Out of Arabia: Events & Adventures Relating to the Middle East

By Troy Segal

Those ancient lands between Europe and Asia, the place where civilization began — they exert an endless fascination. These upcoming NYC talks, exhibits, and activities unveil different aspects of the Middle East.

Two photographic works by Rania Matar: top, Christilla, Rabieh, Lebanon (2010); Amal, Shatila Palestinian Refugee Camp, Beirut, Lebanon (2010). www.howardgreenberg.com

ARTISTIC IMAGES: From realistic to idealized, from symbolic to surreal, Middle Eastern art has depicted the human body in an amazing range of ways. Metropolitan Museum of Art curators trace the evolving image from the Bronze Age to the present day in gallery talks Aug. 16 & 17 … Two shows at the Howard Greenberg Gallery through Aug. 29 shed a flash of light (literally) on the region. The Middle East Revealed: A Female Perspective displays the work of four photographers, from Yemen, Iran, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, capturing both public and private moments in their respective countries. The pictures of these contemporary lens mistresses are complemented by that of a past photographic giant: Margaret Bourke-White, who did a series on “Syria in 1940.”

A scene from Theo Van Gogh’s Submission

OPPOSING OPPRESSION: Few adults, let alone children, have the courage of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager who fought, and nearly died, for the right to an education. On Aug. 19, she talks about her struggle on behalf of other girls with a New York Times correspondent, at the French Institute Alliance Française … Ayaan Hirsi Ali, screenwriter of the film Submission, which examines what it deems Koran-mandated violence against women, discusses the short movie and the violent death of its director, at the 92nd Street Y, Oct. 22.

Piper Kerman (right) with OITNB‘s Taylor Schilling. Photo: Brian Bowen Smith for Netflix

CULTURAL FUN: Is it possible to sum up Jewish life in a half-dozen words? A panel of wordsmiths, led by writer Piper Kerman (Orange Is the New Black) and husband Larry Smith (creator of the six-word memoir) is going to try at this tongue-twisting event at the 92nd Street Y, Sept. 15 … Israeli-born and –bred super-chef Yotam Ottolenghi, whose empire of London delis offers the best takeaway in town (as the Brits say), has a new cookbook out; so what’s a man to do but offer a taste and a talk at The Times Center, Oct. 18?