#GEORGIANWINE: The first Qvevri Marani and Museum is opening on the grounds of the Plumpton Agricultural College, Wine department - 7th of April 2 pm

Press release. Written by Mako Abashidze

Building Qvevries in Plumpton, UK, Photo: Mako Abashidze

First Qvevri Marani and the Georgian Traditional Winemaking Museum shall be launched in the UK. This project is supported by the Plumpton Agricultural College Wine Department.

The Museum of the Qvevri History and Traditional Georgian Winemaking is sponsored by the SHUMI Winery.

SHUMI winery is sending the artefacts and the Qvevri winemaking tools for the museum display and shall be curating the exhibition.

Henry Mchedlishvili, Georgian by origin, living in Britain since 90th, founder and the Director of the Artisan Cru winery (first English Qvevri Wine), has started to work on this exciting project 18 month ago. Harvest from 2017 had an excellent results- “Artisan Cru” wines are now listed in London restaurants and boutique wine shops.

“For me it’s a great responsibility and honour to work with the Plumpton College wine department. Plumpton Marani is unique collaboration of traditional Georgian Qvevri method wine production from English grapes.” Henry Mchedlishvili, Founder, Artisan Cru.

The Museum sponsored by the “SHUMI WINERY” and the Marani shall be open for the public visits; guests shall have an opportunity to taste SHUMI qvevri wines as well as an Artisan Cru English Qvevri Wines and the Plumpton wines made from the local grapes.

Main purpose of this project is to promote traditional Georgian winemaking technology in the UK and worldwide and to give opportunity to wine department students to learn about the ancient Georgian Qvevri winemaking history. This project is managed and supported by the British Georgian Chamber of Commerce and the National Georgian Wine Agency.

The official opening of the SHUMI Sponsored museum of the Qvevri and Traditional Georgian Wine Making is scheduled in April 2019.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 15th of January, 2019, between the Artisan Cru, Plumpton College and The British Georgian Chamber of Commerce.

Principal at the Plumpton College, Jeremy Kerswell visited the Marani, expressed his support and enthusiasm about this project and signed the MoU.




Photo by Mako Abashidze

As a part of this project Plumpton College is planning to launch a winemaking scholarship through which a year 2 Plumpton BSc (Hons) Viticulture and Oenology student will be selected to carry out a vintage in a SHUMI winery in the following harvest. During the Plumpton student’s stay in Georgia, he/she will link up with a Georgian wine student (subject to the SHUMI selection process). The two students will return together to Plumpton by the beginning of October, and make wine in the Plumpton Marani under the supervision of Sarah Midgley, Plumpton’s winemaker. The Georgian student will be invited to attend classes at Plumpton free of charge.

Importance of the project:

Plumpton Marani and the Qvevri Museum is a unique opportunity for the students of the winemaking department to learn about the Georgian qvevri method, which had been added to the world heritage list of the UNESCO.

This is an excellent opportunity to promote and educate students and visitors about the Georgian Traditional Wine making.

Facts about the Plumpton College Wine Department

Plumpton College Wine Department is a leading educational body in the UK.

The transformation of Plumpton from a small agricultural college to a training ground on the international wine map has taken place alongside the growth in both reputation and commercial prospects of English wine.

A high proportion of the undergraduates and postgraduates at the Plumpton College Wine Centre are people seeking to switch careers and move to the wine industry.

History

Plumpton College started offering wine production courses in 1988 with the arrival of Chris Foss, the current Wine Division Manager. Chris’ mother is from Bordeaux and his family had a vineyard in the Entre-Deux-Mers region. When he first arrived, there were only two rows of vines, and Chris started teaching six students in a classroom located in the Poultry Department, making wine in Demi-Johns with bought-in grapes.

The Wine Division now has four principal activities: Four full-time undergraduate courses in wine business and production (delivered in association with the University of Brighton) attended by over 100 students. These are the only undergraduate courses in wine delivered in the UK, and the only such courses delivered in English in Europe. 20% of students come from outside the UK and graduates can be found in many wine-producing areas, all over the world.

The WineSkills industry training project, delivering courses all over the UK to around 500 students a year. These consist of the highly successful Principles of Vine growing and Principles of Winemaking programmes and one-day workshops and masterclasses. The latter are delivered by experts with international reputations.

A commercial wine production facility, Plumpton Wine Estate, producing around 30 000 bottles of wine a year in a fully equipped commercial winery, from 8 hectares of vineyard, much of it recently planted.

More: Traditional Georgian Winemaking Museum and 8,000-year-old heritage introduced in Plumpton. Posted on March 26, 2019 by Tamar Chikviladze

URBANITÄT: EU-Kulturprojekt: Identity and Spirit of Old Tbilisi (f29architekten.de)

(f29architekten.de) Als einer von den 6 internationalen Experten aus Deutschland, Großbritannien und Norwegen nahm Christian Schmitz vom 4. bis 6. Juni 2010 an einem Symposium in Tiflis teil. Gemeinsam führen das Goethe-Institut (D), das British Council (GB), die Botschaft Norwegens (N), dem ICOMOS Georgia und das "Georgian Arts and Culture Center" ein EU-Projekt durch, in dem es um die behutsame Stadterneuerung von Tiflis geht.

