The Resonance of the Land – a collaborative performance and visual art event – March 22, 2024
Hosted by Vanderbilt University Professor Raheleh Filsoofi, and Musician Reza Filsoofi, in collaboration with NICE, this unique gathering provides a special opportunity to immerse yourself in a celebratory exploration of the fascinating worlds of clay and music.
The event features:
- Engaging ceramic workshop
- Immersive music performance
- Nowruz celebration
Discover the intricacies of the clay process with insights from local resources and witness the creation of ceramic drums, following the rich tradition of Middle Eastern clay darbukas.
Enjoy the music performances from the following musicians:
- Shafiq Mardan
- Zaid Hameed
- Isidora Miranda
- Carlos Duran
- Charlie Gilbert
Middle Eastern food and delights will be provided.
This inclusive event is free and open to the public.
Event Details:
Date: March 22, 2024
Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location:
The E. Bronson Ingram Studio Arts Center, Department of Art at Vanderbilt University
1204 25th Ave. South, Nashville, TN 37240
For more information, please contact:
Raheleh.filsoofi@vanderbilt.edu
max@empowernashville.org
In August 2021, the world witnessed heart-wrenching scenes from Afghanistan, as thousands of our Afghan allies scrambled to flee the country after the Taliban takeover of Kabul. The crisis resulted in one of the largest airlifts in history, and nearly 80,000 Afghans made it to the US. Nashville resettled over 600 Afghan refugees over a period of just a few months.
On the heels of the resettlement of our Afghan allies, we watched the shocking scenes of Russian forces invading Ukraine on February 24th, leading to a scale of war not seen in Europe since World War II.
In response to the displacement of Ukrainians fleeing the war, the US created the Uniting for Ukraine program, a pathway for displaced Ukrainians to live in the country for a period of two years. Members of our coalition soon began supporting hundreds of Ukrainian refugees coming to Middle Tennessee with critical social services.
Supported by the Tennessee Art Commission and Vanderbilt University
Other participating organizations:
- Department of Art at Vanderbilt
- The Wond’ry Fiber Arts Build Lab
- Blair School of Music
- Global Humanities Post-Docs at Vanderbilt
- The Global Education Center
About the Project: The Resonance of the Lands is a collaborative initiative that unites artists, immigrants, refugees, and underrepresented groups in Nashville to craft ceramic instruments inspired by Middle Eastern and North African clay drums, showcased in various events.
Raheleh and Reza Filsoofi have been mapping and extracting local clay from different Nashville and Tennessee locations, shaping them into instruments. Immigrant community members actively participated in hands-on workshops at Vanderbilt’s ceramic studio, contributing to the decoration of these instruments.
The March 22nd event marks the debut of the first 25 ceramic instruments created from Nashville and Vanderbilt soil, enriching the soundscape of the city of music. In the coming years, Reza and Raheleh Filsoofi will continue crafting instruments from other locations in Tennessee. Collaborating with NICE and local communities, they plan to organize ongoing workshops and performances, contributing to the cultural tapestry of the city of music. Through this transformative exploration of art, geography, and community building, join us in shaping a harmonious and connected future.
