Happy International Mangrove Day !!!

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Mangroves: Australia – thanks to Jacqui Dreessens for the video

Today is the International Day of the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem , 26th July.

Declared by UNESCO, this day is to “to raise awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems as a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem and to promote solutions for their sustainable management, conservation and uses”.

Mangroves: United Arab Emirates – thanks to Geraldine Chansard for the video

We hoped to open our multi-media exhibition, with amazing events and workshops, honouring today. Due to Covid we had to postpone the opening until 7th August. Still, we will celebrate and commemorate this important day!

Workshop alert! Monoprinting for all

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Why not try your hand at some fun printing techniques! Any skill level welcome!

A small fee applies, but yummy afternoon tea is supplied!

Please book directly with Nicola, on her website: nicolacerini.com/workshops

Due to Covid regulations and current lockdown, the exhibition and events has to be postponed. The opening is  now on 14 August and we will update the dates and times of the events shortly. You can still view the list of events to make your choices to attend…booking details will be shared shortly!

Workshop Alert! Paint from a kayak in the mangroves

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Here is an exciting opportunity to be led via kayak into the secret gardens of the mangrove wetlands by our experienced kayaker and watercolour artist / Curator Zahidah Zeytoun Millie.

Sunday 15 August, Lake Conneware, Barwon Heads.

Please contact Zahidah directly on mangrovesfromthewater@gmail.com to book your spot.

Spaces are limited and we have 2 extra kayaks to use, thanks to the NBC school !

Workshop and Events schedule

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Exhibition dates are 11 – 18 August.

The official opening is on Saturday 14 August .

You can still view the list of events to make your choices to attend…booking details remain the same!

PLEASE DO VIEW THE FLYERS BELOW FOR THE NEW DATES FOR EVENTS BY Richard Collopy, Jacqui Dreessens and Nicola Cerini

schedule-finalDownload

The booking and contact information is mentioned next to each activity!

IMPORTANT NOTICE: New exhibition dates

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Due to Covid regulations and current lockdown, the exhibition and events has to be postponed. The new dates are  now on 11 – 18 August and we will update the dates and times of the events shortly. You can still view the list of events to make your choices to attend…booking details will be shared shortly!

Our new dates are:

14 August 2021

We will keep you updated on any further changes.

Our workshop and events schedule are being adapted at the moment, and we will share all the details as soon as possible!

Zahidah Zeytoun Millie donated her artwork to Wasit Wetland Center, Sharjah

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Zahidah donated her work Mangroves from the Water 3D (2015) to the Wasit Wetland Center in Sharjah.

Zahidah created a 3D sculpture of her experience in the mangrove after finding this piece of a mangrove tree destroyed by the local farmers and fisherman. Mixed with found objects from the Umm Al Quwain mangroves, they are set in a pool of clear resin to simulate the water and draped with natural wools reminiscent of the mossy grass/seaweeds found on site.

Zahidah Zeytoun Millie donated ‘The Self’ to the Sharjah American International School in UAQ

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Zahidah donated her artwork The Self to educate children in local schools about the mangroves through art-activism. She explains her work here:

The Self, ‏ acrylic, resin chopped tree, mask (my face and hands) heavy knife used to chop trees, wire, wood, plaster, leaves, cardboard, inner shoe, 2017. 

This art work talks about my feelings toward the daily destruction of the mangroves, which I witnessed daily while going kayaking or running in Umm Al Quwain in the UAE.  I had a period of time when I felt I was one of those mangroves trees especially when I painted or sketched them.  I spent a long time with the mangroves and I feel I know them very well! I felt their pain too! 

I faced waves of difficulty while working to protect the mangroves, and yet so much support, too.   

For this art work I borrowed the myth of Daphne turning into a laurel tree!  There is a certain satisfaction and a beauty, I feel, of becoming a tree!  I wish I could be a tree! 

The Self is located at the Sharjah American International School in Umm Al Quwain.

Marawed Magazine focuses on the mangroves as part of Emirati Heritage

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marawed-32-en-low-2Download

We are grateful to be part of this important magazine called Marawed and fortunate to be working with Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute of Heritage and Editor-in-Chief.

Plants and trees – nature in general- is extremely important to the Emirati culture and prominent in Islamic traditions and teachings from the Holy Qu’ran.

Marawed focuses on the mangroves as part of the the UAE’s natural landscapes and elevate its importance to that of the better-known Date Palms and Ghaf trees spread across the lands.

Please do read the magazine (download the link above) for the interesting information on the local mangroves- from its medicinal uses since 4th Century BC, the botanical and biological science behind it, and the valuable contribution these mangrove trees make to the environment.

The Sharjah Institute of Heritage is a great supporter of Mangroves from the Water, and we thank them for their continued assistance and participation.

Listen to our podcast! Masainakum Masoonah

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Mangroves from the Water curator, team leader and artist Zahidah Zeytoun Millie runs a podcast called Masainakum Masoonah – an Arabic saying meaning “Good evening to you, Good evening to us”

Zahidah in her radio studio at Pulse FM, Geelong Australia

In this week’s episode, Zahidah chats to Jacqui Dreessens from their kayaks in Barwon Heads!

Jacqui is a dancer/choreographer participating with a much anticipated performance at the Mangroves from the Water exhibition, 26th July in Geelong.

Listen to the podcast here:
https://anchor.fm/zahidah-zeytoun-millie/episodes/Masainakum-Masoonah-ee1gjq/a-a2s1ktq

Alexis Gambis’ filmmaking career is reaching new heights

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We are super proud to announce our fellow Mangrove from the Water team member Alexis Gambis is achieving tremendous success in his filmmaking career.

Alexis Gambis in action as director

Son of Monarchs is a film written and directed by Alexis Gambis. It depicts a personal and spiritual journey of a Mexican biologist who returns to his hometown in the majestic monarch butterfly forests of Michoacán, Mexico.

Son of Monarchs won the New American Cinema Grand Jury Award at the 2021 Seattle International Film Festival and the Alfred P. Sloan Feature 2021 Feature Film Prize Winner at the Sundance Film Festival 2021.

You can read more about the film, its accolades and its screening schedule here: sonofmonarchs.com

Alexis will be showing his movie Guardian of the Mangrove at the Mangroves from the Water exhibition at Gordon Gallery, Geelong from 26 July – 8 August. You can read more about this movie here.