April 2009

Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari visited Washington

Posted by Susanna at 11:43 AM, Apr 30, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Events

Former Finnish prime minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner 2008 Martti Ahtisaari

"IT IS GOOD to be back to the National Press Club. I lived in New York for during 20 years, and I have learnt to appreciate the vigorous debate here," said Martti Ahtisaari, the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize winner, when he recently was the luncheon speaker at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Mr. Ahtisaari is also the former Finnish Prime Minister and the former U.N. Special Envoy to Kosovo.

"ALL CONFLICTS can be resolved," he said, "but constructive support from the U.S. is necessary for solving international problems."

HE POINTED OUT that it is important to "promote global stability and peace" and emphasized the importance of the relationship between the United States and Russia. He stated that a prosperous Russia that is integrated with Western countries is a key ingredient in the effort to maintain global stability.

MR. AHTISAARI was particularly concerned about the situation in the Middle East and Afghanistan, as well as the explosive high unemployment rate in the Arab countries. He noted that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a central issue in the Middle East, and that there "needs to be talks to all parts that have people's support." He added that he agrees with President Obama about a two-state solution.

"IT IS CRITICAL to improve employment for young people in the Middle East and North Africa," he said.
"THERE ARE NO easy solutions for Afghanistan, and Russia and Iran need to help stabilize the country."

MR. AHTISAARI Pointed out that "Europe and The United States have an enormous responsibility for the world. We can't pick and choose our partners for peace. We have to talk to anyone. We also have to make sure that ordinary people don't suffer when political leaders make a mistake."

HE ALSO SAID he had no problems with a Turkish membership in the EU.

Martti Ahtisaari and columnist Jim Hoagland, The Washington Post

Permalink | Comments (0)

Eva Hafström recounts her experience as a police officer

Posted by Susanna at 2:48 PM, Apr 29, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Events

Count Peder Bonde, Ingrid Beach, Eva Hafström and David Paul

AT A RECENT luncheon, arranged by SACU (Swedish American Cultural Union) in Washington, D.C., the Swedish Ambassador's wife Ms. Eva Hafström talked about her experience as police officer.

SHE SAID that when she started the police college in the early 1980's only 15 percent of the students were women. Today the number is 40 percent.

RECOGNIZING the changing ethnic populations in Sweden, she added, "the police force should reflect the society we live in, where the genders make up 50 percent each, and also the same diversity in the force as in the society as a whole."

MS. HAFSTRÖM pointed out that it is important for police officers to have "a big heart," and that the police education is now very popular in Sweden, perhaps because of the influence, in part, of the well-known Swedish TV series "Martin Beck."

"The education is changing and moving more towards a university degree," she said. Moreover, she noted an education in law enforcement frequently leads to other opportunities, such as in her case, international affairs.

Permalink | Comments (0)

Open Studio at the O Street Artists Studio

Posted by Susanna at 10:40 AM, Apr 27, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Design & Art

Painter Lisa Marie Thalhammer next to her oil painting of the First Lady, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama

ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, April 25 and 26, the O Street Artists Studio held an open house to show the working and living spaces of over 20 Washington, D.C. artists at one of the largest and oldest buildings dedicated to the practice of Fine Arts in the nation's capital. Artists ranged from painters to graphic designers, sculptors to musicians, mixed-media artists to furniture makers. The O Street Studios hosted this Open Studio for a rare peek into their process and creative influences (www.52ostreetstudios.org).

AMONG THE ARTISTS were Lisa Marie Thalhammer, whose oil painting of the First Lady - Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama - got excellent reviews in the national newsmagazine U.S. News & World Report.

HER PAINTING of the First Lady was part of The Manifest Hope: DC Gallery, which celebrated artists, who used their voices to amplify and motivate the grassroots movement that carried President-Elect Barack Obama to victory. Manifest Hope gathered a diverse array of the nation's most talented visual artists in one place to mark the achievement of electing Barack Obama president and to encourage artists and activists to maintain the momentum to bring about true change to the United States (www.manifesthope.com).

THIS IS WHAT U.S. News & World Report wrote about Thalhammer: "My work deals with powerful women," she says. "Michelle is an important figure for us to look up to." Thalhammer says that she does not usually produce politically minded art but has always been interested in portraying gender and power. Her portrait of the first lady stands out amid a sea of Obama portraits. "People around town talk about how much they admire her already," says Thalhammer. "I'm excited to see her in her new role. I thought she needed to shine." (www.lisamariethalhammer.com and www.lisamariestudio.com).

