February 8: Go to IMA to watch the Brazilian film "Favela Rising"

IMA's fascinating "Africa in the Americas" film series presents "Favel Rising"

When: Thursday February 8 7:00 PM
Where: Indianapolis Museum of Art DeBoest Lecture Hall

"Favela Rising" documents a man, a movement, a city divided and a favela – a Brazilian squatter settlement – united. Haunted by the murders of his family and many of his friends, Anderson Sá is a former drug trafficker who turns social revolutionary in Rio de Janeiro’s most feared slum. Through hip-hop music, the rhythms of the street and Afro-Brazilian dance, he rallies his community to counteract the violent oppression enforced by teenage drug armies and sustained by corrupt police. At the dawn of liberation, just as collective mobility is overcoming all odds and Anderson’s grassroots Afro-reggae movement is at the height of its success, a tragic accident threatens to silence the movement forever. Favela Rising has received thirteen national and international film festival awards.

It's free!

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out some of the other films the IMA is showing about African culture in the Americas: RIZE on February 15 looks at a life-affirming adaptation of African dance to the hard streets of South LA; "African Blood" about African-Mexicans shows February 22; and you will very much want to attend the Indianapolis International Film Festival April 25 to May 4.

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February 8: Jolt your world with crash course in Pop Art

Art Jolt: Pop Art, at IMA, the first of a two part course on Pop Art (part 2 is at the Eiteljorg Museum February 15)

When: Thursday February 8 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Where: Indianapolis Museum of Art, Adult Lecture A

IMA offers the first of a two-part crash course on Pop art, a ‘50s and ‘60s art movement influenced by advertising, mass media, comics and consumerism. Visit the exhibition Pop Art Prints and see other Pop works in IMA’s permanent collection.

During the second session, hosted Thursday February 15 by the Eiteljorg Museum, see the exhibitions Roy Lichtenstein: American Indian Encounters and Andy Warhol’s Cowboys and Indians. Parents: Bring your children for art-making activities while you enjoy the course. Presented in collaboration with the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art. Register by Jan. 31 for either session or both by calling 317-920-2649 or email education@ima-art.org.

$30 public/ $21 members/ $25.50 students and seniors per session
To Register: Print the registration form now and mail or fax it to the Indianapolis Museum of Art (address and fax number are on the form). Or call 317.920.2648 between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, to register by phone.

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out the opening of the exhibition of pop artist Ed Paschke at Herron March 9.

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February 8: Learn about what international public health was like before the World Health Organization

Theodore Brown, the country's leading historian of public health, helps us better understand the challenges of global public health in the 21st century by taking us back half a century

When: Thursday February 8, 4:00-5:00 PM
Where: IU Medical School Medical Science Library, Room IB 301 & 302

Theodore M. Brown, Professor in the Departments of History and of Community and Preventive Medicine at the University of Rochester, will talk about “International Public Health: Before the World Health Organization.” The History of the WHO cannot be fully understood without appreciating the often tangled background of international public health that existed in the years before the Second World War. When WHO came into being, it inherited a legacy that included many tensions, contests over organizational territory, and conflicts over priorities. This presentation will evaluate the key developments in international health in the period leading up to the chartering of WHO, and will pay particular attention to the Office Internationale d'Hygiene Publique and the League of Nations Health Organization.

Dr. Brown brings an important perspective, expressed in his 2004 article "A Role for Public Health History":

First, that international public health efforts are deeply influenced and critically shaped by their political context. Programs cannot be created in a vacuum or applied in isolation. They are of this world and, like it, they constantly change and thus need to be frequently renegotiated. Second, the culture of international health organizations must be acknowledged in order to understand what priorities will emerge at any particular time and which will survive intra- and interagency competition. Programmatic ideas are always contested and rise and fall with shifting political alliances.

Third, ideas are applied in a world governed by administrative and bureaucratic realities. The translation of plans into actual programs requires a great deal of persistence and negotiating skill to make them real and keep them functioning. Fourth, international health initiatives must reckon with deep-seated historical and cultural traditions, local realities, and global forces. All play roles in the success and failure of public health activities, and no success is likely to last forever, especially when the world changes in dramatic ways. Fifth, top-down initiatives cannot expect to succeed without real bottom-up support. Because people at the local level understand how programs need to function to address their particular needs, there can be no simple formula for international public health success. A single agenda or set of priorities cannot suit all circumstances.

Clearly, there is an important role for history in global public health. Studying history carefully and generalizing from its particulars may not necessarily help us avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, but by distilling the lessons of history, we can certainly learn more clearly where we have been and, as a consequence, become more aware of where we are.

More information

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February 8 : Hear IMA's Maxwell Anderson envision a culture of responsibility for museums in the 21st century

IMA director and CEO Maxwell L. Anderson speaks to Butler University's Leadership through the Arts Forum on the important theme of "The Culture of Responsibility in Art Museums"

When: Thursday February 8, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Where: Butler University, Robertson Ford Salon

Maxwell Anderson became director and chief executive officer of the Indianapolis Museum of Art in June 2006. Along with a $354 million endowment, 152 acres of grounds, and a collection of 50,000 works of art, the IMA has among the largest art museum facilities in the United States. Anderson also serves as a research affiliate for Princeton University's Center for Arts and Cultural Policy Studies, a program of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and writes a column on art world trends for The Art Newspaper.

