May 3: Culture and cuisine
Visual artist Emad Hemede framing the lens for 'World Kitchen Series' event
8:37 p.m., April 28, 2016--The University of Delaware’s Master Players Concert Series will present the final World Kitchen Series (WKS) dinner and mixer event of the year from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 3, in the ballroom of the Courtyard Newark at the University.
Featuring Emad Jano Hemede, the College of Arts and Sciences’ current international artist in residence, leading a foray into Syrian culture and cuisine, this last event of the spring embodies the crux of the World Kitchen Series -- a multidisciplinary exploration of art, food and community as pathways to engage cultures that are commonly thought to be other to our own.
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The event is a part of the UD Art Bridging Cultures Series – free and exclusively for UD undergraduate, graduate, international and English Language Institute students – and will feature a traditional Syrian menu, conceived by Hemede and crafted by Courtyard-Marriott executive chef Mark Chopko, highlighting familiar dishes such as hummus and baba ganoush, as well as lesser known Middle Eastern salads and grains, such as the ancient wheat freekeh.
The event will temporarily transform the hotel’s ballroom into a contemporary art gallery with the theme “My Future Is My Past”, with many of Hemede’s recent paintings on display.
Hemede is a visual artist originally from Aleppo, a city that has been ground zero for the ongoing Syrian Civil War. He immigrated to the United States from Syria in 2011, where he continues his artistic practice as a painter and sculptor. Participants will be invited to ‘play with their food’ by creating colorful plates of hummus with spices and oil and painting plates with coffee, and will also experience the exhibition through a guided walkthrough of Hemede’s work. Central to the evening will be an introduction to visual art appreciation for guests who are interested in discovering methods of viewing and engaging with contemporary art.
During his campus visit, Hemede is also presenting “The Day Before Tomorrow,” a four-day event scheduled from April 29-May 2 and designed to illustrate the destructive nature of the conflict in his native Syria.
As in past events, student interaction and peer engagement are central to the evening’s programming, with Middle Eastern, international and domestic students expected in attendance.
Space is limited and advance reservations are required. Students can sign up for the free event here. Students who have not signed up will not be admitted.
For those who missed the first World Kitchen Series events, click here for a short video of the Chinese event and here for a short video of the Turkish event.
About the World Kitchen Series
As a part of the Art Bridging Cultures Series, the World Kitchen Series is presented by the University’s Master Players Concert Series under the direction of Xiang Gao and the UD Artist in Residence (AiR) Program, under the direction of Colin Miller.
This free concert-dinner series, cosponsored by the English Language Institute, is conceptualized by San Francisco-based consulting director Alex Wang and is open exclusively to UD students.
The World Kitchen Series explores flavors, sights and sounds from across the globe. A wholly immersive and interactive experience, it invites students to enjoy international cuisines that complement an authentic performance by a leading performing artist/ensemble from that region or country. The series is designed to help students initiate dialogue, network and create community through the arts.
This program is made possible by a grant from UD’s English Language Institute, which is committed to offering the highest-quality intensive English programs. Other sponsors include the UD Artist in Residence Program; the Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management; Vita Nova restaurant; and the Courtyard Newark at UD. For a complete list of sponsors, visit the website.