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, oil painting of the First Lady by Lisa Marie Thalhammer

Visual artist Thom Flynn

Visual artist Thom Flynn

Permalink | Comments (0)

Spring in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Posted by Susanna at 5:33 AM, Apr 26, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Travel

Permalink | Comments (0)

'A Swedish Tiger' is a powerful story of Swedish collaboration with the Nazis

Posted by Susanna at 6:51 AM, Apr 25, 2009 (Comments)

Category: People

Actors Daniel C. Edwards and Goran Gillinger

"A SWEDISH TIGER," a play that exposes the deep dark side of the Swedish "neutrality" and accommodation with the Nazis in World War II, opened Wednesday night for a five weekend run at the award-winning Synetic Theater at 4041 Campbell Ave. in the Shirlington area of Arlington, Va.

GORAN GILLINGER, a born and raised Swede who plays the lead role, and directs and co-wrote "A Swedish Tiger," drags out of the Swedish closet his country's and his own family's dramatic angst-ridden story of how "Sweden didn't actually participate in World War II, but it did allow Germans to use our railways for transporting and building prison camps."

WITH DRAMATIC acrobatics and staccato dialogue, Mr. Gillinger's superb performance makes his point, alternately entertaining and shocking his audience, exorcising the sordid historical baggage of his country and his family. Daniel C. Edwards joins Mr. Gillinger on stage, playing the role of a fun-loving, not-so-bright "tiger,"and serving as a foil for Mr. Gillinger's anxious dramatics.

DURING THE WAR, the Swedish government designed a logo portraying a tiger in the colors of the Swedish flag and instituted the motto "A Swede is always quiet." The word "tiger" in Swedish not only means the wild animal, but it also means "to be quiet." The message was that Swedes were to keep quiet about their government's cooperation with the Nazis. Hence, the name of the play, "A Swedish Tiger."

MR. GILLINGER explains further, "During World War II, Germany was allowed (or more demanded) to use Sweden's railroads to transport prisoners and equipment to Norway, which Germany occupied. We also built prison camps in the north of Sweden to imprison Norwegian refugees and made substantial changes in the Swedish Constitution in order to help German forces. Not many know this... one might say 'The Swedish Tiger' campaign succeeded. The Ghost of history never leaves us...."

AS HE DRAMATIZES in his performance, the additional background for the play's story is that after his grandfather died, Mr. Gillinger discovered that his grandfather was not only a Nazi sympathizer, but an honored collaborator.

GORAN GILLINGER was classically trained at the Royal Academy of Acting in Stockholm and at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatres in Los Angeles. He has played lead roles in drama and comedy productions on Swedish National Television, Sweden's TV4 and in several major motion pictures. He has played on Sweden's largest stages in productions of Molière, Shakespeare, Sam Shepard and many more. In 2008, Mr. Gillinger was part of the ensemble cast of Hamlet at the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington, D.C.

"A SWEDISH TIGER" first played at the National Theater of Stockholm in 2005 to rave reviews. Sweden's largest daily paper Svenska Dagbladet described it as "a complex self-examination worthy of exporting to other countries." In 2007, Goran played five sold out performances of "A Swedish Tiger" at Washington, D.C.'s Capitol Fringe Festival and many were left wanting more!

"A SWEDISH TIGER" plays Thursdays through Sundays at 8 p.m. at the Synetic Theater, 4041 Campbell Street in the Shirlington District of Arlington, Va. Tickets are $20 for everyone except students and people under 25 years of age who pay $10. To reserve tickets, call (703) 824-8061.

Actors Meghan Grady and Goran Gillinger

  Martin Johansson, Solveig Mårtensson, Niklas Bengtsson and Johan Ellborg

Gunnel Gyllenhoff and Marianne Gustafson

Actors Daniel C. Edwards and Goran Gillinger

Actors Meghan Grady and Goran Gillinger

Permalink | Comments (0)

Italian Artist Paolo Staccioli shows dramatic ceramic work at the Italian Embassy in Washington

Posted by Susanna at 5:47 AM, Apr 23, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Events

The artist Paolo Staccioli and Rita Venturelli, director of the Italian Cultural Institute at the Italian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, April 22, a reception was held for an exhibition by the Italian ceramic artist Paolo Staccioli by the Italian Cultural Institute at the Italian Embassy in Washington, D.C. The evening's hostess, Rita Venturelli, who is Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, spoke about the artist and his artworks and accomplishments, and joined with the guests in offering a toast to Mr. Staccioli. The elegant Embassy, designed by Piero Santogo, was a perfect background to his beautiful artworks.

