THE CORRIDOR: a Community Initiative

[email protected] MONDAY 8 JUNE 2015 • www.thepeninsulaqatar.com • 4455 7741 2015 IMPALA 2LT: FULL-SIZE AND FULLY SATISFYING P | 7 153 STUDENTS GRADUATE FLOWERS SOOTHE KAAKA MUTTAI: A FILM FROM AMERICAN THE MIND AND THAT WILL MAKE YOU SCHOOL OF DOHA PLEASE THE PALATE CROW WITH JOY P | 4 P | 8 P | 11 The Corridor is an initiative to provide a space to both professional and amateur artists to showcase their artworks to discerning audience. THE CORRIDOR: A community initiative P | 2-3 | MONDAY 8 JUNE 2015 | 02 ART Community initiative launched to support Doha-based artists BY RAYNALD C RIVERA and curator of The Corridor told Doha Today at the launch marked by the inau- unique community initiative to gural “Summer Exhibition” which runs support Doha-based artists for three months. and an invaluable addition “We have a programme of events Ato the city’s burgeoning art in place following a 12-month cycle. landscape recently launched at Grand This is the first one. Summer Exhibition Hyatt Doha. will be held every year in which all art- “The Corridor” is an initiative initi- ists from Qatar are able to submit their ated by the hotel to provide a space pieces. We have selection panel that to both professional and amateur art- chooses which pieces will make it to ists to showcase their artworks to an the exhibition,” she explained. audience. The selection panel is composed of Doha’s art scene is thriving, yet there a historian particularly interested in the is a dearth of galleries where these art- arts, an artist and an interior designer ists are given chance to showcase their and entrepreneur, among others. creativity and “The Corridor” is one The inaugural expo which opened project which helps fill the void and on Wednesday was a huge success directly exhibits how the private sec- warmly welcomed by artists and art tor can assist in nurturing talent in this enthusiasts. It proved Doha is home to important area. many talented individuals from various “This initiative is driven by Grand cultural backgrounds but with the same Hyatt as a way to contribute to the interest in visual art. local art community. This provides an For a short period of time, the exhi- opportunity for local artists to have a bition had seen 45 submissions from space to exhibit their works,” Australian which only 26 had been chosen to be artist Pip Hoy, who is the art consultant for the exhibit due to space constraints. | MONDAY 8 JUNE 2015 | 03 “The works displayed tonight were created by 19 artists from 16 nationalities, a very broad range of artists with broad range of styles from acrylic to collage to fabric and three-dimensional pieces and so on.” Since the artists hail from different cultural backgrounds, the works reveal a wide spectrum of themes and styles providing the viewers an enriching experience that cannot be found in run of the mill exhibitions. “People here like art; they want to see art; they want to see more creative work so Hyatt would like to be part of that.” Supported by the Hyatt Thrive initiative, this not-for-profit project benefits those in need as all profits from the sales of the works will go to charity. “This initiative is not a profit-making venture. All the profits will go to “Room to Read”, a charity Hyatt supports aimed at helping children in poor countries learn to read.” The Corridor is open to the entire community and all nationalities, professional and emerging artists and hobby- ists who would like to showcase their works in public, she added. “We plan to have around five solo and Pics: Kammutty VP group exhibitions every year but defi- nitely we will have Summer Exhibition that will run for three months.” The thriving art scene in Qatar is evi- dent and this newly launched project is set to add another layer into it in its own way. “The local art scene is vibrant and The local art scene is growing. There’s a lot of challenges vibrant and growing. still to be overcome. This initiative just There’s a lot of challenges adds another dimension and another still to be overcome. This opportunity that really helps local artists. I think in any country you have to have initiative just adds another a grassroots art scene and this gallery dimension and another space offers a small way of contribut- opportunity that really ing to that, small but can make a lot of helps local artists. difference.” The Peninsula | MONDAY 8 JUNE 2015 | 04 CAMPUS 153 students graduate from American School of Doha he American School of Doha (ASD) graduated one hundred and fifty-three students from the graduating class of 2015 on TFriday. Dignitaries, families, ASD alumni and friends attended the vibrant ceremony. Several students were given awards for their achievements in the areas of academics, athlet- ics, arts and service. The ‘Ambassador’s Award’ was presented by the United States Ambassador to Qatar, Dana Shell Smith, to Maha Al Suwaidi. This