Bahrain’s popular arts group, Elham, is set to launch it’s biggest event since it’s establishment three years ago with an exciting 4-day arts and cultural festival featuring a wide range of activities and events.

With the slogan of “Art to the People”, the group aims to provide a creative and artistic environment that will showcase local talent and expose Bahrain based art to the public. From poetry, to music and from film to art, the festival will promote cultural dialogue and artistic expression.

The festival, to be held between May 13 and 16, is organized in collaboration with the Qal’at Al-Bahrain Museum, which was officially opened last year and coincides with the International Museums Day on May 18, a day celebrated every year by the International Council of Museums.

Qal’at Al-Bahrain Museum will be transformed into an art hub for the four days, hosting a variety of events such as workshops, performances and screenings, and will be open to the general public.

“We are excited about this event which we believe is the perfect way to conclude our third season. It embodies the spirit of Elham and celebrates the creative diversity that we in Bahrain are privileged to enjoy,” said Elham founder and co- organiser of the festival Ali Al Saeed.
Ali Al Saeed, an award winning author with three books under his belt, will himself be one of the participants in the festival, joining a group of established and promising artists from Bahrain. Others include Bahraini folk singer/song-writer Ala Ghawas, Bahraini conceptual artist Mariam Haji, and Bahraini digital artist Fawaz AlOlaiwat.

Irish artist Keith Winters and American artist Steve Mykietyn will conduct a performance and installation art project and workshop titled “Speed Towerz”.

The festival will commence with the opening of a group art exhibition on May 13th at the Arts Center from 7pm. On Thursday, May 14th, visitors will enjoy a poetry recital accompanied by an oud and acoustic music set followed on Friday, May 15th, by a music concert featuring local musicians at the Cultural Hall (has this been confirmed?) from 8pm. A talk on documentary photography by Lebanese artist and photographer Camille Zakharia will be held on the same day (May 15th) from 10am to 1pm.

“Such initiatives cannot succeed without the support and participation of the public. We hope that people will not only enjoy the art being showcased but also be inspired to create their own,” added Al Saeed, “

For more information please visit www.elhambahrain.net , email elhambahrain@yahoo.com or call (973) 3662 1223.

A one of a kind cultural extravaganza coming your way in May!!!
Elham has pledged to always evolve and continue expanding, and that is what we have been working hard at on our third season. And now, as we near the end of yet another fabolus season, we promise you one last big surprise that will take the cultural and art scene in Bahrain by storm!

We are currently going into the next phase of organizing our second major event, to be held in early May, following the success of last years LIVE ART 08.  This four-day event will bring a new art in a new way to the people of Bahrain and turn it into a unique cultural experience unlike any other seen before. In the coming few weeks, look out for further announcements as we finalise our plans.

But in the meantime, we are in desperate need of volunteers! We are forming a organizing team that will be involved from the planning, organizing to the excution phases. So much work to do. So little time! So your involvement is NEEDED! We can’t promise you huge rewards, but one thing for sure, this will be an unmissable and unforgettable experience for everyone involved. This is you chance to be part of something special!

Elham, in collaboration with Aldar Islands, brings you an evening of photography, art, video and verse inspired by nature!

The outcome of a unique creative trip to the sea, sponsored by Aldar Islands, in which a group of Elham members island-hopped, will be presented in this special evening. Participants include Khalid Khazal, Carla Sailba, Fardan Raffii, Anish Verghese, Nader, Ameeruddin, Nayla Fokeladeh and Fatima Al Saad and many more!!!

This is a prelude to a day out on Aldar Island for Elham members on March 28 on the island itself in which members will be able to dolphin watch, enjoy the sceneary, and go island hopping – to create your own “artistic” beach experience!

Creative Arts Group Elham Presents:

A Magical Journey of Words and Music

at the 17th Monthly Gathering in February

Many believe that art is all about our ability to translate and express our life encounters, interactions, and affections creating; possibly without knowing, a sensational journey of unique undefined pleasure. Elham, the creative art group, comes back in February to present it’s 17th monthly gathering with yet another magical evening of artistic discovery. The gathering takes place on February 24th the venue yet to be unlocked will feature four astonishing artists who skillfully are able to translate their passions through their art. Spellbinding words and enchanting music.

The event will feature the brilliant award wining Bahraini author, Ali Al Saeed, who will unveil a poetry recital from his latest book “Sad Man Dancing”. The 30 year old writer started his profession in 1998 as a

 journalist and has published his fictions in various magazines and journals. He is known for his captivating style that moves the reader into his fascinating world. He was the first Bahraini to write and publish a novel written in the English language. The novel QuixotiQ became a National best selling novel .In 2004 Ali was the recipient of the Bahrain Outstanding Book of the Year Award.His book ‘Moments’ published in 2

006 is a collection of short stories, a powerful reflection of daily life with a light and almost dream-like touch. Ali’s talents extend beyond writing into expressive photography and filmmaking always reflecting an aspe

ct of his soul, mind and sometimes heart. Ali is one of the founding members of Elham created from his passion for a Life of Art and Creativity for all.

Another book will be featured in the event presented by the Bahraini artist Khalid Al Rowaie, who will talk about his new book “Tranquility…Nothing Else”. “Tranquility is like a whisper, it’s something short, where there is no screaming.” The book, which is the author’s third release, astonishingly combines poetry and photographic captures to present various human emotions over unique levels. The book is a reflection of how Khalid experiences life; how he thinks women experience the world; his view of life in the future and how he feels about his family. The poems originally written in Arabic have been translated into English by Ghada Abualfath. His first book ‘Lessons of Light’ was published in 2002 followed in 2004 by ‘The Body Text of the Internet . Khalid Al Rowaie, who is also Al-Sawari ’s Theater Director, illustrates feelings between people and the world expressed through powerful photos and words created over the past four years. The artist has participated in many plays, movies and international art festivals winning an admirable list of awards.