PAOLO STACCIOLI was born just south of Florence in the town of Scandicci in 1943. In his youth he devoted himself to painting and set up his first show in 1973. His first ceramic experiments with terracotta bas-reliefs date back to the late '80s. He continued to experiment with glazes, and under the guidance of the craftsman Umberto Santandrea, he began research into lustres using earth, oxides and salt, through the reduction firing technique. Staccioli eventually abandoned painting to transfer the subjects onto vases ridden by a winged cherubs, the bronze casting of which inaugurated the Parco Museo of Poggio Valicaia, Scandicci. His studies reveal an ongoing research in the modeling of new figures, such a warriors, travelers on wagons and boats, through to the very recent cardinals. He has held many shows in Italy, and elsewhere including France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The artist Paolo Staccioli and Rita Venturelli, director of the Italian Cultural Institute at the Italian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Architect Pino Cicala, U.S. Correspondent for the Italian newspaper Il Giornale Mariuccia Chiantaretto, Carmelo Cicala, and Rita Venturelli, director of the Italian Cultural Institute at the Italian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Actor Gilberto Idonea and Mariuccia Chiantaretto, U.S. Correspondent for the Italian newspaper Il Giornale

Artwork by artist Paolo Staccioli

Artwork by artist Paolo Staccioli

"Traveler Bust" by Paolo Staccioli

The Italian Embassy

The Italian Embassy

Permalink | Comments (0)

Swedish Artist Anna U. Davis shows artwork in New York

Posted by Susanna at 11:18 AM, Apr 22, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Design & Art

Swedish photographer Beatrice Bring and Anna U. Davis

THE WASHINGTON-BASED Swedish artist Anna U. Davis will show her new work at the Nevin Kelly Gallery at the Affordable Art Fair in New York in May 7 through May 10.

THE PROLIFIC Anna U. Davis focuses on portrayals of women striving to look the way they are supposed to look. Her bold, colorful, graphic use of acrylic painting and collage is provocative and compelling. To see more of Anna's work, visit her web site: http://www.frocasians.com.

FOR THOSE of you who will be in New York, go to the Nevin Kelly Gallery, booth #A-300, The Affordable Art Fair, 7 West 34th Street, New York City, www.aafnyc.com.

Artwork by Anna U. Davis

Permalink | Comments (0)

Swedish Bishop Lennart Koskinen visits Washington

Posted by Susanna at 7:50 AM, Apr 21, 2009 (Comments)

Category: People

Swedish Bishop Lennart Koskinen, singer Meri Siirala and organist Steven Brodd

THE SWEDISH bishop of Visby and of Church of Sweden Abroad (Skut) Lennart Koskinen visited Washington, D.C., recently, and delivered the sermon during the church's service on Sunday afternoon, April 19, at Augustana Lutheran Church - the church where Swedish Lutherans meet to worship in the American capital. Joining him in celebrating the mass was The Rev. Ib Pihlblad, who is the pastor at the Swedish Church in New York and who once a month celebrates Swedish mass at Augustana. Finnish singer Meri Siirala sang beautifully as part of the service.

FOR MORE THAN 20 years, Bishop Koskinen has worked as a priest, theologian and ethical advisor for Swedish company boards and business management teams. During his 10 years as director for the Church of Sweden Work Environment Institute, he took part in seminars and workshops focusing on social, work environmental and ethical issues. He has a doctoral degree in ethics and philosophy, but he also holds a degree in economics. The author of 16 books, he is an appreciated lecturer on issues serving and promoting sustainable and ethical business.

Swedish Bishop Lennart Koskinen

Singer Meri Siirala and organist Steven Brodd

Permalink | Comments (0)

Pecha Kucha comes to the House of Sweden

Posted by Susanna at 9:37 AM, Apr 20, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Events

Rouzita and Bita Vahhabaghai, organizers of Pecha Kucha D.C. with presenter Reena Kazmann (center)

More than 500 people showed up for Vol. #8 Pecha Kucha in Washington, D.C., which was held at the spectacular House of Sweden last Friday evening. Organized by the strikingly beautiful sisters Rouzita and Bita Vahhabaghai, the gathering followed the now traditional format of an opening reception and the 10 presenters who are allowed 20 images, each shown for 20 seconds each - resulting in six minutes and 40 seconds of fame before the next presenter is up.

Appropriately, a few of the presenters at the Pecha Kucha at the House of Sweden were Swedes who flew in from Sweden for the occasion. Sara Backlund and Christina Öhman represented the Interactive Institute from Kista and Magnus Gyllenswärd represented Ergonomidesign from Bromma.

Pecha Kucha Night, which was started in 2003 by architects Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, are gatherings in cities worldwide for young designers and other creative entrepreneurs to meet, network, and show their work in public. Pecha Kucha in D.C. is now on its Vol. #8, which means they now have had eight gatherings.
Pecha Kucha, which is Japanese for the sound of conversation, has tapped into a demand for a forum in which creative work can be easily and informally shown, without having to rent a gallery or schmooze magazine editors. This is a demand that seems to be global. The Pecha Kucha night has spread virtually to over 100 cities across the world.