Im Rahmen das Symposiums haben Studenten und Post-Graduierte zum Thema "Identity and Spirit of Old Tbilisi" Modelle und Pläne einer behutsamen Stadtsanierung erarbeitet. Diese werden in einer Ausstellung im Goethe Institut in Tiflis vom 07. Juli bis 15. September gezeigt. Eine Publikation mit allen Ergebnissen der Veranstaltung wird bis Ende des Jahres veröffentlicht. Identity and Spirit of Old Tbilisi

Links: 
ccp-deutschland.de [pdf ]
facebook.com/OldTbilisiIdentityandSpirit
messenger.com.ge
backoftheenvelope.britishcouncil.org
worldarchitecture.org  
geotimes.ge
georgien.blogspot.de  
udpf.se/identity-and-spirit-of-old-tbilisi

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by Oriel Prizeman

Browse on demand library for the presentations of the Conference "Identity and Spirit of Old Tbilisi"  
Maia Mania, Architectural Historian and Doctor of Art History Tbilisi "A Unique System of Houses with Courtyards"
Suramelashvili, Architectural Historian,
Doctor of Arts History "Whatever is Eternal and Unique in Tbilisi"
 Ingun Amundsen, Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage, Norway "Spirit of Place:"  
Iva Chkonia, Old Tbilisi Region Administrator "Presentation of Old Tbilisi Administration Rehabilitation Projects"  
Dag Arne Reinar, Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage, Norway. "Uncovering the Spirit of Place and Capacity for Change of Historic Towns"  
Koka Amirejibi, Architect, Tbilisi State University; 
Amashukeli, Arts Historian "Morphotypes of the Historic Tbilisi residential buildings"  
Dieter Pfannensteil, Director, EllisWilliams Architects, Germany "EWA in Georgia – Experience of an architectural practice abroad"
Nestan Tatarashvili, Conservation Architect, Art Nouveau Preservation Group in Georgia "Old Tbilisi – now in the capital of independent Georgia"  
Pavle Dzindzibadze, Tbilisi Technical University "Life Style and transformation of the Urban Space of the late 20th Century Historic Districts of Old Tbilisi: A Witness’s assessment"  
William Mann, Witherford Watson Mann Architects, UK. Material Change and Immaterial Culture in London’s Historic Edges  
Giorgi (Giga) Batiashvili, Doctor of Architecture and Full Professor "For Regeneration of Historic Tbilisi"  
Brian Park, Brian A Park, Partner, Page \ Park Architects, UK "Heritage as Vehicle for Economic Regeneration – A Scottish Case Study"  
Lali Andronikashvili, G. Chubinashvili National Centre for Research of Georgian Art History and Monument
Protection "Redevelopment of Zemeli Neighbourhood in Historic Tbilisi"  
Maia Mania and Werner Wöll Presentation of publications  
Christian Schmitz, Architect, Manager, BDA Union of the German Architects, Germany "Atmosphere of the Place (Specifi cities, spirit): Projects of F29 Architects Ltd in the Historic Conext."
 Lado Vardosanidze, Architect, Urban Expert, Professor, Tbilisi State University "What and Why We Do Not Protect in Old Tbilisi"  
Manuchar Makhatadze, "Presentation of the Fund for Old City Rehabilitation and Development"
We apologize for the quality of the recordings


The study tours of the six winners of the competition held during the workshop Old Tbilisi Identity and Spirit workshop is part of the Urban Heritage Preservation: Identity and Spirit of Old Tbilisi project carried out by the British Council in partnership with the Goethe Institute, Riksantikvaren, Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage Preservation, Georgian Arts and Culture Center "Istoriali" (GACC), and Georgian National Committee of International Council On Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS Georgia). The project is funded by the European Commision Culture programme

Six winners of a competition for the best development design (infill design) for the particular area in Betlemi Quarter were architecture, restoration and conservation students -- three from the MA programme and three undergards. Ketevan Bochoidze and Tornike Dadiani went to Germany from 17 to 25 October 2010, Ia Koroshinadze and Mamuka Kharazishvili travelled to Norway and Nikoloz Maisuradze and Ketevan Tsutskiridze had a trip to the UK (8-14 November 2010).

ART: ANDRO SEMEIKO: PEER RESIDENCY 2013 (peeruk.org)

(peeruk.org) Friday 27 September from 6 to 8pm

Book launch with readings by the artist and authors Sally O'Reilly and Zinovy Zinik.

Detail from work in progress, 2013

London-based and Georgian born Semeiko’s primary activity is as a painter, but his interest lies in the complex construction of narrative installations that call upon the language of satire and the absurd through his work with writers and performers.

Semeiko has collaboratively employed the wordsmithing skills of writer and curator Sally O’Reilly and Russian novelist and broadcaster Zinovy Zinik, to concoct an array of references from which this project has evolved. Semeiko has identified intriguing kernels of historical information from the local area, which have sown seeds of free-associative and swashbuckling fancy.

One starting point has been an episode in Hoxton’s history when, in 1597 Ben Jonson purportedly killed fellow-actor Gabriel Spenser during a duel in a field on which now stands a council housing estate to the rear of PEER. Another rich seam that Semeiko has mined comes from his historical research into the life of Sir Thomas Tresham, a fanatical catholic who was held under house arrest at around the time of the fatal encounter between Jonson and Spencer on the spot where PEER now stands.

