Am Johal curates the Borderless Solidarities Festival in Vancouver from July 4th to July 13th. The ten-day festival focuses on South Asian dance, comedy, music, and a Tiffin Talk series.
“With hardened borders, authoritarianism, and other conflicts in the world today, our theme title is Borderless Solidarities,” Am explains. “Artists and cultural workers do not always Engage in politics Directly, but offer new Ways to Look at Old Problems by opening up new ways of understanding them.”
The ten-day line-ups are as follows:
Simran Sachar is a South Asian contemporary dancer with Justine A Chambers, who teaches at SFU’s School for Contemporary Arts. They have been commissioned to do “Today is the evening to strike lightning.” Both women will examine various dance forms associated with dancing with their mothers. On July 5th, Simran will turn her whacking dance practice into original works.
Sarod player Alam Khan will visit the Surrey Art Center. The son of Ali Akbar Khan, a well-known Indian classical musician, Alam teaches at Cal Arts. His lecture-demonstration is on Friday night. On the second weekend, a full concert will follow.
Kiran Deol had an HBO show and headlined the New York Comedy Festival.
Mohamed Assani is a Master Sitarist. It will be a fun evening with comedy and music.
Ruby Singh is curating several musical events, and musicians will be at the Playhouse on Thursday night. The mix will include Vivek Shraya from Calgary, some poets, and FilipinA hip-hop artist Kimmortal.
Before the evening event, there will be outdoor music, part of the Vancouver Sounds Project that Will include the Surya Brass Band.
The last day, Sunday, the 13th, will be Punjabi market day. Vancouver poet Sadhu Bining and younger poets will be among the guests.
This is an evening on storytelling in Ruptured Times, including South Asian Persian Minelle MaHtani, author of the book ” May It Have a Happy Ending, about her relationship with her mom.
Baljit Sangra, a documentary filmmaker, and Adel Iskandar will discuss storytelling from a filmmaker’s perspective.
Another evening on July 9th, Among the participants will be Brenna Bhandar, who grew up in Victoria and used to teach at School for Oriental and African Studies in London; Alberto Toscano, who taught Critical Theory at Goldsmiths but now translates Italian philosophers for Seagull Books in Calcutta; and Glen Coulthard, an Indigenous writer, activist, and thinker.
“We’ll do Tiffin talks again,” Am says. “We’ll have lunch and talk to artists. Visual artists and curators will be the focus of The Artist as Healer, which will include food and three discussions on July 6th.”
https://indiansummerfest.ca/events
