Poetry and printmaking workshop at Bengal Centre
Bengal Foundation and the American Center of the US Embassy in Dhaka have jointly been organising a series of three workshops on printmaking and poetry. Calvin Hayes, Cultural Affairs Officer of the American Center in Dhaka, inaugurated the first workshop at the Bengal Centre Khilkhet in the capital on June 9. The organisors thanked Andrew Saftel (master printmaker) and Whitney Baker (litterateur) who conducted the workshops, for their commitment to the development of arts in Bangladesh.
Both visiting from the United States, Andrew Saftel and Whitney Baker are leading these workshops, of which two will take place in Dhaka and one in Rajshahi. The three workshops will unite printmaking and poetry artists around the common theme “The Urban Experience”, a defining feature of contemporary life in Bangladesh.
Luva Nahid Choudhury, DG, Bengal Foundation, delivered the welcome address on the occasion. She described Bengal Foundation's efforts in conservation of the arts and culture of Bangladesh over the past 25 years and highlighted the long-standing friendship between Bengal Foundation and the American Center. Master printmaker Andrew Saftel and litterateur Whitney Baker also spoke on the occasion. Whitney Baker recited a poem by noted Bangladeshi poet Kaiser Haq. The director of Safiuddin- Bengal Print-making studio, Professor Mahmudul Haque, welcomed the participants and wished the event every success.
The first workshop is being held at Safiuddin Bengal Printmaking Studio, Bengal Centre, Khilkhet, Dhaka from June 9-11. Fifteen printmakers together with 15 aspiring poets are participating at the workshop.
The second workshop, to be held at the same venue from June 13-15, will have 25 arts students and 15 aspiring poets while the third and concluding workshop will be held at the Faculty of Arts, University of Rajshahi, from June 17-19. Fifteen artists and arts students along with 15 aspiring poets will participate in the workshop that will encourage artists to home in on the positive and negative aspects of urban life.
Regarding printmaking, the workshop will bring together Bangladeshi printmakers and Andrew Saftel, a visiting printmaking artist from Tennessee, USA. Saftel is a professional printmaker, painter and provides training in arts. He holds a degree in Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute. His works have been displayed at solo and group exhibitions throughout the US.
The workshop on poetry will bring together 15 aspiring poets from Bangladesh and Whitney Baker, a visiting poet from Tennessee, whose work has featured in various literary publications, including in the renowned Holler Poetry Series (2009). The duo have also conducted several workshops in Bangladesh over the past few years.
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