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A Tribute to Refugees at Light City Baltimore: Interview with Visual Artist alaa minawi

March 24, 2017 By Amelia Old Leave a Comment

Baltimore is gearing up for their second inaugural art festival called Light City. Last year, CNN named this as one of the Top 16 Intriguing Things to See or Do in the U.S. Light City will return Friday, March 31 through Saturday, April 8, 2017. This free festival in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor will include 22 large-scale light art installations, 50 concerts, and 150 performances. Last year’s festival attracted over 400,000 visitors.

There will be artists from all over the world including the UK, France, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, and Israel. I was most drawn to the story of Palestinian-Lebanese visual artist alaa minawi. alaa took the time to share with me some of his inspiration behind his beautiful exhibit My Light is Your Light which will be displayed at Light City. I’ve interviewed many individuals over the years and his words are by far the most inspiring. If you are in the Baltimore area or can visit during this time I encourage you to see this tribute for refugees around the world.

What inspired your interest in becoming a lighting designer? Well it was all a coincidence, I never thought I would be in the theatre by any means. I was actually doing my Bachelor in Computer Science for three years and was about to graduate when suddenly I realized that I did not want to do this as a career for the rest of my life. I shifted to Radio/Tv/Film and then to theatre as a performer. I started playing with lights and suddenly every one wanted me to design the light for their plays. After three years of doing that, I found out that this magic called light is something that I would spend my whole life digging in. Somehow, Plato’s allegory of the cave had a huge impact on me in making this decision. The fact that what we see is not merely a reflection of things and understanding light may be,  makes me get closer to the truth of who we are, or at least I hope so.

Photo by ALF

My Light is Your Light will be displayed at Light City Baltimore. What was your inspiration behind this project? My Light is Your Light is the closest and most genuine work to me that I have done so far. It came after working for more than four years as an interpreter for refugees in an organization named ICMC (International Catholic Migration Commission) which was an intermediary between the UNHCR and the US Embassy in Beirut. My job was to interpret the last interview between refugees applying for asylum to the USA and the DHS officer who is conducting the last interview with these refugees. After this, the decision of resettlement would be made. After interpreting for more than 1000 families and thus hearing their stories I felt the need to tell the world in an artistic form about the human crisis that is happening.

What has been your greatest challenge not only professionally as a lighting designer and performer but also personally? The greatest challenge would have been being patient in staying in what I do. It took a lot of time, effort, and sacrifices to stay as a lighting designer in Beirut. I started off as Palestinian and not known to anyone in the art scene. It was incredibly hard to have a door opened just to show what I can do. I worked for free or for symbolic amounts for many years so that I can have a chance of getting into theatre plays. That meant working many other jobs to pay the rent but I believed in what I wanted and I felt I had to keep persisting in doing it. Finally things paid off. That is why whenever I have the chance to help emerging talents in Beirut I do it because I just do not want them to go through the hardships I have been through. 

Photo by Kristian Secher

What was your greatest lesson during your time as an interpreter for refugees? There were so many things that I learned from each life story that I heard. One of the most memorable lessons is to be grateful for everything that I have in my life and that what ever I own may be gone in a second. It’s better not to cling to it too much and enjoy this minute I am breathing in with humility. Things get better. No matter what we go through and no matter how hard things seem at the moment things do get better, even if we do not see it at the time.    

If you could leave one piece of advice for those who have struggled with similar challenges, what would it be? It will be hard but you will get over it. You will stand on your feet and you will make the best of this life. Just look at the people around you who love you. Look at the friends that you still have. Look at yourself and remember that we humans adapt and conquer circumstances. Do not allow the anger, the racism, and the hate speech to let you down. Make these sources and resources that will help you get stronger because there are others somewhere at sometime who are waiting to love you and stand by your side so hang in there.

Credit: Winter Lights

I love sharing inspirational quotes allowing the reader to truly think about their life, challenges, and accomplishments. What would you like to share with those reading this? Try to do good in this life as much as you can, in your work, at home, everywhere you can. It will come back to you and it will be rewarding. Always be strong and dream of the impossible because it can happen.

Any final words? The word refugee does not necessarily mean weak or broken. A refugee is a human being that has strength and weakness, has love and anger. He/She is a human being exactly like you. Exactly Like You, all they need is some empowerment and a chance and that is enough for them to shine.