The next Pecha Kucha D.C. will be at the Embassy of Finland on May 20. Check out http://www.pecha-kucha.org/cities/washington-dc for more information.

Sara Backlund of Interactive Design in front of the lamp they designed, which opens up like a flower when energy consumption in a household has been low for some time.

Pecha Kucha at the House of Sweden in Washington, D.C., to the right Swedish Cultural Attaché Mats Widbom

Pecha Kucha at the House of Sweden

Rouzita and Bita Vahhabaghai, organizers of Pecha Kucha D.C. with presenter Reena Kazmann (center)

Permalink | Comments (0)

SWEA holds its Anniversary Dinner in Washington with Performance by Swedish singer Jill Johnson

Posted by Susanna at 11:03 AM, Apr 19, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Events

Kate Novak, Washington, D.C., SWEA Founder Agneta Nilsson, Los Angeles, Eva Hafström, wife of Swedish ambassador in Washington, D.C., Jonas Hafström, and Anne Marie McGowan, Washington, D.C.

IT WAS A GREAT EVENING when SWEA - the Swedish Women's Educational Association - celebrated its 30th anniversary with a gala dinner at the Capital Hilton hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. After a fun and hilarious Lucia procession, and a delightful dinner and speeches by SWEA founder Agneta Nilsson, SWEA International President Åsa Lena Lööf, and Master of Ceremony Kate Novak, and others, the many guests listened to popular Swedish country- and pop-singer Jill Johnson. The event was certainly enjoyed by the several hundreds of SWEA members, who had come from all over the world.

Eva Lamb, Washington, D.C., and Swedish country- and pop-singer Jill Johnson

Mita Lindgren, Hong Kong, and Louise Enhörning, Florida, South

Swedish country- and pop-singer Jill Johnson

SWEA members

  SWEA Founder Agneta Nilsson, from Los Angeles, and SWEA International President Åsa Lena Lööf, Florida, South

Lucia Procession

Maj-Liss Olsson, Mallorca, Mita Lindgren, Hong Kong, and Lotta Josefsson, also from Hong Kong

Ulrika Williamson, Washington, D.C.

Mona Mellegård and Ewa Frölich, both from Arizona

Inga-Karin Reilly, Ulrika Mikel and Anna Dahlborg, all from Washington, D.C.

Li Thornton, from Hawaii

Kerstin Dimberg, Washington, D.C.

Kate Novak, Washington, D.C.

Capital Hilton Ball Room

Singer Jill Johnson performs.

SWEA anniversary celebration

SWEA anniversary celebration

SWEA anniversary celebration

Permalink | Comments (0)

Boat trip on the Potomac with Paddle Steamer Cherry Blossom

Posted by Susanna at 10:41 AM, Apr 19, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Events

 Maria Ekman and Ewa Nunes Sorenson, both Washington, D.C.

ON FRIDAY NIGHT, April 17, the SWEA (Swedish Women's Educational Foundation), which was holding its 30th anniversary world meeting in Washington, D.C., with approximately 350 SWEA members from all around the world in attendance, arranged a boat trip on the Potomac River in the American capital. The unusually warm spring weather was fabulous, and the SWEA members enjoyed a cruise on the paddle steamer Cherry Blossom, provided by the Potomac River Company (www.potomacriverco.com), along with an American buffet of barbecue and other offerings, accompanied by a band playing traditional American music.

Mona Johnsson and Ulrica Fredsvik-Konvalin, both from New York, and Kickan Williams, from Southern Florida

Eva Ohlin-Hunnius, Washington, D.C.

Louise Åkerblom, Washington, D.C., Photographer Kerstin Alm, Los Angeles, and Mona Mellegård, Arizona

Ingrid Jonsteg, Tampa Bay

Victoria Gardezi, New York, and Mia Svensson, Atlanta

Inger Margulies, Washington, D.C.

The band plays traditional American music

The Cherry Blossom paddle steamer

View over the Old Town Alexandria harbor

View over the Old Town Alexandria harbor

Permalink | Comments (0)

SWEA World Meeting in Washington Gets Underway with Reception at House of Sweden

Posted by Susanna at 2:51 PM, Apr 17, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Events

Agneta Nilsson, Gunilla Stone, Kate Novak and Åsa Lena Lööf

SWEA, the Swedish Women's Educational Organization, started its four day world meeting in Washington, D.C. with a reception, wine and wonderful appetizers, at the House of Sweden in the Swedish Embassy complex, located with a beautiful, waterside vista of the Potomac River. The Swedish ambassador, Mr. Jonas Hafström, and his wife Eva, greeted the guests.