Discussions between Semeiko, O’Reilly and Zinik began with these two events, and then evolved and morphed into musings that span triangles, substantiation, rubbish chutes, drunkenness and scaffolding. Collapsing past, present and fictional Hoxton, O’Reilly and Zinik have produced texts that are being adapted by Felix Mortimer of Retz theatre company into short vignettes to be enacted by Bill Bingham at the beginning and end of the open studio week. This exercise in elaboration, excavation, embellishment and exegesis will be further explored throughout the open studio week.

During the open studio week a number of special events were held at the gallery:

Monday 8 April at 7pm
Performance by Bill Bingham adapted by him from texts by artist, writer and curator Sally O'Reilly and novelist and broadcaster Zinovy Zinik - Bill appears by kind permission of the director of Retz's The Trial, Felix Mortimer. Performance approx 15 mins.

Thursday 11 April 2 to 6pm
Drop-in drawing workshop led by Andro Semeiko as part of Hoxton Free Art School, in partnership with Shoreditch Trust.

Sunday 14 April from 3pm
Another chance to see Monday evening's performance by Bill Bingham followed by a tea break and an in conversation between Andro Semeiko and writer and critic JJ Charlesworth.

Andro Semeiko was born in Ozurgeti, Georgia and lives and works in London. He studied Fine Art at the Utrecht School of the Arts and did an MA in Fine Art at Goldsmiths College. He completed his Postgraduate Diploma at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2006. Recent solo exhibitions and projects include Le Grand Charmer, Phoenix Gallery, Exeter (2012); Lily of Blythenhale, an artist's book with texts by Daniel Harbour, Shelley von Strunckel and others, and a related exhibition at Acme Project Space, London (2011); Against Anti Intellectualism: Andro Semeiko, Calum Stirling, +44 141 Gallery, SWG3, Glasgow (2011); Unveiling: Rocket MT2010 an artists book with texts by Neil Mulholland and JJ Charlesworth (2010) and Unveiling, Berwick Gymnasium Art Gallery, Berwick-upon-Tweed (2010). Group exhibitions include Take Shelter in the World, Boston University Art Gallery ANNEX, Boston (2012); Collaborators 3, ROOM Artspace, London (2012); Nor Corridor, Standpoint Gallery, London (2010); Happy End, Guest Projects, Yinka Shonibare's Space, London (2010) and Expanded Painting, Prague Biennale 4, Prague (2009).

www.androsemeiko.com

DOKUMENTATION: CNN berichtet über aserbaidschanische Seidenstadt Şəki (business.blogs.cnn.com)

(business.blogs.cnn.com) In einer Folge seiner aktuellen Dokumentarserie "Along the Silk Road" berichtet der US-Sender CNN über die nordaserbaidschanische Stadt Şəki. Die Serie begibt sich auf die Spuren der berühmten Seidenstraße, einer rund 6.000 Kilometer langen antiken Handelsroute zwischen Europa und Asien. Unterwegs erkundet das CNN-Team die exportgestützte Wirtschaft von Ländern, die über erhebliche Bodenschätze und Rohstoffvorkommen verfügen und deshalb in den nächsten 25 Jahren voraussichtlich ein immenses Wachstum verzeichnen werden.

Şəki war ein wichtiges Handelszentrum der Seidenroute und Knotenpunkt zwischen dem russischen Dagestan und den nördlichen Handelsstrecken, die durch den Kaukasus verliefen.

Der CNN-Reporter Jim Boulden besichtigt die traditionelle Karawanserei, wo sich Reisende und Händler von ihrem Tagesmarsch erholen konnten, eine Kirche aus dem 12. Jahrhundert, den berühmten Khanspalast aus dem 18. Jahrhundert und spricht mit dem Leiter der gemeindebasierten Tourismusbehörde von Şəki. 

Azerbaijan’s rich trading history

 

Shaki, Azerbaijan (CNN) – Trading is in the life blood of Azerbaijan. As the link to east and west it was a vital rest stop along the old silk route. In the northwest city, Shaki, there are reminders of the country’s rich trading history and single remaining silk factory.

Along the Silk Road

“Along the Silk Road” explores the burgeoning trade and investment links from the Middle East to Asia – Beijing, Mumbai, Istanbul, Kabul, Moscow, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Dubai.

The series surveys the export-driven economies, countries with vast capitals of reserve and natural resources, that economic forecasters pinpoint as ringleaders of growth for the next quarter of a century.

Catch “Along the Silk Road” every Wednesday on CNN International within Global Exchange:
1100 ET
1600 GMT
1700 CET

Follow the show on Twitter @CNNGlobalEx and use the hashtag #CNNGlobalEx to join the conversation.

FOTOGRAFIE: Gewinner von „Im Fokus: Aserbaidschan“ in London bekanntgegeben - „Alte Männer“ von Asim Talib (teas.eu)

DER GEWINNER: Talib, Asim, „Alte Männer“

Insgesamt zeigt diese Ausstellung 100 Fotografien über die Menschen, Kultur, Landschaft und Architektur des heutigen Aserbaidschans.

