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Annual Meeting/Uzbek Food Tasting, November 6
SAVE THE DATE!
What: Our annual Seattle-Tashkent Sister City Association Meeting
When: Thursday, November 6th, 7-9 p.m.
Where: North Seattle Community College, North Star Dining Room
WHAT’S DIFFERENT AND WHY YOU’LL WANT TO COME:
Food!
We always hold an annual meeting each year to discuss our sister city activities. But this year instead of having a guest speaker, we’ll have a number of cooks share their favorite Uzbek recipes. Yum! These generous volunteer cooks will show how to make their dish, where to purchase the ingredients, and offer a tasting of the recipe.
So, please mark your calendar and HOLD THE DATE. More details will follow soon. See you at the annual meeting, in November!
Dan Peterson
President, STSCA
STSCA Summer Picnic to be Held Sept. 20th at Gene Coulon Park
It’s time for our annual sister city picnic!
We look forward to having you there to renew friendships, enjoy great food including plov, and have fun for the whole family! Further, we will have games for the kids, music, and dancing.
So, please mark your calendar for Saturday, September 20, 2014, from 3 pm to 7 pm. See this flyer for details.
Please bring a salad, melon, and/or dessert to share.
It is free to attend, but donations are greatly appreciated to help us with all our costs.
This year the picnic is being held in the North Shelter at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, 1201 Lake Washington Boulevard North, in Renton, WA 98056.
We really hope you make this part of your summer!
Uzbek Film to Premiere at Seattle International Film Festival
We are very excited that a film from Uzbekistan, 40 Days of Silence (Chilla), has been selected to be shown at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) this year!
Please mark your calendars for the two showings and please attend! The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, May 20th, at the Harvard Exit Theater, at 7:00 pm
Thursday, May 22nd, at the Harvard Exit Theater, at 4:30 pm
The ticket price is $12. You may purchase tickets now at the SIFF website.
This is the North American premier of the film, which is directed by Saodat Ismailova. The cast includes Rukhshona Sattarova, Barohat Shukurova, Saodat Rahimova, and Farida Olimova.
The director, Saodat Ismailova, studied film-making at the Tashkent State Art Institute and then joined the cinema department of Fabrica in Italy, where she directed her first film, Aral, Fishing In An Invisible Sea (2004). Saodat also has her own company, Map Production, in Tashkent.
More complete information about the film is available on the SIFF website, but, in summary, in an isolated Uzbek village, young Bibicha takes a traditional vow of silence and moves into her grandmother’s old house, along with three other women, to be part of a chilla, or spiritual “quarantine.”
We hope that you will be able to attend this film! It has been many years since an Uzbek film has been shown. The competition for films is extensive, so it is a great honor that this Uzbek film has been selected.
A brief synopsis of Shame: “The desolation and chilling beauty of northwest Russia is masterfully played against the longings of a community of women who await their husbands’ return from submarine missions at sea.“
Shame is showing on Sunday, June 1, at 5:00 pm at the SIFF Cinema Uptown Theater, and again on Monday, June 2, at 3:30 pm at the same theater. The cost is the same as other films ($12).
When you purchase tickets for either film, you can get a $2 discount if you use the promo code of EURUS2014. The SIFF website for the film is here: http://www.siff.net/festival-2014/shame
We hope you will join us for one or both of these films!
Navruz Celebration a Huge Success!
Our 2014 Navruz celebration was a jam-packed, sold-out evening of fun, food, and festivities! Katta rahmat to everyone who attended and everyone who volunteered at this year’s event, which was the biggest ever!
Over 350 people enjoyed an amazing Uzbek meal of plov, somsa, naan, bo’gir’soq, salads, and drinks prepared by STSCA Board members and volunteers. Fruit and dessert were provided by attendees.
Highlights of the evening included addresses by Uzbek Embassy official Nurillo Abdullayev and Tashkent Deputy Mayor I.D. Berdibekov, performances by the Mystic Rose and Ivan da Marya folkdance groups, a raffle won by a Kazakh “babushka” who performed a traditional Kazakh song, and a lively, colorful fashion show of traditional Central Asian clothing. Attendees who stayed until the end were also treated to a “diskoteka” of popular Uzbek and Central Asian tunes, with many young children dancing up on the stage.