award is presented to a student who exemplifies a sense of excellence, excels academically and has a sense of community. Additional awards included the ‘Directors Award’ presented to Temitope Akinade and the ‘ASD Memorial Award’ presented to Connor Kelly and Sylvia Feghali. The winner of the Michael Shahen PTA Scholarship was Emma Leever. Six graduates The US Ambassador to Qatar, Dana Shell Smith, with the recipient of the Ambassador’s Award, Maha were recognised in what has become a tradition for Al Suwaidi. Right: ASD Director, Dr Deborah Welch, with the recipient of the Director’s Award, Temitope ASD to acknowledge graduates who have been Akinade. Below: The new gradutes celebrating. students at the school since kindergarten. Forty-two students graduated with high honours, fifteen graduated with honours, thirty-one and described their “tremendous pride” in their Things that I had blindly done came more easily, were International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma children on graduation day. He said that the ASD even turned to passions. I know why I do them, and Candidates and forty graduates for the Advanced Mission statement served as a guide throughout the I’m thankful for them. Now, thanks to everyone, as I Placement (AP) Recognition of Merit. ASD is one school to focus all efforts. The graduates embodied take a big, solid step into a less controlled and less of the few High Schools in the world to offer both the intellectual and personal development that the protected environment, the skills I’ve acquired at the AP and IB programmes. Many of the graduates school aims to achieve and are also “positive active ASD will carry me.” were also members of the National Honor Society global citizens” who have demonstrated through In his valedictorian’s address, Sen Huang said: and the International Thespian Society. service that they display the ASD. Boudreau con- “We’ve been told, since we were tiny kids that we 73 percent of ASD grade 12 students were cluded his speech by stating, “ You have been would grow up to have bright, successful, and spe- accepted to their first choice college or university. gifted an amazing education that nobody can ever cial futures, but honestly, there’s something more This first choice was determined by the selection take from you. Now please, go out and use that important being someone “special”: living your life students made prior to application, in consultation education for some good in the world.” fully.” with parents and counselors. As an international President of the Jr/Sr Mothers committee, Vice Huang continued by expressing his hopes for the school with students from 71 different countries, President of the Booster Club, and official cheer- class of 2015 of learning how to live happily and graduates are matriculating to post secondary leader for the class of 2015, Bev Naim was cho- stated, “for those that already learned that lesson, institutions in a wide variety of locations around sen as the commencement speaker for this year’s I’m hoping that you all will hold tight to that pre- the world. Many of these schools appear at the ceremony. One offering to the graduates from her cious realization, despite the inevitable obstacles top of the rankings in the United States, Canada speech was to, “Smile. Smile often. Smiling is one that will challenge and threaten this idea in college and the United Kingdom including all eight of the of the easiest acts of charity you can do. People see and beyond.” ASD Board of Directors Chairman, Will “Ivy Leagues”. Eighteen students in the graduation you smile and feel the need to smile back.” Cattan, Director Dr Deborah Welch, and High School class will attend universities in Education City, Doha. In his salutatorian address, Seon Woo Kim stated: Principal Colin Boudreau presented the jubilant stu- In his welcome speech, High School Principal “People at ASD made me think about these small dents their diplomas. The ceremony was concluded Colin Boudreau acknowledged the parents as well luxuries, and this reflection caused me to change. with a reception in the dining hall. The Peninusula | MONDAY 8 JUNE 2015 | COMMUNITY 05 he Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation-Qatar (Nido-Qatar) elected new office-bearers to run Nido-Qatar elects new office-bearers the affairs of the community group, during the Trescheduled poll at the Aspire Dome on Friday. In a keenly contested presidential poll, Amadi Nwokocha defeated Mutiu Adedeji after he garnered 304 votes out of the 422 votes cast. The newly elected officials include: Michael Asemota (Vice-President), Victor Ikoli (General Secretary), Victor Ayegba (Assistant General Secretary), Famous Aluya (Financial Secretary), Bisi Bello (Treasurer), Tauheed Jibril (PRO), Ayo Solomon and Usman Ahamadu-Suka (Welfare Officers), and Kazeem Kayode (Chief Whip).

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