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out some other discussions of civic leadership such as a talk by NPR's Tavis Smiley February 2. A similar discussion will be whether capitalism can be in the public good February 27.

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February 9: Groove with Sancocho and explore African culture in Latin America

Popular local group Sancocho performs "Nuestra Diaspora: One Beat, One Heart," African-influenced music and dance at IMA

When: Friday February 9 7:30 p.m.
Where: Indianapolis Museum of Art Deer Zink Pavilion

Sancocho, (san-KO-choh) is a stew in Latin America that combines meats, vegetables and spices to create a unique taste. Using this metaphor, Sancocho Music and Dance Collage focuses on music and dance traditions from the African diaspora—the unique artistic traditions that began with the journeys of Africans to the New World. Nuestra Diaspora (“Our Diaspora”) brings to life the African elements of the arts in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the U.S., including religious and secular dances such as Rumba, Bailes Orishas, Bomba and Plena.

Nuestra Diaspora is presented in conjunction with the Star Studio exhibition William Rasdell: African Roots in Cuban Soil and Black History Month. $10 public; $5 IMA members and students; children under 12 free

If this event sounds interesting, you should explore some other cross-fertilizations of Africans in the Americas, such as the Affrilachian Poets February 8, or the Brazilian film "Favela Rising" at IMA the same day. Or groove with the Urban Drum Emsemble April 26.

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February 14: Sweeten your V-Day with Chinese and Western art and music at UIndy

Plaisir d'Amour: The greatest living traditional Chinese artist, Master Au Ho-nien, joins singers from Shanghai and Indianapolis Opera for a very special Valentine's Day

When: Wednesday February 14 7:30 PM
Where: University of Indianapolis, Christal deHaan Fine Arts Center

IndyBuzz has never been accused of sentimental romanticism, but this event is worth making a Valentine's Day recommendation. One of the city's underappreciated treasures is the Museum of Master Au Ho-nien at the University of Indianapolis. When the Master is in town, it is definitely worth clearing one's schedule. Watching Master Au create a paiting with such an economy of brushstrokes is a remarkable experience.

The theme of the UIndy Valentine's Day Concert, "Plaisir d'Amour," will be "The Butterfly Lovers," a love story that is to Chinese culture what Romeo and Juliet is to Western. Here's what the disembodied people at Wikipedia have to say:

A young woman named Zhu Yingtai from Shangyu, Zhejiang, disguised herself as a man travelling to Hangzhou to study. During her journey, she met and joined Liang Shanbo, a companion schoolmate from Kuaiji (會稽) in the same province.

They studied together for three years, during which their relationship strengthened. When the two parted, Zhu offered to arrange for Liang to marry her 16 years old fictitious sister. When Liang travelled to Zhu's home, he discovered her true gender. Although they were devoted and passionate about each other at that point, Zhu was already engaged with Ma Wencai (馬文才), a man her parents had arranged for her to be married to. Depressed, Liang died in office as a county magistrate. On the day Zhu was to be married to Ma, whirlwinds prevented the wedding procession from escorting Zhu beyond Liang's tomb. Zhu left the procession to pay her respects for Liang. Liang's tomb split apart, and Zhu dived into it to join him. A pair of butterflies emerged from the tomb and flew away.

You can see a pretty telling of the story here. This story has inspired a wide range of great music and art ... we'll have a chance to hear and see some of it. On February 14th, Liang Zhu's "Butterfly Lovers" opera will be performed as a prelude. (Constant Lambert's "Eight Poems of Li Po" will be performed. So too will be love songs from Chinese and Western opera, sung by singers from Indianapolis Opera, Shanghai Normal University, and the University of Indianapolis music faculty.

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out Indianapolis Opera's free "Music in Art" performance at IMA February 22.

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Visit IndyBuzz's sister site "Views-PRI" for an essay that connects many of the events related to Asian economy and culture: "China, Japan, Indiana: Eastern and Midwestern Cultures Mingle."

February 13: Learn about Lebanon and the rest of the Middle East from Prof. Nafhat Nasr

DePauw Emeritus Prof. Nafhat Nasr leads a discussion of the Middle East as part of the Indiana Council on World Affairs Great Decisions Series

When: Tuesday, March 29 7:00-9:00 PM
Where: Butler University, Pharmacy Building

Prof. Nafhat Nasr, one of the most distinguished political science professors ever to have served at DePauw University, addresses the ICWA. A native of Lebanon, he specializes in the sources and possible causes of international conflicts.

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out Pierre Atlas's Great Decisions on the Middle East talk January 24. John Clark will talk about a less well-known reigion with similar problems -- Central Asia -- March 7 and March 20. Hear a libertarian-leaning perspective on the region January 17. And see a couple of excellent films that illuminate the region's crises: "Iraq in Fragments" February 23 to March 1, and Battle of Algiers March 22.