(teas.eu) Mehr als 200 Gäste kamen am 20. November in die „La Galleria“ im Londoner Stadtteil Westminster zur Eröffnung einer neuen, faszinierenden Fotoausstellung. An diesem Abend wurden auch die Gewinner des von TEAS organisierten Fotowettbewerbs „Im Fokus: Aserbaidschan“ bekanntgegeben. Die Kulturberaterin von TEAS, Sabina Rakcheyeva, verkündete Asim Talib als den diesjährigen Gewinner des Wettbewerbs. Sein Siegerfoto mit dem Titel „Alte Männer“ entstand 1985 in der Stadt Kälbädschär, die in der heute von Armenien besetzten Region Bergkarabach liegt. Talib, der seit 1977 als Berufsfotograf tätig ist, erhielt einen Reisegutschein im Wert von 2.000 GBP.

In den vergangenen Monaten gingen etwa 750 Fotografien von Berufs- und Hobbyfotografen aus Aserbaidschan und aller Welt bei TEAS ein. Die Ausstellung zeigt den besonderen Charakter dieses faszinierenden Landes am Kaspischen Meer. Alle Gäste waren von der kreativen Darstellung Aserbaidschans und der ausgezeichneten Qualität der Fotografien begeistert.

Kulturberaterin Rakcheyeva sagte: „Der Fotowettbewerb ist eine neue Initiative von TEAS. Hier können Fotografen ihrer Kreativität freien Raum lassen und ihre ganz persönlichen Eindrücke von Aserbaidschan teilen. TEAS und die Juroren waren von der Vielseitigkeit der eingereichten Arbeiten begeistert, und wir alle hoffen, dass die Ausstellung jeden, der noch nie in Aserbaidschan gewesen ist, inspirieren wird, einmal dorthin zu reisen und sich selbst von der Schönheit des Landes zu überzeugen.“

Seine Exzellenz der aserbaidschanische Botschafter in Großbritannien, Fakhraddin Gurbanov, sagte: „Diese TEAS-Fotoausstellung gewährt den Menschen in London und demnächst auch in anderen europäischen Städten einen hervorragenden Einblick in mein Land. Ich hoffe, dass alle Besucher diese Seite von Aserbaidschan im Gedächtnis behalten werden. Jedes dieser Fotos ist ein Kunstwerk, und es ist eine großartige Sache, dass mein Land auf diese Weise bekanntgemacht wird“.

Einer der Juroren, der bekannte Fotograf Henry Dallal, der bereits die Ehre hatte, I.M. Königin Elisabeth II. zu fotografieren, sagte: „Meine Kollegin Caroline Metcalfe, Bildredakteurin von „Condé Nast Traveller“, und ich hatten sehr viel Freude daran, Aserbaidschan durch diese wunderbaren Aufnahmen erleben zu können. Aserbaidschan ist ein einzigartiges Land mit einer faszinierenden Kultur und Geschichte. Jedes einzelne Foto hat meine Sehnsucht nach Aserbaidschan geweckt, und ich würde gern mal wieder dorthin reisen, um noch mehr Fotos zu schießen, die die Schönheit dieses Landes und seiner Menschen einfangen.“

Die Fotoausstellung „Im Fokus: Aserbaidschan“ wird 2013 in allen europäischen Großstädten zu sehen sein, in denen TEAS Büros unterhält.

Preisträger:

1. Platz: „Alte Männer“ von Asim Talib. 

Der Gewinner des diesjährigen Fotowettbewerbs „Im Fokus: Aserbaidschan“ heißt Asim Talib. Talib wurde 1948 in Baku geboren und ist seit 1974 als Berufsfotograf tätig. 1977 machte er seinen Abschluss an der Slawischen Universität Baku.

Sein Siegerfoto wurde 1985 in Kälbädschär in Bergkarabach aufgenommen.

Bislang hat Talib seine fotografischen Arbeiten bereits in drei eigenen Ausstellungen präsentiert. Zudem nahm er an zahlreichen nationalen und internationalen Fotowettbewerben und -ausstellungen teil. Er ist Mitglied des Baku Arts Centre, des Aserbaidschanischen Werbeverbandes und des Aserbaidschanischen Fotografenverbandes.

Auszeichnungen:

• Preis: Aserbaidschanischer Tourismus-Fotowettbewerb 2006 zum Thema „Die aserbaidschanische Natur“ für seine Aufnahme vom Fluss Chinaliq.
• Foto-Master: Traditions-Wettbewerb 2005, organisiert vom Aserbaidschanischen Fotografenverband.
• Goldener Argus: Traditions-Wettbewerb 1999, organisiert vom Aserbaidschanischen Fotografenverband.
• Preisträger: Fotowettbewerb „Picture This: We Can End Poverty“, organisiert von der UN.
• Grand-Prix: Fotowettbewerb „Naturporträt“, organisiert von der Aserbaidschanischen Forschungsgemeinschaft für Sozioökonomie.
• 2. Preis: Fotowettbewerb „Smile“, organisiert von der Aserbaidschanischen Gesellschaft für Kieferorthopädie.