THE AMBASSADOR in his welcome remarks emphasized the importance for each foreign country to promote itself in the American capital, and how important House of Sweden has become to do just that in Washington.

THE HOUSE OF SWEDEN was chosen last year as the most important venue for meetings and conferences in Washington by The Washington Post. Mr. Hafström noted that House of Sweden receives about 80,000 guests and visitors annually.

OTHER SPEAKERS at the opening reception included Cultural Attaché Mr. Mats Widbom, SWEA founder Agneta Nilsson and Washington, D.C., SWEA chairwoman Gunilla Stone.

IN HER remarks, Ms. Nilsson recognized her longtime friend Kate Novak, whose husband Alan Novak was instrumental in getting the Embassy built at its current location next to Potomac River. "Of course, the Swedish embassy should be near the water," Kate Novak declared.

SWEA founder Agneta Nilsson, Los Angeles, speaks.

Kate Novak, Washington, D.C., and Agneta Nilsson, Los Angeles

Mona Johnsson, New York, Solveig Anelli, Malmö, Ann Rudolf, New York, and Anita Pihlblad, New York

Karin de Brer and Ulla Wikander Reilly, both San Francisco

Charlotte Brandin, New Jersey, and Victoria Gardezi, New York

Christina Norström-Blankstein, Berlin

Eva Lamb, Anne Marie McGowan and Gunilla Ramella, all Washington, D.C.

Madeleine Fusfield and Kate Novak, both Washington, D.C.

Görel Bengtzon, Washington, D.C.

Ann-Marie Brisbois, Washington, D.C., and Eva von Usslar, Stockholm

Britt Josefsson and Berit Boegli, both Washington, D.C.

Current SWEA International President Åsa Lena Lööf, Florida, South, and Christina Moliteus, New York

Cultural Attaché Mats Widbom speaks.

Permalink | Comments (0)

'Songs from Weimar Berlin' Presented at the German Historical Institute in Washington

Posted by Susanna at 11:13 AM, Apr 16, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Events

Singer Sally Martin

"SONGS FROM WEIMAR BERLIN - An Evening of Cabaret" was the title of an event at the German Historical Institute in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night. The evening featured works by Kurt Weill, Hanns Eisler, Bertolt Brecht, and Friedrich Holländer, among others, and performed by In Series artists.

SUCH SONGS as "Take It Off, Petronella," "Lola," "Falling in Love Again" "Berlin im Licht" and "The Pimp's Song" represented the lively repertoire of the cabaret period of pre-World War II Berlin, and, in fact, were taken from the In Series theater company's current production, Berliner Kabarett.

PETER JELAVICH, professor of history at Johns Hopkins University and author of the award-winning book "Berlin Cabaret," joined in the presentation and put the songs into historical context with commentary on cabaret culture in 1920's Berlin. An authority on modern German cultural history, Professor Jelavich is also the author of "Munich and Theatrical Modernism: Politics," "Playwriting, and Perfromance, 1890-1914," and "Berlin Alexanderplatz: Radio, Film, and the Death of Weimar Culture."

THE IN SERIES artists who performed were Sally Martin, Tara McCredie, Ashley Ivey and Jim Scopeletis. Pianists Alice Mikolajewski and Carla Hübner provided accompaniment.

Professor Peter Jelavich talks about the Berlin cabaret tradition.

A bountiful reception after the performance

Singer Sally Martin performs.

Permalink | Comments (0)

A Swedish Easter Tradition for Children to Dress as Witches

Posted by Susanna at 12:36 PM, Apr 15, 2009 (Comments)

Category: People

ONE VERY popular Swedish tradition for Easter is to decorate willow branches with colored feathers. But perhaps just as popular is the tradition for young children, especially girls, to dress up like witches, with long colorful dresses and skirts in different colors and patterns, wearing kerchiefs as headgear, their faces colorfully painted, and the girls, like witches, holding a kettle.

THESE pictures are from the town of Alingsås on the Swedish West coast. Photos by Maria Polo de la Piedra

Minja, Tindra and Maximilian

Isabelle

Joel and Mariana

Willow branches decorated with colored feathers

Rasmus, Lukas and Mikaela

Elin

Vilda

August and Matilda

Permalink | Comments (0)

Places that attract the Capital ʻin crowdʼ

Posted by Susanna at 3:24 PM, Apr 13, 2009 (Comments)

Category: People

Café Milano at nighttime

Café Milano
IT IS MORE THAN 16 years ago that the Italian restaurant Café Milano opened in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. -- actually it was about the time Bill Clinton was elected president. Instantly the glitzy restaurant became the place in the American capital for the "in crowd," attracting a mix of political and Hollywood celebrities, along with a lot of regular people who just wanted to hang out and enjoy the Euro-style atmosphere and great food.