The musical element of the evening will be presented or rather played out of the classical melodies by Dina Khalil’s violin. Dina, who is currently studying architecture in the University of Bahrain, has been playing the violin for four years but her passion for music started long before that, “Music means everything to me, and since I was a kid I have been dreaming of playing Violin, as I find it a very great passionate instrument” says Dina. The 19 year old violinist has performed in many concerts and events around the island challenging herself to excellence .“Although I find Violin a difficult instrument to be learned, I enjoy every minute of playing it, and am still dreaming of becoming a great musician in the future to touch everybody’s heart.”

Finally, the evening will feature the remarkable Bahraini folk singer and song writer Ala Ghawas, who will perform songs from his latest album ‘’Whispers”. Ala’s interest in music started at an early age, playing the accordion and keyboards at school progressing to the piano and acoustic guitar during his teens. Ala is musically influenced by Jackson Browne and Bob Dylan. While studying at Boston as a Fulbright scholar Ala released his first serious recording project in 2007 entitled “Hums”. Ala magically blends sounds and lyrics with his warm voice creating tremendous moving emotions, reflecting his deep life experiences. “Whispers”, released on December 2008, comes to present another phase of a brilliant artist.

In order to create, ones need faith, strength, energy, empathy, and imagination. Our four artists have proven to be competent in them all. It’s not just an evening of art, but it’s an evening of four different lives and stories fused with enormous creativity. It’s an event not to be missed by anyone who cherishes art or lives to create. The evening takes place at 7pm 

Mohamed Slaise, Manager of Al Dar Islands, gave us a call some time ago, and my my, weren’t we thrilled… Can you see where this is going? Well let me take you there!

On Saturday January 17th, a group of Elham Photographers set sail with Al Dar Management, to visit a few Bahraini Islands, and experience what naturally habitats our Secretive Eden.  While we had captured Mohamed Slaise’s interest and imagination (hence the invitation), he has captured us with wonder and awe! He had promised and he had delivered, the Winter Month of January is indeed a wonderful time to witness the flocks of migrating birds and dolphins leaping out of the water, teasing us to almost dive right back in with them. Our photographers braved the high seas armed with cameras, thrilled, nay RAPTUROUS! Photographers could barely catch their breath, trying to take it all through their lens! We caught oysters, and saw baby sharks released back into the ocean by fisher dhow-men!

It was a long, shutter opening and flickering day; and while we give you only a teaser of it here, we thank Mohamed Slaise for this opportunity and hope that our photographs (all to be given to Al Dar Management) will form a fantastic image library for them! As for you Elhamers, we promise photography, film, poetry and more, inspired from the trip to Al Dar Islands on a special occasion in March. Look out for it…it might just be at Al Dar!!

Also look out for our exclusive interview with Al Dar Manager Mohamed Slaise for our February Newsletter, where we will also showcase which photographs made it on Al Dar Postcards!!!

Poetry is not only a form of self-expression, but a therapeutic practice that can help a person come to terms with the emotional and personal turmoil they experience, according to our very own acclaimed Bahraini author Ali Al Saeed (and the driving force behind Elham), who launches his third book, Sad Man Dancing, in February.

Ali previously published the award-winning novel QuixotiQ, in 2004, and the national best selling and critically acclaimed collection of short stories Moments, in 2006; both of which have been reprinted this month. 

Sad Man Dancing will contain some of the most personal and intimate writings, delving into the author’s personality, his perspective on life, and the experiences he went through, with a versatile style that combines narrative, satire and simplicity.

Al Saeed, who turns 31 in February, believes that poetry is a form of self-expression unlike any other and that it is one of the strongest forms of therapeutic literature. The poems featured in this book were written during different phases of the author’s life reflecting the confusion, pain and the odd joy he’s experienced.

“I’m not a poet,” Al Saeed exclaims, “but I enjoy putting words together and pouring my deepest, darkest and at times random thoughts onto paper. It’s the only time that I write with a pen!”

“It’s a departure from my previous two titles, but I hope people will find something in this book and connect with its subject,” he added. 

The book – which features on its cover an image by American photographer Briana Kessler – will be launched early February with a special book tour around Bahrain, including book signings, recitals and talks. 

For those with an arty appetite, there’s perhaps no better place on the island for a light meal or coffee than the lovely art-adorned Albareh Café next door to the gallery. And now there’s an irresistible added incentive to visit. Until the end of November, Albareh Café is offering Elham members a 15% discount on all *meals. Take your pick from fresh, fabulous sandwiches, light, innovative salads, hearty Moroccan mains and a selection of indulgent cakes, and enjoy with a side order of paintings and sculpture. There’s also the option to settle at a mosaic table on the breezy terrace, which is definitely where you’ll find us at this time of year. To qualify for the discount, simply mention that you’d like to take advantage of the Elham Autumn offer. (*The offer does not include beverages.)
Albareh Gallery is in Adliya, close to the Carlton Hotel. The gallery is open from 10am – 1pm and 4-8pm; the cafe is open from 8.30am (for a tasty Arabic breakfast, among other things) till 11pm. See www.albareh.com.