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February 13: Get a report on the Catholic Church in Latin America

Fr. José Marins, one of the most influential clerics in the Western Hemisphere, talks about “The Catholic Church in Latin America” at Marian College

When: Tuesday February 13 7:00 PM
Where: Marian College, Mother Theresa Hackelmeier Memorial Library Auditorium

As part of the Franciscan Center for For a Better World” with its founder Fr. Riccardo Lombardi S.J. and coordinated the national Brazilian team. He took part of the Second Vatican Council’s last three sessions as consultant for the Brazilian Bishops; was a consultant to the Medellín Conference, and the communication coordinator at the Puebla Conference. He was in charged of clergy and deacons before the National Conference of Brazil’s Bishops (CNBB); a member of the Conference of Latin American Bishops (CELAM) reflection team and adjunct general secretary to Cardinal Eduardo Pironio. He also served as consultant for the Pontifical Secretariat for Christian Unity from 1973-1979; and during the last 30 years he has coordinated the itinerant team that has served churches of Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia, Philippines, India, Korea, Thailand, Africa and Europe.

In the United States he has been a consultant, professor, and keynote speaker to various Dioceses in different states and in different languages (English, Spanish, and Portuguese).

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out Marian College's earlier talk about post-conflict Central America on February 5. Attend the talks about Mexico that are part of Great Decisions series on February 7 and February 20.

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February 14: Join Susan Erickson for a discussion of International Migrations

Susan Erickson on International Migrations for the Church of the Saviour Great Decisions series

When: Wednesday, February 14 7:00 PM
Where: Church of the Saviour, 6205 Rucker Road Indianapolis

The movement of people across international borders can be initiated by conflict, economic reasons or the chance to achieve political freedoms. Migration issues have taken center-stage in the U.S. and EU, as citizens increasingly worry about job security and terrorism. What are the advantages and disadvantages for countries that are affected by migration?

Although Susan Erickson specializes in American politics, particularly in campaign finance and the media's role in politics, she also teaches courses on international relations and Asian politics. She has carried out extensive research in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Hungary, and Poland. Ms Erickson frequently appears as a political commentator on television, and is a great favorite of the Bob Calhoun Memorial Great Decisions Series.

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out the ICWA's Great decisions discussion of global migration on February 27. The Great Decisions discussions of Mexico February 7 and February 20 will be useful, as will be a contrasting perspective of Africans in France on January 19.

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February 15: Rize to the occasion by viewing the "krump" film "RIZE" at IMA

Part of IMA's "Africa in the Americas" Film Series, "RIZE" documents the rise of new hip-hop dances and fashions drawing from African tribal rituals

When: Thursday February 15 7:00 PM
Where: Indianapolis Museum of Art 7:00 pm DeBoest Lecture Hall Free

"Rize" reveals a groundbreaking dance phenomenon that’s exploding on the streets of South Central, Los Angeles. Taking advantage of unprecedented access, this documentary film brings to first light a revolutionary form of artistic expression borne from oppression. The aggressive and visually stunning dance modernizes moves indigenous to African tribal rituals and features mind-blowing, athletic movement sped up to impossible speeds. “Rize” tracks the fascinating evolution of the dance: we meet Tommy Johnson (Tommy the Clown), who first created the style as a response to the 1992 Rodney King riots and named it “Clowning”, as well as the kids who developed the movement into what they now call Krumping. The kids use dance as an alternative to gangs and hustling: they form their own troupes and paint their faces like warriors, meeting to outperform rival gangs of dancers or just to hone their skills. For the dancers, Krumping becomes a way of life – and, because it’s authentic expression (in complete opposition to the bling-bling hip-hop culture), the dance becomes a vital part of who they are.

The film will be introduced at IMA by Larry, one of the dancers featured in the film. Earlier in the day, Larry will lead a presentation for students at the Madame Walker Theatre Center. Both events are presented by IMA and the Madame Walker Theatre Center.

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out another film at IMA about African music and culture in evolving the Americas, the Brazilian "Favela Rising" on February 8. Get live performances by Sancocho February 9 and the Urban Drum Emsemble April 26.

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February 15: Jolt your world yet again at the Eiteljorg: Pop Art Part II

Art Jolt: Pop Art Part II

When: Thursday February 15 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Eiteljorg Museum
$30 public/ $21 members/ $25.50 students and seniors per session

Second of a two-part crash course on Pop art, a ‘50s and ‘60s art movement influenced by advertising, mass media, comics and consumerism. During this second session, hosted by the Eiteljorg Museum, see the exhibitions Roy Lichtenstein: American Indian Encounters and Andy Warhol’s Cowboys and Indians. Parents: Bring your children for art-making activities while you enjoy the course. Presented in collaboration with the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art. Register by Jan. 31 for either session or both by calling 317-920-2649 or email education@ima-art.org.

Register by Jan. 31 for either session or both by calling 317-920-2649 or email education@ima-art.org

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out the opening of the exhibition of legendary pop artist Ed Paschke at Herron March 9.