2. Platz: „Bibi-Heybat-Moschee“ von Etibar Jafarov

3. Platz: „Die Flammen und die Nadel“ von Fuad Babayev

Zu den Siegerfotos.

Bilder vom Eröffnungsabend der Fotoausstellung „Im Fokus: Aserbaidschan“.

Ausstellungszeitraum: 21. November bis 1. Dezember 2012

La Galleria Pall Mall, 30 Royal Opera Arcade, London, SW1Y 4UY

Öffnungszeiten: 10.30 - 19.00 Uhr (außer: 25. November, 12.00 - 16.00 Uhr, 1. Dezember, 11.00 - 15.00 Uhr)

THE LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL: Georgian Designer from ROOMS at mint - September 14 - 30

more:

www.mintshop.co.uk

londondesignfestival.com

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Next by ROOMS:

- A new Armchair and the Bench at Mint Gallery, London Design Festival.
- Jewelry Collection by Rooms for Zarapxana.
- Restaurant on G.Tabidze street,Tbilisi
- Hotel Radisson Blu in Gudauri,Georgia
- SPA in Rooms hotel Kazbegi, Georgia
- Book store & cafe on Belinski street,Tbilisi

www.rooms.ge
info@rooms.ge

DIALOG: Britische Internetseite will Dialog zur Situation im Kaukasus anstoßen (iiss.org)

Das Internationale Institut für strategische Studien London (International Institute for Strategic Studies) eröffnete für Experten aus verschiedenen Ländern ein Internetportal zum „virtuellen Dialog" über die Situation im Kaukasus. Es wurde zur ersten Online-Plattform für einen regelmäßigen Meinungsaustausch zwischen den Experten aus Russland, den Kaukasus-Ländern sowie aus den USA und den Ländern Europas. Das Portal wurde im Vorfeld des 2. Jahrestages der Kaukasus-Krise gestartet. Im August 2008 hatte Georgien Südossetien angegriffen. Russland hatte eine Operation zur Nötigung zum Frieden durchgeführt, indem es Zivillisten und seine Friedensstifter vor dem Aggressor geschützt hatte.

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To coincide with the second anniversary of the Russian-Georgian war of August 2008, the IISS Russia and Eurasia Programme has today launched its Caucasus Security Insight webpage – the first online platform offering a regular exchange of views among a unique spectrum of experts from Georgia, Russia, different parts of the Caucasus region as well as the US and Europe. Read More

The project is part of the IISS Georgian–Russian Dialogue on Post-August War Challenges,a project funded by the European Union under its Instrument for Stability Programme.

EXHIBITION: Unveiling - Andro Semeiko (artrabbit.com)

3. Apr - 23. May 10 / ends in 49 days
Gymnasium Art Gallery
Free
Opening times: 11am - 5pm, Wednesday - Sunday

Andro Semeiko has made the body of work to document the secret creation of a space rocket designed to fly to Mars. Built by a secret society, work began underground in the 17th Century and has been ongoing for three centuries to meet the launch date sometime this year! The secret society has employed experienced miners from the Forest of Dean, who had previously helped the English to capture Berwick-upon-Tweed from the Scots in the thirteenth century. The miners have dug tunnels that stretch under the river Tweed to the village of Spittal, which is to be the actual point where Rocket MT2010 has been constructed. Specially trained rhinos were also shipped in from India to help out with the excavations. The final preparations for the first flight of the Rocket MT2010 are about to commence. The secret society will select fifteen lucky people from Berwick-upon-Tweed to man the rocket on its maiden voyage. They will experience the lovingly crafted Mock Tudor rocket, where things are on a miniature scale but have a grand appearance! Every detail of the rocket has been considered by the secret society. For example, the crewmembers’ urine will be reworked into a delicious drink and their nail clipping will be processed into spacey porridge. The secret society has integrated itself into all levels of the community, enabling them to deny and cover up any rumours that the chimney at Spittal point is in fact the tip of their rocket. Can anyone stop the launch of this Mock Tudor rocket? What is the secret society’s unknown quest to Mars? And why are the people of Berwick-upon-Tweed being offered this unique experience?

Project Unveiling consists of an installation in the Gymnasium Gallery and an artist book publication. The installation contains paintings, sculptures, drawings, blueprints, models, a slideshow and several items from Berwick Museum and Art Gallery. It operates in contemporary art context by using mechanisms of archival documentation as well as theatrical methods of delivering a narrative. The blueprints of the Rocket MT2010 are developed in collaboration with Pierre Maré Architects. Life size model of the rocket is built in collaboration with aircraft engineer Simon Heald. Artist book Unveiling: Rocket MT2010, 48 pages, edition of 500, tells a linear narrative with layered visual meaning. It features images created and compiled by Andro Semeiko, and texts specially written by Neil Mulholland and JJ Charlesworth. It is edited and published in collaboration with Basement Art Projects.

