from a curious and uplifting perspective. Her original song “Cremation” is one of her many expressions from her debut musical comedy album, “The Sari (W)rap” to be released this year by Rukus Avenue.
• REBIRTH – A DUET OF PROSE AND MUSIC – Critically acclaimed author and filmmaker Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla (Ode to Lata, The Two Krishnas) and sarod player and vocalist Shaheen Sheik (Buddha Bar XII) present a reading from Dhalla’s forthcoming book, “The Two Krishnas†to a poignant music improvisation.
• UNFINISHED BUSINESS – Sheetal Gandhi and Cynthia Lee explore the notion of reincarnation through interactive media and contemporary dance. Working with a time-delay video capture technology, manipulated live by multi-media artist Jesse Gilbert, the performers engage in movement confrontations with their past selves. Music composed by Ellen Reid.
• BEFORE – A poem by Bhargavi Mandava and a drawing by Mark Sylbert simultaneously unfold and converge as they explore the intersections of identity in time before and after a student’s suicide.
• GUL (FLOWER) – Raw, expressive, painted style computer animation is scored with masterful Sindhi Folk music from the villages of Pakistan. Gul, a young girl, is awakened by her mother’s dying breath. She struggles to recall her past. A child’s view illustrates conflicts between abuse, self determination, human rights, and the environment. Her world manifests through visual poetry.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAM
On Sunday afternoon from 1 to 4pm children’s events will run include:
• BOLLYWOOD BHANGRA DANCE CLASS – Dance class for children by Achinta S. McDaniel of blue13 dance company. Ages 6+ are encouraged to join in the fun: learning the basics of Bhangra and Bollywood, with an emphasis on choreography.
• YOGA/COMEDY IMPROV WORKSHOP – A 45-minute class for kids aged 4-10 exploring movement, yoga, creativity and imagination with improvisational techniques such as trusting yourself and group games. Taught by Rasika Mathur.
• CRY AMERICA’S MY VISION CAMPAIGN – CRY (Child Rights and You) America’s presents a creative platform for children to express their vision of a just world through paintings, poems and essays. Arts and craft supplies will be provided.
GALLERY EXHIBIT
The Highways gallery will feature THUMS UP N UP, an installation re-purposing Indian soda bottles into objects with critical and playful meanings. A vessel whose function is over can enjoy freedom, while a vessel is similarly thought of as a container for the soul. The installation by Yatin Parkhani explores that intersection and touches upon different forms of consumption — all ultimately satiating humans needs.
EVENT GUIDE
Festival date: June 18-20, 2010
Venue: Highways Performance Space
Location: 1651 18th Street, Santa Monica (at 18th Street Art Center one block North of Olympic)
Box Office Reservations: 310-315-1459
Purchase Tickets Online: http://highwaysperformance.org
Show Times: Fri. + Sat. 8:30pm, Sun. 7:00pm
Children’s Program: Sun. 1-4pm
Program: music, film, dance, theater, stand-up comedy, readings, exhibit gallery, childrens’ workshops
Tickets: $20 evening show ($15 students/seniors); $10 children’s program (ages 6+)
Official Website: http://artwallah.southasianartists.org
About The South Asian Artists’ Collective
The South Asian Artists’ Collective is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization dedicated to the progressive exploration of South Asian arts in America and across the diaspora. The collective came together in 1999 to foster dialogue amongst South Asian artists, encourage artistic development, and create platforms for artists to showcase their work in the South Asian community and other diverse communities.
About Highways Performance Space
Highways Performance Space is Southern California’s boldest center for new performance. In its twenty-first year, Highways continues to be an important alternative cultural center in Los Angeles that encourages fierce new artists from diverse communities to develop and present innovative works. Recently described by the Los Angeles Times as “a hub of experimental theater, dance, solo drama and other multimedia performance,” Highways promotes the development of contemporary socially involved artists and art forms.