Below are a few pictures from the event. For more pictures, please visit our Facebook page.
Seattle’s Seagull Project Makes History in Uzbekistan
The Seagull Project LLC has officially received a grant from the US Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan amounting to $65,000. This grant allows the company to take its celebrated production of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull overseas as part of the Festival of American Culture: Ilkhom East/West,” hosted by the Ilkhom Theatre.
The Seagull Project is a theatre company based in Seattle, WA that works to develop its own process, including long-form rehearsal periods, in which each actor is afforded the opportunity to grow into his or her role, learn new skills, and deepen work as theatre artists. The top-notch design team and celebrated director find inspiration through this work and together form a cohesive ensemble. After an extraordinarily successful run of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull at ACT Theatre (Seattle, WA) in 2013, Three Sisters will be the next production, slated to go up at ACT Theatre in February 2015 as part of the 50th anniversary season.
The Ilkhom Theatre is one of the most historically important theatres in the entire former Soviet Union. Founded by the late Mark Weil in 1976, it was the very first Independent theatre in the Soviet Union, and has remained so to this day. The Ilkhom often brings acts from all over the world to perform in festivals in their home city of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, but has never had an American company as an official guest. The Seagull Project is honored and overjoyed to not only represent Seattle while in Tashkent, but to embark on a historically significant trip as a representative for the arts and culture of the United States as a whole.
The Grant – in large part facilitated by International Liaison, Tyler Polumski – allows the Seagull Project to work in conjunction with the Ilkhom Theatre to create a festival of American Culture. The festival will serve as a meeting place between two different cultures, of the Eastern and Western world. Therefore, it is not only as a celebration of the arts, but of peace and cultural exchange.
The Festival will include:
- * Performances of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, performed by The Seagull Project Ensemble, and adapted specifically for the Ilkhom Theatre’s stage
- * Performances of the Ilkhom Theatre’s productions of Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women, and Steinbeck’s Tortilla Flats
- * Three staged readings of New American Drama: one reading by the Seagull Project Ensemble in English; one reading by the ilkhom Theatre in Russian; and one reading with a combined cast in both languages
- * A concert of American music
- * Master classes/workshops led by the Seagull Project for students and artists of the Ilkhom theatre as well as the greater public
Seagull Project artistic personnel will also be working with young, aspiring, Central Asian directors, who will be taking part in an ongoing project of the Ilkhom Theatre, the “Laboratory for Young Directors of Central Asia.”, which is happening in parallel with the festival.
The Seagull Project will depart for Uzbekistan April 23 and will return two weeks later on May 11. While in Uzbekistan, ensemble members will be guests of the Ilkhom Theatre. The grant allows for the full company, plus director John Langs and two production personnel, to travel. The Seagull Project will have the unique opportunity to work with this world-class theatre, offering an exchange of ideas and culture that will be brought back to the United States so the culture and techniques can be shared and discussed. It is through these vital cultural exchanges that countries, often foreign from one another, can heal, grow, and breath anew into their work.
Contact Information:
Gavin Reub: Co-Artistic Director
gavinr2@gmail.com
Julie Briskman: Co-Artistic Director
antons.arkadina@gmail.com
Tyler Polumsky: International Liaison
tjpolumsky@gmail.com
STSCA Board Meets with New Uzbek Ambassador Gulyamov
On March 3, members of the STSCA Board met with the new Uzbek Ambassador to the US, His Excellency Baktiyar Gulyamov, who was in Seattle to promote economic development between Uzbekistan and the US. The Ambassador mentioned a number of directions the Uzbek government would like to pursue in business together (agricultural products and processing and Boeing jets) and also lent his support to the STSCA activities we described. In addition to the STSCA Board, he met with Seattle City Council Member Jean Godden and also had a very productive meeting with her. He sent us this letter of appreciation for the visit.
2014 Navruz Celebration
Come join the Seattle-Tashkent Sister City Association for our annual Navruz celebration! This is our largest event during the year, and we love getting everyone together to value the importance of Navruz, renew friendships, enjoy great food, and have a lot of fun! We will have entertainment including a fashion show, dancing, and a children’s corner!