 

​​

Photo by Nada Ammous

About alaa minawi: 

alaa minawi is a Palestinian-Lebanese visual artist. Since 2006, he has worked in more than 300 performances in Lebanon and the Arab world as a lighting designer, technical director, and performer. He has collaborated with many renowned artists. 

alaa has a BA in Communication Arts from the Lebanese American University and is currently pursuing his masters degree in HKU in The Netherlands where his artistic research is around the subject of belonging. He attained a certificate to train in lighting design from the Royal Academy for Dramatic Arts.

Since 2010, alaa started experimenting with light sources in an attempt to understand their influence on stage and the surrounding. In 2012 he made his first sound and light installation [A Piano in my Pillow] with pianist Vladimir Kurumilian.

In 2013, alaa launched “beyond myself…”; a light installation that was premiered in the Amsterdam Light Festival then in 2014, he created “My Light is your Light…” an installation that is dedicated to refugees.  In 2016, his installation “The Bride”  premiered in Beirut, Lebanon. 

About Light City Baltimore: Light City Baltimore will return for its second iteration Friday, March 31 through Saturday, April 8, 2017. Over nine consecutive nights, the free public light, art and music festival will redefine what is possible in the public realm by transforming Baltimore’s Inner Harbor into a playground of 22 large-scale light art installations, 50 concerts and 150 performances.

Last year’s festival attracted 400,000 visitors putting Baltimore in the good company of cities like Sydney, Montreal, London, Amsterdam, Berlin and Lyon. Light City, which is uniquely Baltimore, allows local artists to stand should-to-shoulder with internationally acclaimed artists from the UK, France, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Lebanon and Israel; providing American families a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a world-class art festival in their own back yard (or at least a quick plane, train or car ride away).

Highlights include a mini Light City for little ones; nightly themed kick-offs; a locally sourced food and beverage program; live nightly concerts featuring local, regional and national acts; an artist-in-residence program that extends the magic of Light City to eight distinct neighborhoods; and a “Brilliant Baltimore” initiative that will illuminate 62 of Baltimore’s most iconic downtown buildings and attractions to create a fully immersive city-wide celebration.

Filed Under: Interviews, Travel Tagged With: Alaa Minawii, Baltimore Light City, interview, travel, visit baltimore, visual artist

Interview with Graeme Kremlo of Travel Writers Radio

December 8, 2016 By Amelia Old Leave a Comment

 

 

Recently I had the honor of being a guest on the Melbourne, Australia radio show Travel Writers Radio where I was interviewed by host Graeme Kremlo. We discussed my 2016 travels to the Dominican Republic, Greece, and Africa as well as my focus on impact travel. What a year it has been!

I hope you check it out!

Filed Under: Impact Travel, Interviews Tagged With: australia, Fathom Travel, graeme kremlo, IFWTWA, Impact Travel, interview, melbourne radio, radio show, TBIN, travel radio, travel writer's radio, Visit.Org

Finding Relief with Acupuncture and Cupping Therapy

November 7, 2014 By Amelia Old 2 Comments

For as long as I can remember I have had a severe pain in my left shoulder. Some days are worse than others. I am never able to sleep on that side which can be frustrating. I have tried massage therapy which can ease the pain for a brief time but it doesn’t last very long. MRIs to my spine and neck showed no issues. I even went thru Physical Therapy and still had no relief.

Last Spring I had an episode that was one of the scariest moments of my life. I didn’t know if I was having a heart attack or what. I completely lost control of my arms, my eyes and head. Thankfully my husband was by my side and immediately got me to the hospital. For several months after that I went thru an extreme amount of tests and was in and out of the doctor’s office on a weekly basis. The initial thought from my doctors was that I had Multiple Sclerosis. It explained a lot. I had many of the symptoms including that pesky shoulder that would flare up. After two months, I was cleared of MS so on to other tests-Lupus, Dysautonomia and even Cancer. I did test positive for a blood clotting disorder but due to the fact my doctor did not see a clot they did not prescribe medication. I was left with very little answers and no relief.