Andro Semeiko is a Georgia artist living and working in London. Exhibition Unveiling is part of his Berwick Gymnasium Fellowship 09/10. Semeiko studied at Tbilisi State Academy of Arts (1998), HKU, Utrecht (2000), Goldsmiths College (2001) and Royal Academy of Arts, London (2006). He has exhibited in New Contemporaries 2001, Camden Arts Centre and Sunderland Museum (2001); Shine, The Lowry, Manchester (2002); Sotheby’s Auction, London (2007); Two Hopes, Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, Georgia (2007); Kunstvlaai, Amsterdam (2008); Expander Painting, Prague Biennale (2009). He was awarded Kunstanjer 2000 (NL) and British Institution Prize 2004.

androsemeiko.com/unveiling

EXHBITION: Across the Caucasus - Until September 6th (ox.ac.uk)

Pitts Rivers Museum, Parks Road
Oxford OX1 3PW
Telephone: 01865 270927

This exhibition will showcase a selection of photographs, notebooks and published work by John F. Baddeley (1854–1940). After visiting Russia for seven months in 1879, Baddeley became the St. Petersburg correspondent for the (London) Standard and began a life-long relationship with the Caucasus region, travelling widely and writing important books on its history.

BLOG: The British Ambassador Denis Keefe is blogging from Georgia (blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/keefeenglish)

Back in Tbilisi

Today I'm making my first post on the FCO's new blog platform. I've been blogging about life as Ambassador in Georgia for a while now, and it's a chance to make my blog easier to read. I've found that what interests people is both events in Georgia - which is often in the news for reasons good and bad - and the experience of being Ambassador in such a beautiful and fascinating country. So I plan to go on blogging about this, and see how I get on.

more here >>>

in georgian >>>

EXHIBITION: Mini Books exhibition at London Azerbaijan House (minibook.aznet.org)

The Museum of Miniature Books (minibook.aznet.org) is coming to London Azerbaijan House. There is not a single museum like this one anywhere in the world. The exhibition will be named 'Azerbaijan and The Great Britain in Mini Book'.

The books will be presented by the Director of the museum Zarifa Salahova.

Time:30 of April 2009
Starts from 4 pm to 10 pm
Venue:The Azerbaijan House
228 Kingsland Road
E2 8AX, London
RSVP:
T: 07809146861
@: info@azerbaijanhouse.org
web: www.azerbaijanhouse.org
AmazonShop: Books, Maps, Videos, Music & Gifts About The Caucasus

EXHIBITION: Sopho Chkhikvadze at 233 Kings Road, Chelsea. March 25th – 26th April 2009

His Excellency Ambassador – Designate Giorgi Badridze of Georgia had open the exhibition with a short introduction to Georgian Culture.

There will be examples of Sopho’s early painting executed when she was eighteen years old. These are in the Old Master Tradition and have the colouring and warmth of a Rembrandt portrait. Example “Anya with her Cat “painted in 1995 oil on canvas 24 x 20 in.

more: www.farmiloefineart.com/sophochkhikvadze

MEDIA: Georgia recalls Soviet crackdown (news.bbc.co.uk)

By Steven Eke BBC Russian Affairs Analyst

"Like a scene from a medieval battle," is how one of the Soviet soldiers involved remembers the dawn hours of 9 April 1989.
He was referring to the violent clashes between troops and protesters on the main square in front of the Georgian government building, on Rustaveli Avenue, in the heart of the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.
The clashes left 20 people dead, mainly young women.
It was one of the defining moments of late Soviet history.
It was also the first time since 1962 that large-scale fatalities had resulted from the deployment of troops and security forces against Soviet civilians.
The events of 9 April 1989 were the culmination of weeks of demonstrations for Georgian independence and against separatism in the Georgian Black Sea region of Abkhazia.
At times, these two separate demands seemed to merge.
The demonstrations included hunger strikes, but were overwhelmingly peaceful. At their peak, about 10,000 people are estimated to have been present.
The request to send Soviet interior ministry troops came from the First Secretary of the Georgian Communist Party, Jumber Pastiashvili.
The troops were commanded by Colonel General Igor Radionov.
In the hours before the attack, the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church made an impassioned address to the crowd, beseeching the demonstrators to leave the square. They refused.
Minutes before 4am on 9 April, Gen Radionov told his troops to clear the square by all means available.

full article with two videos >>>

1. Video: Tbilisi's main square was strewn with the dead and injured after Soviet troops crushed a popular protest
2. Video: Georgian film-maker and opposition leader Georgi Khaindrava returns to the square and recalls the events

BOOKS & PAINTING: A British-Georgian Relation between Michael Berman and Maka Batiashvili (o-books.com)

CONTENT: "Everything shifts in the Caucasus, blown by some of the strongest winds on earth. Even the ground moves, splintered by fault lines. In early Georgian myths, it is said that when the mountains were young, they had legs – could walk from the edges of the oceans to the deserts, flirting with the low hills, shrouding them with soft clouds of love". Michael Berman

Michael Berman
Extent: 196 pages Size: 51/2x81/2 inches 216/140mm
Paperback
World rights
First published 2009
Anthropology/Shamanism

CONTENT: Known as the “land of the mountains,” Dagestan lies immediately north of the Caucasus Mountains, and stretches for approximately 250 miles along the west shore of the Caspian Sea. With its mountainous terrain making travel and communication difficult, Daghestan is still largely tribal.

