2nd QMA Jewish Culture Fest: Oy Meets World! April 16, 2006

Queens Museum of Art presents
Oy Meets World: 2nd Annual Jewish Culture Fest
Every Sunday in April, Free & Open to the Public!

From a Gay Hip-Hop Wizard and a Veteran of Def Poetry Jam to Poignant Films and Theatrical Performances, the Month-long Series of Free Programs Explores the Wide Scope of Jewish Culture in the Framework of the Global Artistic Diaspora

Featuring: Vanessa Hidary, Pharoah's Daughter, The AfroSemitic Experience, Schechina, Dan Fishback, Soce the Elemental Wizard, and more!

April 16th, 3 - 6pm CINEMAROSA Queens? Only Queer Film Series Presents Trembling Before G-d
(Sandi Simcha Dobowski, USA, 2001, 84 min.)
An unprecedented feature documentary built around intimately-told personal stories of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are gay or lesbian, the film portrays a group of people who face a profound dilemma - how to reconcile their passionate love of Judaism and the Divine with the drastic Biblical prohibitions that forbid homosexuality.
With Short Films : Naming Prairie (Alejandra Juhasz, USA, 2001, 7 min.)
& Casualty (Andre Abrahams, USA, 1999, 5 min.)
**Followed by Reception & performance by gay Jewish rapper, SOCE, THE ELEMENTAL WIZARD**
April 23rd, 4 - 6pm
Poetry performance group Shechina and the music of Pharoah?s Daughter Jewish poets Corie Feiner, Elana Bell, and Sabrina Hayeem-Ladani come together to form Shechina ("divine presence" or, in kabbalistic terms, the feminine aspect of G_d). These poets tap into the Jewish female experience from three unique perspectives. Blending a psychedelic sensibility and a pan-Mediterranean sensuality, Basya Schechter leads her band, Pharaoh's Daughter, through swirling Hasidic chants, Mizrachi and Sephardi folk-rock, and spiritual stylings filtered through percussion, flute, strings and electronica.
April 30th, 4 ? 6 pm
Poetry by Vanessa Hidary & the anti-folk music of Dan Fishback Def Jam Poet/Playwright/Native New Yorker Vanessa Hidary experiences as a Sephardic Jew with close friends from different ethnic and religious backgrounds inspired her to write "Culture Bandit," a solo show that chronicles Vanessa's coming of age during the golden age of Hip-Hop and her dedication to fostering understanding and friendship between all people. Hailed by Next Magazine as an "anti-folk genius," Dan Fishback (of Cheese on Bread fame) is both a singer-songwriter and edgy performance artist.
___________________________________________________________________________
Directions: 7 Train to Willets Point/Shea Stadium and follow the yellow signs on a ten-minute walk through the park to the museum, which is located next to the Unisphere. See www.queensmuseum.org for driving directions. Free parking is available.
The Museum?s hours are: WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY: 12:00-5:00 PM. Admission to the Museum is by suggested donation: $5 for adults, $2.50 for seniors, students and children, and free for member and children under 5. For More Info & Detailed Directions visit: www.queensmuseum.org
In addition to the support of members and friends, generous funding for Public Events programs is also provided by: New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Institute for Museum and Library Services, Ford Foundation, and Independence Community Foundation.

Official Website: http://www.queensmuseum.org