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February 15: Spend a wholesome day at the 18th annual Joseph Taylor Symposium on "Urban Universities/Urban Communities: Partners in Social Justice"

The 2007 Joseph Taylor Symposium on "Urban Universities/Urban Communities: Partners in Social Justice," emphasizes IUPUI's commitment to civic engagement

When: Thursday February 15 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Where: IUPUI University Place Conference Center and Hotel

The Joseph Taylor Symposium honors the legacy of Dr. Joseph Taylor, the first dean of the School of Liberal Arts, and addresses issues of interest to urban communities. The 2007 event, "Urban Universities/Urban Communities: Partners in Social Justice," reflects IUPUI’s focus on civic engagement while also recognizing the complexities that emerge when bridging boundaries between academic institutions and their communities.

Some of the topics of panel discussions at the Symposium:

• Education and Social Justice: Critical Connections Between IUPUI and P-12
• Achieving Social Justice in Health: Closing the Gap in Access to Health Promotion
• History as Social Justice: Memory and Public Heritage in the Near-Westside
  

The program showcases existing collaborations, features keynote speakers Professor Edward Curtis (Religious Studies) on "University and Community Partnerships: Crossing Bridges, Confronting Walls" and Professor Dana-Ain Davis (Anthropology, SUNY-Purchase College) on "Knowledge in the Vision of Service: Politically Engaged Scholarship." It will provide ample opportunity for audience participation. [ Additional Information/Registration ] [ Symposium Brochure ] More information

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out a parallel discussion of Hoosiers' civic engagement in Kenya on January 26.

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February 16: Find out why Childcare Literature has any influence over Childrearing Practices of American Mothers

Two IUPUI professors discuss the role and widespread influence of popular self-help literature on contemporary American mothers

When: Friday February 16 4:30 p.m.

Where: IUPUI Cavanaugh Hall 508

Catherine Dobris, Associate Professor of Communication Studies, IUPUI
Kim White Mills, Associate Professor and Chair of Communication Studies, IUPUI

Dobris and White-Mills, both widely published in various communication and gender studies journals, will discuss the current role of popular literature on the contemporary American mother. In previous joint publications, they have made the claim that self-help literature has gained the reputation as the preeminent beacon of advice for childrearing practices, often more highly-regarded than the advice of the mothers' mothers and their own maternal instincts. Dobris and White-Mills will take this theory to a new level, exploring sociological constructs and effects of this self-help phenomenon on the American family.

A summary of their research: “The purpose of this research is to utilize a feminist perspective to understand how the rhetoric of childcare influences contemporary parenting practices. First, we identify primary sources of information on child rearing used by American mothers. Second, we examine how and to what extent mothers perceive child rearing advice influences their parenting practices. Third, we examine to what extent, if any, the use of child rearing advice is impacted by race, educational level, religion and socio-economic status.”

Dobris and White-Mills lead us to ask: Why, in the context of our current media-driven world, do we seek external resources to aid us in our own, often intuitive practices? Why are so-called "experts," often self-made millionaires considered more reliable sources of information than our own parents for such fundamental practices as bringing up children? And hopefully, Dobris and White-Mills will make their talk relevant to Indiana: Where do Indiana families, specifically those at a disadvantage, go for help in raising their children? Come, ask questions, and be enlightened.

What about fatherhood, you say? You're in luck. The next session in the IUPUI Sabbatical Speakers Series addresses a parenting trend across the pond. Linda Haas, Professor of Sociology at IUPUI will lecture on March 9 about "Integrating work and family: Social policy, corporate culture, and fatherhood in Sweden." Another important policy event relating to children this spring happens when Siobhan McEvoy talks about Children and international conflict March 14 and March 27.

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February 23 - March 1: You HAVE to see the film "Iraq in Fragments"

Iraq in Fragments, an extremely well received highly awarded film makes its Indianapolis debut

When: Feburary 23-March 1
Where: Key Cinemas 4044 South Keystone Avenue Indianapolis

If you like a good story, you’re in for three of them. Iraq in Fragments (the title itself evokes images of a war-torn country tainted by religious strife) examines the life of an 11-year old Sunni boy in Baghdad, follows sympathizers of the Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr, and also focuses intimately on a tiny village located among the Kurdish populace in northern Iraq. The film and its director, James Longley, have already received numerous international and national honors, including Sundance awards for Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Editing.

This is Longley’s second acclaimed documentary to hit the silver screen. The success of his first film, Gaza Strip, which captures the quotidian life of Palestinians, may have been the impetus for a second Middle East- based film. Most likely, though, it was his need to tell another good story. During the process of filming and editing, he spent three years in Iraq, living both alone and also with translators and journalists, in Baghdad and in the more stable North. It was his wish to expose as much of the country as possible, within the limits of safety. Longley asserts, “It is important to me that this film presents many layers and points of view-reflecting the diversity I found.” In his director’s statement (which, along with the production notes, is highly recommended pre-viewing reading) he goes on to say that it was his aim to show “not only the divisions, but also the unifying forces that tie it together.”

Your interest and attendance is important for two reasons. First and most evidently, it is good to witness coverage in Iraq through a different lens and from several different angles. Second (and equally as important), your attendance will directly affect Indianapolis’s growing ability to access important films that, all too often, silently pass us by.

