Seen / Hear Multicultural Art Exhibition Celebrates Heritage

An Artists’ Reception provided an opportunity to view the artworks and meet some of the artists displaying their work in the exhibition “Seen/Hear: A Multicultural Exhibit Celebrating Heritage”. Works of art representing Native American, Hispanic and African cultures are showcased.

The new exhibit opened Wednesday, June 27, 2018 and will remain on display for two months, featuring the works of seven artists: John Balloue, Harry Fonseca, Daniel Camacho, Francisco Franco, Fortune Sitole, Wawi Amasha, and Nana-Dictta Graves.

Artworks will be on display in the Bankhead Theater Gallery until August 27, 2018. The Bankhead has welcomed a diverse range of artists and audiences, bringing them together to share the rich experience of live performance and their visions is to be the heart of a vibrant cultural arts community.

The Artists' Reception was a free afternoon event, and there were entertaining and energetic performances of music and dance and light appetizers were served to guests. The event began with African drumming and dancing sponsored by Pleasanton-based non-profit Cheza Nami.

"Cheza Nami" is Swahili for "Come play with me". Their organization believes in a play based approach to education and teaches African culture through dance, play, and movement. They believe in the experiential form of education and produce engaging performances suitable for all ages.

Arts Manager for the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center and Bothwell Arts Center, Anne Giancola, who co-ordinated the program, welcomed guests and introduced micro-mosaic fine artist Nana-Dictta Graves. Ms Graves, who has a passion for story telling, related her experiences through her artistic career and recalled her first steps into utilizing recycled and natural elements in her beautiful mosaics. Ms Graves defines her work as "simply a handmade work that combines fine art and ecological sustainability" and calls it "thinking outside the 'recycle' box".

"Rejection comes in high and low; makes you wonder in analyzing what you have done wrong, it is a learning process, and teaches us to be extremely strong in will, " said Nana-Dicta Graves "We need to take everything we were, everything we are and everything we’ve ever hoped to be and simply place it all in finding the courage to go on."

The American Indian Pow Wow Dancers finished off the proceedings for the afternoon. They are affiliated with the American Indian Center, a non-profit based in Livermore. The American Indian Center is open to the public and is home to many American Indian artifacts and crafts as well as a library with over 500 books available for check out. The Center hosts educational and cultural programs and schools are welcome to bring their students to visit.

The Center also offers classes in crafts, featuring beadwork, cooking, dance and drumming as part of their mission is to foster and appreciation for and create pride in American Indian culture.

The colorful, creative and vibrant artworks on display blended beautifully with the energetic movements of the performing ensemble of drummers and dancers.

The exhibit is free of charge and open to the public. The Gallery, located in the lobby of the Bankhead Theater at 2400 First Street, is open Monday through Wednesday from 1:00 to 4:00pm and by appointment and is co-sponsored by Cheza Nami Foundation.

Another exciting multicultural event will take place on October 6th, 2018 namely the 7th Annual installation of the Taste of Africa Festival. Cheza Nami is partnering with the Bankhead Theater for this year's event in Livermore so mark your calendars.

To conclude with the words of Nana-Dictta Graves, "We need our creative vision more now than we ever needed it before. Nourished by soul and strengthened by spirit, using dance, theater, music and drumming. Fine Art and Storytelling that motivates and inspires people of all ages around the world to work together with the purpose of building peace, creating harmony, crossing the bridge that divides, inspiring diversity; caring, giving back and empowering."