THE PLACE has become famous for putting a little style in an often dull and gray capital city. And it has always been a fun place to go.

TODAY Café Milano is a popular as ever before, still attracting the celebrities as well as people from all walks of life. Now that the temperature is getting warmer, guests can stay outside on the restaurant's sidewalk terrace. The food is as delicious as ever and the music is great!

The L2 Lounge
THE FAIRLY new club L2 Lounge located just off Cady's Alley in Georgetown has a Mediterranean atmosphere with an edgy style and great music. Although it has membership available, it is open on Wednesday nights to the public, when guests can listen to well-known DJ Donald Syriani's creative selection of music.

Jess at L2 Lounge

L2 Lounge in Cady's Alley in Georgetown

Permalink | Comments (0)

Stunning art, music and entertainment at the Pink Line Project's 'Cherry Blast'

Posted by Susanna at 12:55 PM, Apr 11, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Events

Performance artists with nothing on top but body-paint

HUNDREDS OF hip Washingtonians hiked across the Anacostia River last night to join in the fun of The Pink Line Project's "Cherry Blast."

MANY TOOK THE bright yellow school bus shuttling back and forth between trendy Dupont Circle in upscale Northwest and a scruffy warehouse in sketchy Southeast, where they normally wouldn't be caught anywhere near, especially after dark.

BUT WHEN THEY got there, they were rewarded with rich sensory overload -- edgy music by Yoko K + Aphrodizia, with Yoko on the computer and keyboards; projection, percussion and strings by 302acid; spectacular video and new music by John Bowen and the Video Killers DC, Optical Groove with A DC DJ, and JMC. There was also visual art by Cory Oberndorfer, light design by David London and dance by CityDance Ensemble.

AT ONE POINT during Yoko K + Aphrodizia's performance, Katrina Toews, Sylvana Sandoz and others from the neighboring THEARC burst into a spontaneous improvisational modern dance performance that was a thrilling visual feast. Toews and Sandoz are teachers at THEARC, a performing arts center for children a few blocks away, also in Southeast D.C.

ALL OF THIS was topped off with performance artists, two women and a man body painted, alternately standing in the middle of the crowd on pedestals or in a black cage off to the side. Having topless women with nothing on top except body paint is a new frontier for a D.C. gathering. However, the crowd kept going like they had seen it all before. Or not. Many had to stop and take pictures.

IN SUM, Philippa Hughes and her the Pink Line Project put together a stunning program that pushed the traditional D.C. boundaries of art, style and entertainment and resulted in an exciting, even thrilling evening for everybody.

OR AS Henry Thaggert put it, "Only Philippa could get so many white people to go to Southeast on a Saturday night."

LOOK OUT NEW YORK and look out world. Philippa Hughes is reinventing performing and visual art and nighttime entertainment, and it's not long before everybody takes notice.

More of the performance artists

Yoko K + Aphrodizia worked their magic with dynamic new sounds

Pamela Sorensen, Ali Ayrom and Philippa Hughes, The Pink Line Project

Katrina Toews, Chris Tousimis and Sylvana Sandoz

Henry Thaggert, Annie Counter and Jobyl Boone

Janine Tursini and friends

Donald Syriani and friends

Neil Takemoto and friends

Permalink | Comments (0)

CharlElie Exhibition opens at French Embassy in Washington

Posted by Susanna at 10:18 AM, Apr 10, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Design & Art

French artist CharlElie

"PARIS IS a city for people who live in the past. You are classified. You are in a drawer and can't get out," says French artist CharlElie, who moved to New York about five years ago, and whose exhibition "Shower Curtains & Photos-Grafs" opened on Thursday night, April 9, at the French Embassy in Washington.

FOR THE LAST 25 years, CharlElie, a well-regarded artist with an international reputation, has presented photographs, paintings and sculptures throughout the United States, France, Belgium and Switzerland.
He was born in 1956 in Nancy, France, and is a graduate of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts.

CHARLELIE IS a longstanding figure in the multidisciplinary "multist" art movement, and his work encompasses numerous paintings-, drawing- and photography exhibitions, 23 albums of songs, several published essays and many concert tours in France and abroad. In his career, CharlElie has fashioned a prodigious body of work devoted to the synenergy of creation. Each imaginative journey is an incentive to embrace the new, whether in the form of questions, images, or sounds that can provide the stimuli for fresh literary creations. CharlElie's complex artistry, infused with light, shade and mystery, is in many ways a counterpart to the "inner landscapes" he conjures in his quest of the absolute.