Read more about the film, including background, notes and critical responses here: www.iraqinfragments.com

February 17: Attend the premiere performance of "Dreaming of an Island"

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The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra performance based on Afro-Cuban rhythms, composed by Neil Leonard

When: Saturday, February 17 5:30 PM

Where: Indiana History Center

Tickets: $20 for adults, $10 for students

This is the world premiere of Neil Leonard’s Dreaming of an Island and should not be missed. In keeping with their tradition of performing pieces that transcend the conventional orchestral repertoire, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra brings Neil Leonard’s innovative musical talents to Indianapolis. Dreaming of an Island “explores the island as a metaphor for introspection and as the territory of exiles and immigrants.”

Leonard, composer, saxophonist, and clarinetist, is known for merging technology with music. He leads a cyberjazz ensemble and teaches at the renowned Berklee School of Music in Boston, where he has received the award for ‘most valuable contribution to the Music Technology Division.’ Leonard is also no stranger to Indiana-- he has previously taught workshops at the Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington, including the Second Inter-American Composition Workshop. His current effort reveals his collaboration with wife Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, the Cuban-born visual artist featured at the Indianapolis Museum of Art this spring. They have performed together on several occasions internationally and in the US and are founders and co-owners of the GASP gallery (Gallery Artists Studio Projects) in Boston.

This is a rare opportunity to be immersed in such music that has perhaps dually inspired the art of Campos-Pons and is derived from inspiration she has provided Leonard. Her exhibition, Maria Magdalena Campos- Pons: Everything is Separated by Water, plus two others, AfroCuba: Works on Paper, 1968-2003, and William Rasdell, opens February 25 at the IMA. There are plenty of other performing art events in Indianapolis surrounding these fascinating exhibitions. February 9 the IMA hosts "Nuestra Diaspora: One Beat, One Heart," a tribute to Caribbean dance deeply rooted in the African tradition. Campos-Pons herself performs at the IMA February 24. Check out the Urban Drum Ensemble at the IUPUI School of Music on April 26, when they perform selections with Afro-Cuban beats. See three films that inspired Campos-Pons for free April 28 at the IMA.

In addition to performances, art buffs and amateurs alike should know that there are also several upcoming Cuba-themed lectures planned at the IMA. February 25 (the same day as the opening of the three Cuba-themed exhibitions) Dr. Judith Bettelheim, curator of the Campos-Pons and AfroCuba exhibits discusses the context for the selected pieces at "AfroCuba Through the Artist's Lens." March 20, Krista A. Thompson of Northwestern University talks about the sea as a common metaphor in Caribbean art. Hear a rabbi, a psychologist and a poet discuss various themes present in the art of Campos-Pons April 26 at the IMA. Learn specifically about the recurring theme of Santeria in her art during a guided tour of the Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons: Everything is Separated by Water exhibition April 7 and May 17.

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February 20: Review US Trade Policy over dinner with the World Trade Club of Indianapolis

World Trade Club of Indianapolis dinner event: U.S Trade Policy Review



When: February 20 5:30-6:30 PM social hour, then dinner
Where: Omni Severin Downtown
More information

February 20: Talk about what should be done to help our troubled (and sometimes troubling) neighbor Mexico

Steve Jones of IUPUI leads a discussion of Mexico for the Indiana Council on World Affairs Great Decisions Series

When: Tuesday February 20 7:00-9:00 PM
Where: Butler University, Pharmacy Building

Dr. Steven Jones, is Coordinator of the Office of Service Learning in the Center for Service and Learning (CSL) at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI). Prior to joining CSL, he was the Associate Director of the Integrating Service with Academic Studies project at Campus Compact from 2002-2004. Steven received a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Utah in 1995 and was an associate professor of political science at the University of Charleston from 1995-2002 where he also served as the Director of the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Government Studies. He edited the second edition of Campus Compact’s Introduction to Service Learning Toolkit and is a co-author of two other Campus Compact monographs, The Community’s College: Indicators of Engagement at Two-Year Institutions and The Promise of Partnerships: Tapping into the Campus as a Community Asset. His most recent publication, with Jim Perry, Quick Hits for Education Citizens, is part of FACET's Quick Hits Series.

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out the Great Decisions discussion of Mexico led by Craig Auchter February 7. Drive to Big Car for art inspired by social conflicts in Oaxaca. Hear about what the Catholic Church is doing in Latin America on February 13. And make sure you hear the Great Decisions discussions of global migration on February 14 and February 27.

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February 21: Hear Terri Jett's impressions of South Africa (and perhaps learn more about race in America)

Butler University's Terri Jett talks about South Africa

When: Wednesday, March 23 7:00 PM
Where: Church of the Saviour, 6205 Rucker Road Indianapolis

South Africa is the most developed country in Africa and has been an active leader on the continent, yet is still struggles with major issues in the post-Apartheid era. What are the political challenges facing South Africa? What impact is the AIDS epidemic playing on South Africa's economy and society?

Terri Jett is an associate professor of political science at Butler University. Dr. Jett has researched the political, economic, social and religious landscape of rural black communities in the American south and has a keen interest in the religious connection to the U.S. civil rights movement. Terri leads Butler University's Center for Faith and Vocation's Field Ministry seminars to South Africa. The goal of the Field Seminar in Ministry is to give undergraduate students who are considering a call to ministry or other community service the chance to reflect on religion and society in a new setting. The seminar will examine how religious communities and service organizations deal with issues of faith and calling in South Africa. Sponsored by the Bob Calhoun Memorial Great Decisions Series

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To read an essay about Hoosiers and Africa, "Who Can Help Africans Solve Their Problems?" that connects many of the events relating to Africa this spring, go to Views-PRI, the sister site of IndyBuzz (and forerunner of the electronic magazine Provocate).