Despite over a century of Tsarist control followed by seventy years of repressive Soviet rule, there are still 32 distinct ethnic groups in Daghestan, each with its own language, making it unquestionably the most complex of the Caucasian republics. Shamanic practices are still prevalent in this country, where one of the ten lost tribes of Israel can be found, and in which the stories of the elders provide the people with evidence of who their ancient ancestors were and where their roots lie. In Daghestan, as in the neighbouring countries of Georgia, Chechnya, and Azerbaijan, these roots lie in shamanism. This book, one of only a handful available in English on the country, contains the texts of some of these stories as well as commentaries on them.

AUTHOR: Michael Berman BA, MPhil, PhD (Alternative Medicines) works as a teacher, teacher trainer, and writer. Publications include A Multiple Intelligences Road to an ELT Classroom and The Power of Metaphor for Crown House, and Tell us a Story for Brian Friendly Publications. Books published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing include The Nature of Shamanism and the Shamanic Story (2007), Soul Loss and the Shamanic Story (2008) and Divination and the Shamanic Story (2008). Michael has been involved in teaching and teacher training for over thirty years, has given presentations at Conferences in more than twenty countries, and hopes to have the opportunity to visit many more yet.

Although Michael originally trained as a Core Shamanic Counsellor with the Scandinavian Centre for Shamanic Studies under Jonathan Horwitz, these days his focus is more on the academic side of shamanism, with a particular interest in the folktales with shamanic themes told by and collected from the peoples of the Caucasus. For more information please visit www.Thestoryteller.org.uk

ENDORSEMENTS AND REVIEWS: By gathering and reproducing en bloc the various stories contained in this book, Michael Berman does a valuable service in that he reminds us of the rich and variegated religious-cultural heritage of the Daghestani peoples. For rendering otherwise dispersed source materials readily accessible in a single volume, this book is to be congratulated. ... I greatly enjoyed each of the stories contained in this book, just as I very much appreciated Michael Berman’s interpretation of them. I trust you will too. Dr Andrew Dawson, Lancaster University, UK

An engrossing and enlightening journey into a fascinating country and genre. The stories are skillfully narrated and critiqued in a manner that retains their original vigour while making them accessible to a reader unacquainted with the tradition. This is storytelling at its most insightful and potent. Wayne Rimmer PhD, teacher trainer & Director of Studies at International House in Moscow

Michael Berman draws upon his extensive experience as a storyteller to bring to life the fascinating shamanic traditions of the little-known Daghestani people. Bob Trubshaw, author, photographer and Commissioning Editor of Heart of Albion Press

Michael Berman understands better than most the power of the stories that make our world. In this, his latest study of shamanic narratives, he takes his skill in elucidating the unity in diversity to the mountains of Daghestan - and comes back to everyday reality with some real treasures to share. Julienne Ford PhD, formerly a lecturer at Middlesex University and the founder of the publishing company Superscript

In the shallowness of an unsettling time that equates myths with lies, and from a region, between the Black and Caspian Seas, where such a mixture of peoples hangs on to ancient traditions and the proud idiosyncracies of its own languages, Berman’s wide-reading and passion for the shamanic roots of stories (still being told) make for a disturbing vision of what the human race (in the grip of glib authoritarian pressures) no longer wants to face in itself. These stories have been hammered out of a harsh landscape, and break the bounds of all comfortable behaviour. They find their truth where reality stops; but they also expose, in the layers of their building, influences of folk-lore elsewhere. Berman is most interested in their shamanic echoes, but they are also a pared-down revelation of Daghestan itself, the rich residue of its history and culture, and a compliment to its hard-bitten, gnarled, but generous and perceptive grasp of the paradoxes of human nature. R.G. Gregory, author and founder of Word in Action, a travelling theatre company that has performed all over the world

This book will be in stock on Friday 30 October, 2009.
This book is not yet Published. Estimated date in stock on Friday 30 October, 2009.

In addition to the covers for Shananic Journeys Maka Batiashvili gave two paintings for another covers for books from two georgians writers: Nino Tarkhnishvili and Eka Qevanishvili - Tbilisi

CONFERENCE; National Identity in Eurasia: Identities & Traditions

22-24 March 2009
New College, University of Oxford
Convenor: Professor Catriona Kelly
Deadline for registration: 10 March 2009
Website >>>
Email: russian-nationalism@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk

The conference explores the institutions, ideologies, and practices that have shaped identity in the countries that once formed part of the Soviet Union and in the states and cultures that border the former superstate. It traces the history of "Eurasia" as a concept, and analyses the role of political interest groups, religious beliefs, museums, education, and everyday experience (whether under direct state control or governed by what are believed to be autonomous "traditions" in evolving concepts of ethnic, national, and transnational culture). Gathering together anthropologists, historians, political scientists, sociologists, and specialists in cultural studies from the Caucasus and Central Asia, Belorussia, France, Germany, and Russia as well as the UK and the USA, it presents a uniquely wide-ranging, cross-disciplinary forum for informed discussion of issues that are of enormous topical significance.
We are pleased to announce that the conference registration is now open. Please note that the number of places is limited. We anticipate a high demand and you are advised to register as early as possible.
Conference participants will be registered strictly on a first-come-first-served basis, without exceptions.