Please mark your calendar for Saturday, March 22nd, 2014 for this great event in the North Seattle Community College Cafeteria. The doors open at 4:45 pm. The meal will be served in courses, so arrive on time to enjoy all of it!
If you are interested in volunteering for the event or in helping to make somsas, please email navruz@seattle-tashkent.org.
Please bring fruit and/or dessert to share.
Tickets
$20/adult
$30/couple
$15/student (ages 13-18, or college student)
$10/child (age 8-12)
Children age 7 and under are free
Family: $30 for the first 2 adults, plus $10 for each additional family member age 8 and over
Purchase tickets at the door or ahead of time on Brown Paper Tickets (service charge applies). Scan this QR code to access our ticket site, or go to http://stscanavruz2014.bpt.me to purchase tickets:
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Directions
Heading North on I-5
Take exit #173 (Northgate exit).
Turn right (South) onto 1st Avenue NE.
Turn right again at N 92nd Street.
Turn right onto College Way N.
The college is on the right.
Heading South on I-5
Take exit #173 Westbound (Northgate exit).
Turn right onto N Northgate Way.
Turn left onto Meridian Avenue N (becomes College Way N).
The college is on the left.
Parking
Easy access with free parking: park only in the visitors’ parking spots in front or in the north/south parking lots, but not the underground lot, which is permit parking only.
Annual Meeting
Please join us for the Seattle-Tashkent Sister City Association Annual Meeting!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013, 7–9 pm
North Seattle Community College, North Star Room
Come hear our 40th anniversary delegation report on our amazing recent trip to Tashkent–what’s new, whom we met, and what’s in the future for STSCA!
Light refreshments will be served.
Directions:
Heading North on I-5:
1. Take exit #173 (Northgate exit)
2. Turn right (South) onto 1st Avenue NE
3. Turn right again at N 92nd Street
4. Turn right onto College Way N
5. The college is on the right.
Heading South on I-5:
1. Take exit #173 Westbound (Northgate exit)
2.Turn right onto N Northgate Way
3. Turn left onto Meridian Ave N (becomes College Way N
4. The college is on the left.
Parking: Park for free in the visitors’ parking spots in front or in the north or south parking lots, but not the underground lot, which is permit parking only.
City of Seattle Establishes Seattle-Tashkent Sister City Day
A PROCLAMATION HONORING THE 40-YEAR SISTER CITY AFFILIATION BETWEEN SEATTLE AND TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN AND THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN OUR TWO CITIES AND OUR PEOPLE
WHEREAS, Tashkent is the largest city in Central Asia and the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with a multi-ethnic population of 2.3 million and is a regional leader in business, education, and the arts; and
WHEREAS, Seattle is the hub of a metropolitan area of 3.5 million people in the Northwest of the United States of America and is a recognized progressive leader in business, culture, and education; and
WHEREAS, the sister city relationship with Tashkent is the third oldest of all of Seattle’s twenty-one sister city relationships; and
WHEREAS, the relationship between Seattle and Tashkent was formalized in 1973, through discussions between the mayors of our two great cities–Mayor Uhlman of Seattle, and both Mayors Asamov and Kazimov of Tashkent–whose courage, leadership, and foresight we celebrate; and
WHEREAS, the relationship between Seattle and Tashkent has resulted in almost one hundred delegations, tours and meetings to establish cultural, educational, professional, and business exchanges and opportunities between our two cities; and
WHEREAS, both cities have developed parks in their respective cities to commemorate in earth, trees, and stone our lasting friendship; and
WHEREAS, over the 40 years of our affiliation, the friendship has never been interrupted by world events, and our visionary leaders continue to be open and willing to share information and resources for a thriving relationship; and
WHEREAS, we look forward to many future exchanges that will enrich the lives of citizens of our cities, and many decades of friendship between our communities;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT June 24, 2013 IS SEATTLE-TASHKENT SISTER CITY DAY IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
AND WE WISH TO SALUTE 40 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE SISTER CITIES OF SEATTLE AND TASHKENT.