February 21: Join Stefan Halper in searching for the "the Rational Center" in policy discussions

Stefan Halper, influential critic of neo-conservative foreign policy, turns his attention to the debasement of public discourse of media-hungry public intellectuals

When: Wednesday, March 21 Social hour 5:30-6:30; dinner 6:30-7:15; talk 7:15-8:45
Where: The Marten House 1801 West 86th Street Indianapolis 46260

A couple of years ago Stefan Halper came to public notice with America Alone: The Neo-Conservatives and the Global Order (written with Jonathan Clarke), a conservative critique of the hijacking of US foreign policy by radical neo-conservatives. Today their argument is well on its way to becoming accepted wisdom among conservatives. In Silence of the Rational Center: Why American Foreign Policy Is Failing, Halper (and Clarke) turn from an ideology to the shrill and sterile DC-centered media and policymaking climate.

Stefan Halper is a Senior Fellow at the Centre of International Studies and a Senior Research Fellow at Magdalene College, Cambridge. He directs the Donner Atlantic Studies Programme at the Centre of International Studies and lectures on latter 20th Century US foreign policy, Anglo-American relations, and contemporary international security issues. Stefan Halper holds doctorates from both Oxford and Cambridge. He has served four American presidents in the White House and Department of State and is an expert on U.S. foreign policy, national security policy, the United Nations and Anglo-American relations. Dr. Halper's research interests remain centred on Anglo-American relations, US national security issues and international security matters. Recently he has focused on the nature of the political discourse of the right. and the left, the rise of extremist views and their prevalence in the national political discussion, the rise of anti-Americanism among European elites and the implications for US policy in the decades ahead.

Read this early review of The Silence of the Rational Center, and see this film of Halper and Clarke discussing America Alone.

Prof. Halper will participate in an informal discussion at Sagamore Institute the afternoon of February 21. For more information, contact John Clark at john@sipr.org.

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out other discussions of America's disoriented empire such as the debate over Europe vs US January 30, or Pierre Atlas's discussion of the Middle East on January 24.

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February 22: Listen and watch the Music of Art: "Daughter of the Regiment"

The Music of Art: Daughter of the Regiment

When: Thursday February 22 7:00 p.m.
Where: Indianapolis Museum of Art, Pulliam Great Hall (Free)

Members of the Indianapolis Opera Ensemble will perform excerpts from Daughter of the Regiment (La fille du régiment), a comedic opera composed by Gaetano Donizetti and first performed for French audiences in 1840. The story follows the romantic entanglements of Marie, a daughter in love with a peasant soldier but pressured to marry an aristocrat’s son. After the concert, see works of art in IMA’s European galleries that offer views of class differences in 19th-century French life.

The full opera will be performed March 9 and 11 at Clowes Memorial Hall. For details visit www.indyopera.org. If this event sounds interesting, you should check out the collaboration of Indianapolis Opera and the great Chinese artist Master Au on Valentine's Day.

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February 22: Learn about Africans in Mexico with the film "AFRICAN BLOOD" at IMA

As part of its "Africans in the Americas" series, IMA shows "African Blood," a documentary by Roberto Olivares featuring testimonies, reflections, and powerful cultural expressions made by contemporary Afro-Mestizos who live in the Costa Chica region, in the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero.

When: Thursday February 22 7:00 PM
Where: Indianapolis Museum of Art DeBoest Lecture Hall (Free)

Mexican identity is often assumed to be a fusion between Indigenous and European cultures. This documentary gives voice to the people of the Costa Chica region in the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero of Mexico. They carry a little-known legacy: Afro-Mestizo, or Afro-Mexican culture. Roberto Olivares's film features displays of African traditions: men in masks and costumes resembling West African bush devils to dance on All Saints' Day. An elderly woman reminisces about growing up in a redondo, a round mud house with a thatched roof similar to those found in Africa. A musician plays an instrument made from a pumpkin that mimics a tiger's roar. Women carry items on their heads. Through testimonies, reflections and powerful cultural expressions, we witness their struggle to strengthen and claim their own identity and their African roots. In Spanish with English subtitles. Free!

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out some other films shown at IMA about Africans in America: "Favela Rising" on February 8, and RIZE February 15.

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February 24: Celebrate Black History Month by exploring relations between African and Native Americans

Tiya Miles discusses the interconnections between African Americans and Native Americans as the Eiteljorg's Black History Month Lecture

When: Saturday February 24 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Where: Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art

Tiya Miles is Assistant Professor in American Culture and at the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on the interrelated and comparative histories of African Americans and Native Americans. In addition, she is interested in African American women's history and literature and the history, literature, and feminist thought and activism of women of color. Her recently released book, Ties That Bind: The Story of an Afro-Cherokee Family in Slavery and Freedom, is about an enslaved black woman, her Cherokee owner and “husband,” and the challenges experienced by their mixed-race children in nineteenth-century Georgia and Oklahoma.

