The Third Line presents Layaali - four night-time events held over the duration of the Ramadan period. Layaali (meaning "nights" in Arabic) will offer people a chance to meet and reflect on regional issues through various short films or gather with friends and family to participate in a local based art project.
Each evening will explore an intersection between the arts the broader community of which we are all apart. All events are free and open to the public.
RSVPs are essential to ensure seating at the events.
9pm Tuesday, September 25th
We Are Here: A selection of short films on Lebanon, Summer 2006
Following a very successful screening at the 2007 Edinburgh Film Festival, this selection of five short films curated by Antonia Carver of Bidoun and Rasha Salti of ArteEast has come to Dubai. These short films were shot starting the day Israel began its July 2006 assault on Lebanon and footage is as recent as just a few months ago.
Depicting war through the eyes of ordinary people determined to cling onto the simple routines of life, they eschew the grand sweep of violence seen on the news to reflect instead on personal stories.
Join co-curator Antonia Carver as she presents these films (62 minutes total), followed by a discussion about regional filmmakers and the struggles faced by independent filmmakers in creating their work. The selection is part of a wider program of short films from Lebanon which will be screened at ArteEast's CinemaEast film festival, New York, November 8-15, 2007. The films feature Arabic dialogue with English subtitles.
9pm Monday, October 1st
Kutub meeting
Kutub is The Third Line's bi-lingual Arab literature appreciation circle which meets on the first Monday of every month. This month the group will meet to discuss Girls of Riyadh (Benaat al Riyadh) by Rajaa Alsanea.
This modern novella explores the lives of traditional young women from the upper-class of today's Saudi society and their hopeful and at times tumultuous love lives. Though banned in Saudi Arabia, you can find copies of Girls of Riyadh in Arabic & English both at the gallery and at Magrudy's Jumeriah.
As this October meeting will be during Ramadan, we shall meet at the special Ramadan time of 9:00pm, so that there is time for Iftar before gathering. There will also be a full table of mezzas for all to share.
9pm Tuesday, October 2nd
Art for Families: A Hands-On Event
Co-hosted by The Third Line and START, come join us in creating a work of art! Come to explore, experiment and have fun, while supporting an important community-focused arts initiative. The evening, held with the help of Jam Jar and in support of the City of Hope, will give everyone involved the chance to make something, so bring your creativity and be prepared to have fun!
START is a grassroots art education program that reaches children in need across the Middle East with education programmes and local partnerships, focusing on reaching those who would otherwise be excluded from the arts and creative education in the region.
The City of Hope has served as a refuge for hundreds of abused women and children since it was founded in 2001. Now with three operational shelters across Dubai, the City of Hope supports numerous women and children of various nationalities.
9pm Tuesday, October 9th
Finding Hope
Join us for a screening of IRIN's moving 2007 documentary about women's rights, Losing Hope: Women in Afghanistan. This short film shall be followed by an open discussion about the international response to regional humanitarian events and ways to create hope in the midst of humanitarian need.
Co-hosted by IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis agency under the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the panel shall feature local and regional leaders reflecting on humanitarian issues and ways to find hope in the face of injustice.
-Ends-
About The Third Line
Formed in early 2005 by three partners, Sunny Rahbar, Omar Ghobash and Claudia Cellini, The Third Line is an art gallery bringing to Dubai art from the region, which until now has not had a platform. It creates paths that ultimately lead to a lively dialogue between the artists and the public.
Along with traditional gallery offerings, The Third Line organises non-profit, alternative programs including: Kutub, a bi-lingual Arab literature appreciation circle and a Documentary and Arab Feature Film Series, both of which feature moderated debates after each film screening. Additional programming also includes student exhibitions with AUD and Latifa College.
Since The Third Line's inception, exhibiting artists include Golnaz Fathi, Amir H Fallah, Youssef Nabil, Eric Chan, Shirin Aliabadi, Lamya Gargash, Raghda Bukhash, Amna Alzaabi, Farhad Moshiri, Laleh Khorramian, Farhad Moshiri, Laleh Khorramian, Arwa Abouon, Doa Aly, Rana El Nemr, Mona Marzouk, Fouad Elkoury, Marwan Sahmarani, Abbas Akhavan, Remi Arora and Rana Begum.
The warehouse gallery features cutting-edge exhibitions, showcases international calibre artists and has an established collectors base.
To RSVP please email events@thethirdline.
For further information on Layaali, please contact
Courtney at The Third Line
04 4311 367
email courtney@thethirdline.com
© Press Release 2007