National Identity in Russia since 1961: Traditions & Deterritorialisation
University of Oxford
www.mod-langs.ox.ac.uk/russian/nationalism

EVENTS: Introduction to Armenian history, culture, identity & dispersion (setasarmenian.blogspot.com)‏

Introduction to Armenian history, culture, identity & dispersion‏

OTHER FORTHCOMING EVENTS IN HAYASHEN (See attached details)

Sunday 22 February, 2009, Prof. Theo Maarton Van Lint (Oxford University)
³Armenian language/literature²

Sunday 1 March, 2009, Gregory Neil Topalian (Gomidas Institute)
"The place of the Armenian Holocaust within the terminology of 'genocide' as
defined by Raphael Lemkin"

Sunday 8 March, 2009, Dr. Vrej Nersessian (British Library)
"The origins of the Armenian Church and its place in the family of
Christian Churches."

Sunday 15 March, 2009, Dr. Vrej Nersessian (British Library)
³Drama during Holy week & Art and Theology²

Sunday 22 March, 2009, Joan George (Author)
"The History of Armenians in Manchester & London)
& Dalilia Heath (Aghtamar Dance Group)
"Workshop of traditional and modern Armenian dances"


Centre for Armenian Information & Advice (CAIA)
Hayashen
105a Mill Hill Road
Acton, London W3 8JF
Tel: 020 8992 4621
Fax: 020 8993 8953
E-mail: info@caia.org.uk
website: www.caia.org.uk

Registered Charity No.1088534
Limited Company by Guarantee. Registered in England No.4195084. Registered
office as above.

RADIO: Georgia on our minds. (bbc.co.uk/blogs)

By Eddie Mair

Six months after the war in Georgia, the country is struggling to cope with the aftermath - and the impact of the global economic downturn. There's also political instability, with the country's usually fractious opposition uniting to call on President Saakashvili to resign and hold fresh elections. PM's Ray Furlong has been granted exclusive access to accompany the President on a tour of the country, and sends these words and pictures to go with tonight's report.

"The picture was on the wall just outside my hotel room and was my little welcome to Georgia. Later in the week, I got to meet the current top-dog President Saakashvili, who took me on a whirlwind tour of Georgia - first in the presidential jet, then by helicopter.

I got to spend more or less the whole day with him, including lunch when sadly photos weren't allowed (you should have seen the feast - huge even by Georgian standards), so there was time to ask him everything. He was quite candid - admitting that we were visiting good examples of investment etc but that Georgia is really 'feeling the heat,' as he put it, due to the impact of first the war and second the global economic crisis.

The pix of him getting a warm welcome are from near the town of Zugdidi, in a part of Abkhazia which fell to the Russians during the war but which they later withdrew from. It's now the only part of Abkhazia under Georgian control.

There are also some pix of where the refugees I met in Tbilisi live (a freezing squat without power). Some of the people living here have been refugees for 16 years, since the conflicts when Abkhazia and South Ossetia first broke away. One family had hooked up electricity from a neighbouring building, but the only heat came from a small electric ring they were boiling spuds on. And it was very cold. I got the people themselves on camera for a TV piece but I rather annoyingly forgot to do any stills...

Also some shots of a village near the South Ossetian border and EU monitors meeting Georgian front-line guards. In most of the villages the people were just standing around doing nothing - the harvest was mostly lost as a result of the war and they too are feeling the pinch. Add in the risk of kidnapping from South Ossetian militia and you can see their lives are pretty miserable this winter."

full article with photos >>>

LONDON THEATRE BLOG: Georgia Series: Kakutsa Cholokashvili

Georgia Series: Kakutsa Cholokashvili
By Jens Peters 04-01-09

After the relatively short performance of Hilda, I was able to see the last two thirds of Levan Tsuladze’s production of Kakutsa Cholokashvili. This new play by the historian Guram Qartvelishvili explores the life of Kaikhosro Cholokashvili (1888-1930), Georgian national hero during the guerrilla resistance against the Bolsheviks in 1921.

LONDON THEATRE BLOG: Georgian Series In Great Britain (www.londontheatreblog.co.uk)

Georgia Series: Hilda
By Jens Peters 31-12-08

The next day of the festival started off with Hilda by French playwright Marie Ndiaye. This production is a collaboration between the Marjanishvili Theatre and the London based company Caravanserai under…

Georgia Series: Beso Kupreishvili’s Fingers Theatre
By Jens Peters 27-12-08

I left A Midsummer Night’s Dream just in time to catch a truly unique show by Beso Kupreishvili’s Fingers Theatre. The company used a well-known Rock music video (the name and…

Georgia Series: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
By Jens Peters 19-12-08

As part of their 80th anniversary celebration and as a precursor of the International Festival in Tbilisi next year, the Marjanishvili State Drama Theatre invited directors, dramaturgs and producers from…

Georgia Series: The Rendezvous
By Jens Peters 16-12-08

London Theatre Blog is pleased to present a series of seven reviews, written by director/dramaturg Jens Peters, of productions at the Marjanishvili State Drama Theatre (Tiblisi, Georgia) as part of…

CONCERT: The Travelling Band in Tbilisi. Photos by Tina Revazishvili

For the first time I listened to them. These guys are from England and they perform so well!!! I suggest... you can listen to their nice songs on youtube or myspace: www.myspace.com/thetravellingband