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out other examinations of the interactions between African Americans and marginal groups. The Affrilachian Poets on February 8 are a good example. A good contrast might be the African minority in Mexico, shown in the film "African Blood" February 22.

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February 24: Experience performance art by María Magdalena Campos-Pons

A World Premiere Performance of María Magdalena Campos-Pons: Regalos/Gifts

When: February 24 3:00 PM
Where: Indianapolis Museum of Art Pulliam Great Hall

February 25: Get your Cuban groove on at the opening of three Cuban-oriented exhibitions

Opening Night at the Indianapolis Museum of Art for three important Cuban-related exhibitions

February 25

AfroCuba: Works on Paper, 1968-2003 -- This groundbreaking exhibition includes 56 prints and drawings by 26 artists from Havana and Santiago de Cuba. The artists represent a cross section of Cuban society, and their works exhibit a diverse range of subject matter, style and techniques.

Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons: Everything is Separated by Water -- Organized by the IMA, Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons: Everything Is Separated by Water will be the first touring mid-career retrospective of this important Afro-Cuban artist’s work, comprising approximately 40 objects produced over the past 20 years. From her earliest relief paintings to her recent room-sized mixed-media installations and large-format Polaroid photographs, Campos-Pons has built a dynamic model of inventive identity. Using art to comment on her imagined displacement from Africa, her actual exile from Cuba, and her experience as a black Cuban woman living in North America, Campos-Pons has re-assembled fragments, symbols and memories of personal and collective history, religion, mythology and art. Many of her works deploy the female body—in its entirety or fragmented—to address the challenges inherent in building a coherent identity in the modern world.

February 25: Talk about "AfroCuba Through the Artist’s Lens"

Judith Bettelheim, professor of art history at San Francisco State University and leading expert on the art of Cuba, gives a talk about "AfroCuba: Through the Artist’s Lens " at the IMA

When: Sunday February 25 1:30 PM
Where: Indianapolis Museum of Art DeBoest Lecture Hall (Free)

The kaleidoscope of the contemporary Cuban experience--rife with satire, politics, and religion--becomes vivid in the Forefront exhibition, AfroCuba: Works on Paper, 1968-2003. Dr. Judith Bettelheim, professor of art history at San Francisco State University curated this thirty-five year chronicle of prints and drawings in many styles and techniques by twenty-six artists from Havana and Santiago de Cuba. In this talk, Dr. Bettelheim will provide context for viewing these diverse artworks that present the complexity of Cuba’s military and religious ties to Africa and offer vibrant critiques of contemporary race and social relations.

Judith Bettelheim has been doing fieldwork in the Caribbean consistently since 1975, focusing on Afro-Caribbean culture and festivals. Her doctoral work was on the Afro-Jamaican Jonkonnu festival. Since 1985 she has been doing fieldwork in Cuba. In preparation for the exhibition "Caribbean Festival Arts", Bettelheim visited six different Caribbean countries. She co-curated and co-authored Caribbean Festival Arts, (University of Washington Press: 1988) with John Nunley of the Saint Louis Art Museum. She received an American Council of Learned Societies fellowship for research on Carnaval in Santiago de Cuba in 1989-90 and has returned to Cuba many times, recently leading tours to the Havana Biennial and the Fiesta del Fuego in Santiago de Cuba. Her publications include Cuban Festivals: A Century of Afro-Cuban Culture, 2001 (Ian Randle Press) and AFROCUBA: Works on Paper 1968-2003, published by San Francisco State and the U of Washington Press, 2005.

For a preview, see this nice production about "AfroCuba: Works on Paper"

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out a couple of the discussions of the work of María Magdalena Campos-Pons on March 20, or April 26.

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February 27: Discuss whether Capitalism can possibly be in the Common Good

Joe Gunnemann--expert on ethics, morality, and economics--discusses ”Capitalism for the Common Good” for the Center for Faith and Vocation at Butler University

When: Tuesday February 27 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Butler University Krannert Room, Clowes Memorial Hall

Within the reality of global capitalism and the ever increasing demand for market-driven profits, is there a place for the classic concept of capitalism as a force for social good? This exploration of capitalism will explore theological roots and challenges to the concept posed by stock markets, labor markets and consumer demands.

Speaking will be Jon Gunnemann, professor of social ethics at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University. His current research focuses on theology, ethics, and the economy; and on contemporary theories of justice. Dr. Gunneman has written and lectured extensively on issues of economic ethics, and on Christian ethics and social theory.

Responding will be a marvelous local expert, Dr. Carol Johnston, associate professor of theology and culture and director of lifelong theological education at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. She writes and lectures often about faith and economics and faith and the environment.

Responding too will be Edgar Davis, an adjunct professor in the College of Business Administration at Butler University and the Butler honors program. He spent 40 years working in finance and marketing for Eli Lilly, Inc.

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out the discussion of trust and business on January 30. This issue is clearly relevant to the discussions of global climate change on January 31, February 6, and April 18.

