AUAF at the first-ever Assyrian Food Festival in Chicago
Date: August 30, 2017
We had a blast this weekend taking part in the first-ever Assyrian Food Festival, presented by the Assyrian Church of the East. The festival took place in Morton Grove, a suburb of Chicago, and was attended by thousands of local residents, including local officials. From delicious dishes to traditional dance, the weekend was a beautiful celebration of the Assyrian culture.
AUAF was proud to participate in the event as a sponsor. Our Fine Arts Program also hosted a fun activity in the Kids Zone, giving hundreds of children the opportunity to paint their very own Gilgamesh sculpture. Gilgamesh was the main character in the Epic of Gilgamesh a poem from ancient Assyria that is considered the first great work of literature.
Festival co-chair Julie Kako expressed her thanks to AUAF, “Our committee would like to thank AUAF for your support. The kids had a blast painting.” Parents also appreciated the activity. Lina Eshaya, whose daughter participated, said the following, “Thank you so much for bringing out this fabulous art activity for the kids!”
Check out our full photo album here.
Our Fine Arts Assistant Director Rabel Betshmuel was very impressed by some of the artwork. At AUAF, one of our goals is to identify Assyrian Americans with exceptional talents at an early age, and enable them to engage their talents to become effective cultural leaders. We strive to empower Assyrian students and provide them with the tools they need to excel in pursuing artistic studies and careers. Our programs are free for Assyrian students. Click to learn more and register. We’re excited to announce new art classes starting this fall. Stay tuned!