"PAINTING IS an open window on the invisible," says the artist.

THE EXHIBITION runs from April 9 - 27, 2009. It will be open to the public by appointment only, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and during La Maison Française events. La Maison Française is a part of the French Embassy located at 4101 Reservoir Road, N.W. in Washington, telephone (202) 944-6091.

Rachel Small and Carol Harrison

Todd C. Wiggins, owner of Urban Revival Media

Lili Iravani, Andrew Sostek and Shahla Arbabi

Art by CharlElie

Art by CharlElie

Permalink | Comments (0)

Cherry Blossoms in Kenwood, Bethesda, Maryland

Posted by Susanna at 5:44 PM, Apr 8, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Travel

Permalink | Comments (0)

World-renowned Swedish Photographer Mattias Klum gives an inspiring lecture at House of Sweden

Posted by Susanna at 10:32 AM, Apr 6, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Events

Photographer Mattias Klum gave a fascinating lecture about his photography around the world.

"I HAVE WORKED in 18 countries - countries as different as Sweden, Guyana and New Caledonia. I would love to do work in Bhutan next," said famous Swedish photographer Mattias Klum when he talked about his photography at House of Sweden in Washington on Saturday afternoon. He added that Washington, D.C. has become his second home after visiting the American capital about 4-5 times per year since the 90's and doing work for the National Geographic magazine.

WHAT MAKES Bhutan interesting and depressing, according to Klum, is that the country is losing a unique culture, the looting of resources is alarming, and big glaciers are melting down. It is one of the biggest environmental disasters on the globe, and in the future - if nothing is done to stop the trend -- especially poor people will be without drinking water.

"I HAVE ALSO done underwater photography, for example in Galapagos, but not that much though," adds Klum.

USUALLY Mattias Klum communicates via satellite phone. That's what he did when he covered illegal logging in Borneo, a place he considers to be one of the most interesting places he has ever visited.

MATTIAS KLUM was born in Uppsala, Sweden, in 1968. He started taking pictures as a teenager, and since 1986 he has worked full-time as a freelance photographer. In a very artistic way he has described and portrayed animals, plants, natural and cultural settings in articles, books, films and exhibitions. He is also a lecturer world-wide. His works have been published in such magazines as National Geographic, Wildlife Conservation, Audubon, Geo, Terre Sauvage, Stern and Der Spiegel. Since 1997 he has had a number of articles and eight cover images for the famous National Geographic magazine.

OVER THE YEARS, Mattias Klum has received many awards and grants for his work. The Uppsala City Council awarded him with its gold medal for his outstanding work from his Uppsala base. He was also granted the title Citizen of the Year in Uppsala 2007 by the Uppsala County Administration. And he was nominated in 2008 as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. His Majesty the King of Sweden has granted him with his medal of the 8th grade with blue ribbon for his contributions as a nature photographer. Mattias is also an honored Guest Lecturer at Uppsala University. Additionally, he is a member of the Board of Trustees of World Wildlife Fund - Sweden and a fellow of The Linnean Society of London.

MATTIAS KLUM has undertaken major expeditions to countries such as Mongolia, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Nigeria, Guyana, Costa Rica, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Panama. In 2007 Mattias started the publishing company Tierra Grande Publishing, as well as the Terra Magna Foundation, which is committed to telling the story of how our beautiful planet Earth must be sustained and preserved. He also founded Expedition Sweden, a five-year long environment and inspiration project about Sweden, and launched the Baltic Sea Media Project, together with producer Folke Rydén.

Photography by Mattias Klum

Photography by Mattias Klum

Permalink | Comments (0)

Author Linda Olsson visits House of Sweden

Posted by Susanna at 12:27 PM, Apr 4, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Events

Swedish Author Linda Olsson

ON THURSDAY NIGHT, April 2, Swedish author Linda Olsson visited the House of Sweden to talk about her books "Let Me Sing You Gentle Songs/Astrid and Veronica" and "Sonata for Miriam." Linda Olsson, who was born in Sweden, now lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

HER DEBUT NOVEL, "Let Me Sing You Gentle Songs," was released in English in 2006. In the United States, the book was published under the title "Astrid and Veronica" and in Sweden with the title "Nu vill jag sjunga dig milda sånger."

LINDA WAS IN the U.S. to promote her last novel "Sonata for Miriam," published by Penguin USA in February 2009. "Sonata for Miriam" has received good reviews. Alan Gold of The Australian wrote: "Sonata for Miriam is a skillfully balanced book, a work of considerable literary merit and musical integrity. Olsson has written the book as though it were a sonata, with musical cadences throughout. Her short, staccato chapters cleverly replicate a Bach partita or a Mendelssohn sonata in their harmonics, their themes and their recapitulations. And the coda comes with as much drama as any finale of Beethoven."

