Presenting an experimental performance that reimagines the rhythms of healing musical ceremonies, as participants navigate the wounds of diasporic experiences together. The performance centers on an installation of a reconstructed Tanbura (East African Lyre), a central instrument in healing ceremonies. Along with other reconstructed instruments in the exhibition, Soundscapes produced in the performance bring audiences the experience of a nervous system regulating after disruption, mirroring this occurrence in traditional ceremonies in the Arabian Peninsula.

Free and open to the public.

About the artists:

Farah Salem is a an interdisciplinary artist and art therapist based in Chicago. Farah’s studio practice is rooted in photography, expanding through video, performance, fiber-materials, and installation. Her origins in photography influence the ways she uses materials to sensorily

embody concepts she grapples with. In her studio practice, through relational merging and mapping of human and geological bodies, she visions their liberation. By doing so, she examines themes of agency, making the invisible visible, and potential erosion of socio-cultural conditioning distorting our shared realities. Her visual arts and somatic-centered art therapy practices are independent however they intersect in her professional training, informing her artistic exploration of how trauma manifests in the body. Incorporating tools from ancestral healing wisdom for the recovery of the somatic experience while relating to the natural world.

Farah holds an MA in Art Therapy and Counseling from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Farah is trained in Somatic Experiencing, EMDR and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Her artwork has been featured nationally and internationally at Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Photography (Chicago), EXPO CHICAGO, American University Museum (Washington DC), United Photo Industries/Photoville Gallery (New York), Patel Brown (Toronto), Engage Gallery (Chicago), Bolivia Biennial, Paris Contemporary Art Fair, Sharjah Art Foundation (UAE), and Contemporary Art Platform (Kuwait). Farah completed the Radicle Studio Residency at Hyde Park Art Center, Hatch Residency at Chicago Artist Coalition, ACRE Artist Residency, Per|Form at Contemporary Art Platform (Kuwait) and Journey to Turkey Residency with Crossway Foundation (UK). She is the recipient of the 2024 3Arts Award, and is the 2017 Laureate Winner: International Women Photographers Award.

+Aziz (Plus Aziz) is a songwriter and band leader behind Kuwaisiana, an alternative rock band with songs in Arabic and English. Fueled by the fervent desire to push the boundaries of Arabic and Arab representation in rock music. His musical journey began in his teenage years in Kuwait, where he found himself yearning for a sound that resonated with the turmoil Kuwaitis experienced after the Gulf War. Drawing on inspiration from the fusion of American, British, and J-Rock, he envisioned a band where his Kuwaiti dialect intertwine seamlessly with rock melodies. He continues to navigate the delicate balance between cultural heritage and contemporary existence, challenging conventional narratives. He seeks to carve out a space for Arab-American voices in the global music scene, inspiring listeners to embrace their true selves and the power of collective expression. His music has been recorded and released both independently and with Universal Music MENA. He has performed in international venues, and across the USA from Louisiana, New York, to Seattle, WA.

Ronnie Malley: Palestinian-American multi-instrumentalist musician on oud, guitar, keyboards, and percussion, a theatrical performer, producer, and educator. He is the executive director of Intercultural Music Production in Chicago. Some groups he has performed with include Allos Musica, Newberry Consort, Surabhi Ensemble, University of Chicago Middle East Music Ensemble and more. As a theatrical performer, he has worked with Mary Zimmerman, David Cromer, and Aaron Posner. Some of his music credits include: Layalina (Goodman Theatre); Mo (Netflix); Ziryab (Silk Road Rising). He taught at Chicago Public Schools, Global Voices Initiative, Old Town School of Folk Music and the ChiArts. Ronnie has a BA in Global Music Studies from DePaul University and a MA in Languages from the University of Chicago, where he is currently an Ethnomusicology PhD student. Ronnie’s mission is to help people learn about cultures through music and the arts to foster an understanding of global citizenship.

Jordan Knecht: Chicago-based interdisciplinary artist, educator, musician, and systems designer.. Jordan’s work is rooted in play, a guiding force which informs all projects and collaborations. His work in sound and performance began at the age of 13, when he began performing in clubs throughout St. Louis. Jordan has since toured throughout North America as a drummer, performance artist, and sound designer. Jordan received a BA in the Symbiotic Relationship Between Printmaking and Sound from Hampshire College and a MFA in Performance from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Jordan’s work has been presented by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, SFMOMA, Denver Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, Black Cube Nomadic Museum, and Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art.