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February 27: Listen to heavy law from a clever prof, Nicholas Georgakopoulos

IU-Indianapolis Law Professor Nicholas Georgakopoulos delivers the Inaugural Harold R. Woodard Professorship Lecture

When: Tuesday February 27 Lecture 5:00 p.m., Reception: 6:00 p.m.
Where: IU School of Law-Indianapolis, Lecture in Wynne Courtroom; Reception in Conour Atrium

Professor Georgakopoulos was a Professor of Law at the University of Connecticut before moving to Indianapolis. The scion of an old Greek legal family, he began his legal education in his home country, graduating first in his law school, and completed it by studying law and finance at Harvard where he then held a postdoctoral appointment. His doctoral dissertation focused on insider trading, disclosure obligations, and securities fraud. One of the resulting articles was cited by the S.E.C. to the U.S. Supreme Court.

No title yet for his talk, but be warned that Prof. Georgakopoulos does serious and heavy-duty legalizing. If you want a flavor read his article, "Contract-Centered Veil-Piercing." Its abstract:

The application of the doctrine of piercing the corporate veil to contract disputes has been attacked as undesirable. This article shows that applying piercing to contracts is desirable. Contract-centered veil-piercing functions akin to a penalty-default clause that encourages the efficient production of information, avoids wasteful precaution, and promotes the use of the corporate form for entrepreneurship.

But here are three cool things about Prof. Georgakopoulos. His article on "Contract-Centered Veil-Piercing" starts with a meditation on this scene from "The X-Men." And that picture, with the pink robe fuzzing in and out of focus, that's cool. So are these 3D graphics.

For more information, visit the IU School of Law-Indianapolis events webpage or contact Shaun Ingram for more information: (317) 278-4789

February 25 – July 15: Dig the African roots of Cuba with Bill Rasdell at IMA

William Rasdell: African Roots in Cuban Soil

When: Opening February 25, through July 15
Where: Indianapolis Museum of Art, Star Studio

Indianapolis artist William Rasdell's exhibition in Star Studio will feature digitally altered photographs, video, and sculptures made in response to visits to Callejon de Hamel, an alley in Havana that is the site of Afro-Cuban murals and sculptures by Cuban artist Salvador Gonzalez Escalona. Callejon de Hamel is an active artist community and the site of a weekly Rumba where musicians, dancers, locals, and tourists from around the globe pack the alley. Rasdell has been inspired by the work of Salvador Gonzalez Escalona and by the sights, sounds, and energy of this unique part of Havana. Visitors will be able to explore some of the elements of a Rumba by playing musical instruments, experimenting with hands-on materials and exploring art making processes related to Rasdell's work. In 1996 Bill first ventured to Cuba as a musician researching Afro-Cuban percussion and folklore at the University of Matanzas. Bill regularly utilizes digital technology in the enhancement of his photographs. Working in Adobe Photoshop, he is exploring new areas of creativity producing giclee prints of his work on the finest quality hand made papers.

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out the retrospective of Bill Rasdell's work at University of Indianapolis through February 9. You can attend a reception with the artist January 19 from 6:00-8:00 PM.

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February 27: Ask yourself how we will be changed by global migration

Sara Allaei, Assistant Dean of International Services at IUPUI discusses international migration

When: Tuesday February 27 7:00-9:00 PM
Where: Butler University, Pharmacy Building

The movement of people across international borders can be initiated by conflict, economic reasons or the chance to achieve political freedoms. Migration issues have taken center-stage in the U.S. and EU, as citizens increasingly worry about job security and terrorism. What are the advantages and disadvantages for countries that are affected by migration?

Nearly 200 million migrants in the world today, if they lived together in a country it would be about the fourth biggest in the world ... and the numbers are increasing rapidly.

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out Susan Erickson's discussion of global migration February 14. Attend the dicussions of Mexico on February 7 and February 20, but balance that with a discussion of how migration is reshaping France on January 19.

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February 28: Join Sheila Kennedy in discussing bringing war crimes before the International Criminal Court

Local legend Sheila Kennedy addresses the possibilities and constraints of international law for dealing with war crimes

When: Wednesday, February 28 7:00 PM
Where: Church of the Saviour, 6205 Rucker Road Indianapolis

The creation of the International Criminal Court has established a new venue for investigating and prosecuting war crimes, despite a lack of U.S. participation. Will the non-participation of the U.S. weaken the power of the ICC? What challenges are faced by the ICC in punishing war criminals?

Sheila is Professor at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, teaching Law and Public Policy, a member of IUPUI’s Philanthropic Studies faculty, a Faculty Fellow with both the Center for Religion and American Culture in the School of Liberal Arts and the Tobias Center of the Kelley School of Business, an adjunct professor of political science, a founder of the American Values Alliance, former director of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union, author of many books and articles on too many topics to count. Sheila loves the law and despises bullies, which probably tells you where she plunks down on this issue. If you need confirmation, check out her article on "Terrorism and the Constitution." This should be a lively evening. Sponsored by the Bob Calhoun Memorial Great Decisions Series.

If this event sounds interesting, you should check out Raj Purohit's talk about the topic on March 13. For a diametrically opposed view, hear the architect of the Bush Administration's legal strategy for fighting terror, John Yoo, on March 2 at the Economic Club and Sagamore Institute.

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