Fast Forward to last week. I had enough with the pain. It started to affect my daily life and I was feeling absolutely drained. Acupuncture had been recommended to me by several people so I thought ‘why not?” I’ll give anything a chance at this point. My dear friend Andi Perullo of My Beautiful Adventures happens to be a Chinese Medicine Doctor too. I told you in the past-this woman is unbelievably multi-talented. I am not afraid of needles so thankfully I had no worries about that.

Andi was very thorough explaining the process. What to expect and how it should feel. When Andi inserted the very thin needles-I didn’t have much pain within my feet, legs, neck and even head. However, when she reached that left shoulder I nearly jumped off the table. The tiniest prick sent a painful sensation thru my muscle. I have a high tolerance for pain however this was pretty intense. After a minute or two the pain subsided. Andi told me I had to lie there for 45 minutes. 45 minutes?!?!?!!? Without moving?! She told me that many people find it relaxing and fall asleep. I couldn’t believe it. You know me. I don’t sit still especially not for 45 minutes.

photo-139

I made it thru the 45 minutes….barely. After she returned and removed the needles she insisted I take it very slow getting dressed. I could see why! The room was spinning after lying there for so long. I felt like I was in a  different world. When I made it home my husband took one look at me and said “you look drunk”. I certainly didn’t feel drunk but I felt completely out of it, nauseated and very emotional. I assumed this meant my body was toxic!  Andi explained that everyone responds differently and “The “healing crisis” occurs when the body releases stored up toxins and initiates structural changes at a faster rate than the body can normally handle. The more toxic, stressed, and physically imbalanced one’s body is, the more severe the healing crisis may be.”

According to the Mayo Clinic “Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force — known as qi or chi (CHEE) — believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance.” 

I was most certainly out of balance. The next day I felt ill in the am but by the afternoon I was feeling somewhat better. Because I apparently have a great deal of qi (energy flow) and blood stagnation to be moved we decided to go one step further with Chinese Medicine. That’s where Cupping Therapy comes in.

Google it. Sure…it may scare you but again….I was and am desperate and willing to try anything. Cupping is basically where suction is created using fire and it helps blood flow to promote healing. In my case, we needed to break up that old blood stagnation so I can start feeling normal in that shoulder and even gain some extra energy in the process.

So, this week I returned to Andi’s office for another Acupuncture session followed by cupping. This time I only had to lie still for 30 minutes for Acupuncture. But you won’t believe it. I had very little pain this time when the needles were inserted AND I drifted in and out of sleep while lying there. I never thought that would be possible. I was actually relaxed. I am positive I could have made it the 45 minutes this time-no problem.

photo-137

Next up -Cupping. I had read it felt like a deep tissue massage which I have had a thousand times. It looks painful but I can assure you it’s not as bad as it looks. It’s really hard to describe. It’s a very deep pulling feeling of your skin. The only time it was really painful for me was then the cups were moved on my left shoulder-understandably- due to my issue it wasn’t meant to be fun! It’s meant to bring relief.  No pain. No gain. Right?

photo-138

 

See the marks on my back? This shows where stagnant blood/toxins were pulled to the surface. Considering that’s the bad side, I am not surprised at how red/purple/black it turned out. Let me make it clear. These are not bruises. They are not painful and  go away within days from your treatment. My husband said it looked like I got stuck on the tennis court with an out of control tennis ball launcher. I agree!

photo-136

After the treatment, once again I felt very ill and out of it. Yesterday I was in a lot of pain. Not from the spots on my back but deep within my muscles. Today is better. While I am not completely pain free I do feel a difference. A big difference. So, next week I return for another session and will keep going back for more hoping this corrects my problem. I certainly have faith.

It’s amazing to me that over the summer I tested positive for that blood clotting disorder. The doctor saw no immediate clot yet by looking at my back you can see I had a great deal of qi and blood stagnation. I firmly believe it’s all related. And while I was hesitant about Chinese Medicine to begin with it certainly is beginning to make sense.

Interested in Acupuncture or Cupping Therapy and near the Charlotte Area? I highly recommend Andi Perullo from Healing Hands Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic.  I bet she can make a believer out of you too. Not only that, she can bring you to a more balanced state full of energy and life.

Filed Under: Interviews, Lifestyle Tagged With: Acupuncture, Blood Stagnation, Charlotte, Chinese Medicine, Cupping, Cupping Therapy, Doctors in Charlotte, Qi

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