IN TALKING ABOUT her books, Linda Olsson summed up her view on life: "Take risks! That is really what life is about. We must pursue our own happiness. Nobody has ever lived our lives; there are no guidelines. Trust your instincts. Accept nothing but the best. But then also look for it carefully. Don't allow it to slip between your fingers. Sometimes, good things come to us in such a quiet fashion. And nothing comes complete. It is what we make of whatever we encounter that determines the outcome. What we choose to see, what we choose to save. And what we choose to remember. Never forget that all the love in your life is there, inside you, always."

THE BOOK PARTY was arranged by SWEA (the Swedish Women's Education Association) Washington, D.C. and SACC (the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce) Washington, D.C.

View from House of Sweden over the Potomac River.

Permalink | Comments (0)

Cherry Blossoms in Washington, D.C.

Posted by Susanna at 8:43 AM, Apr 4, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Travel

Permalink | Comments (0)

Högalid Stockholm choir presents a concert of Swedish music in Washington

Posted by Susanna at 2:58 PM, Apr 2, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Events

Högalid Stockholm choir performs at First Trinity Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C.

THE STOCKHOLM CHOIR Högalidskören, under the leadership of Anna-Lena Engström, presented a concert of music by Swedish composers and others at First Trinity Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday evening. Traditional and new music was performed. Among the selections were "Ave Maria," "För Kärlekens Skull" by Ted Gärdestad, and Swedish legendary singer and song-writer Evert Taube's "Så skimrande var aldrig havet," songs with texts by authors Dan Andersson and Pär Lagerkvist, and piano music and other works by Swedish composers such as Stenhammar and Petterson Berger.

ANNA-LENA Engström is the organist at Högalidskyrkan (Högalid Church) in Stockholm, and says she loves to work with young musicians. She is also starting the organization "Musicians Without Borders" together with an Egyptian counterpart. During this trip students from the Music Academy in Stockholm, Stockholm's musical high school and members of Högalids' Church choir participated. Next stop on the trip is Rockford, Illinois.

Singer Joakim Qvist and choir leader Anna-Lena Engström

Permalink | Comments (0)

Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson opens 'Living Green' Exhibition at House of Sweden

Posted by Susanna at 3:54 PM, Apr 1, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Events

Björn Ylipää and Lena Ylipää Abrahamsson from Måltidsvision, a creative food events company from Sweden.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE gathered at the House of Sweden in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday night for the opening of the exhibition "Living Green." The exhibition was inaugurated with remarks by Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson. The "Living Green" exhibition is focused on climate, environment and sustainable living.

GUESTS ENJOYED music, design and other artistic expressions as well as three different components of the exhibition, while tasting the creative and wonderful food - with a message -- from the Skåne-based, Swedish company Måltidsvision (www.måltidsvision.se).

ON THE ROOFTOP of the House of Sweden invitees, while watching a dance performance, drank sparkling water and still water, and ate self-harvested vegetables with herb dip and glacier granite made of grapefruit. Lotta Lundgren and Ilana Silverstein performed dances, which were choreographed by Lotta Lundgren. Music was performed throughout the many levels of the gathering by the Esbjörn Svensson Trio, Jan Johansson on the accordion. Stefan Lindberg presented the recordings called "Melting Point."

THE "WOLF PAWS" (lingonberry and vodka) drinks did create some difficulties. Six glasses were connected by string and six people had to drink them connected in a circle. Sometimes not everybody was able to coordinate movement and a glass would be dropped, which would in turn pull down other glasses that were attached to the string.

THE MENU ALSO included cured reindeer and dried lingonberries and blueberries, cured venison with cloudberry chutney, wild marinated herring with crisp bread, and "designed" farmed salmon. The food was prepared in cooperation with the chef from Embassy of Sweden, Martin Johansson.

DURING THE SECOND half of 2009, Sweden will hold the Presidency of the European Union, and for that period the Swedish government has made climate change and sustainable development its priority. To set the stage for the Presidency, the Embassy of Sweden is also making climate and energy the main priorities for spring 2009, hosting seminars, exhibitions and events with both Swedish and American participants. The activities will focus on issues such as climate change, our way of living and the upcoming international climate negotiations.

    Swedish Deputy Prime minister Maud Olofsson opens the exhibition. To the left ambassador Jonas Hafström.

Andrew S. Osborne and Nunu Wako

Sam Giertz, CEO for Nordaqfresh North America

Dance performance on the rooftop

The "Wolf paws" (lingonberry and vodka) drinks in the entrance

Permalink | Comments (0)