We exist.
We spoke to Layle and Kayan who run the online zine Zafaraan Collective! Check out the website to see all of the issues: https://www.zafaraan.org/
This space serves as a queer collective of SWANA art; please reach out to Kayan and Layle at [email protected] if you’d like to submit a piece. This is the email address with which to donate to their PayPal account as well.
Please follow them on their Facebook page and @zafaraan_collective on Instagram.
Salon Al-Mahjar صالون المهجر is an open mic for immigrant queer, trans, and allied artists, actors, activists, writers, storytellers, dancers, singers, musicians, poets, feminists, thinkers, teachers, and historians from Central & West Asia and North Africa. Salon 8 was curated by Hannah Aliza Goldman and Sivan Battat. They also presented pieces during the salon!
hannah-goldman.com
IG: @imhannahgoldman
PC: Jennifer Walkowiak
IG: @sivanbattat
PC: Daria Landa
Salon 8 description:
We gather to celebrate each other’s voices, exchange ideas, engage in each other’s passions, counteract censorship, promote and support each other, give and receive constructive feedback, and challenge what may be considered inappropriate “ayb” عيب or forbidden “haram” حرام.
At Salon 8 صالون we honor Jewish artists who create culture in Central & West Asia, North Africa, and in diaspora. We shall uplift Jewish voices, and allies who investigate shared histories. How did Jewish artists create culture in these regions and in diaspora? And how did the cultures around them shape their Jewishness? Please join us for a celebration of works-in-progress, food, tea, and conversation.
One of the pieces shown during this salon was a series of calligraphy pieces by Ruben Shimonov. The pieces incorporated Hebrew and Arabic; here are a few of the images from the piece!
See more of Ruben’s work here: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipM-2S9nwEeevetO8XWymAAC2WqakROLOaKAbrr3iSyyPpg5IMyBR7RcxfxwiU-MUg?key=NVJYalZqcmN3cXF1a1hBYzVadlUxWFhrLVd1LWFn
Ora Batashvili presented a piece combining original video footage from Georgia, an original music composition, handmade paper, and items that are connected to and descriptive of Ora’s family. To contact Ora:
IG: @ora.407
Playwright Michael Zalta presented two scenes from his play, “Who the Fuck is Ahmed?” – in this episode, you will hear part of one of the scenes. To contact Michael:
IG: @michaelzalta
Sofia, aka @flowrpunkk, shared a few of their latest composed tracks. Follow on IG!
Waseem Alzer was one of the actors in Michael Zalta’s reading; contact him at [email protected]
Danny Bryck shared poetry; follow him on IG @dannythebryck
