Dr. Angela Brintlinger & poets Julia Kolchinsky and Luisa Muradyan

On Friday, February 21st almost 80 people gathered in the Barnett Center Collaboratory to celebrate the opening of the Ukraine: Sheltering in Place art exhibit. The exhibit, which features the artwork of Olga Morozova and students from the College of Arts and Design of the Kyiv National University of Technology and Design will hang in Sullivant Hall from February 17th—28th.

Dr. Yana Hashamova opened the reception by talking about the grant and the work of graduate student grantees. She then turned the floor over to the Armed Conflicts and Im/mobility grant recipients. Those who were able to join us shared about their research and findings. The posters remained up for the rest of the night so that attendees could read about these excellent projects.

Lejla Vesković with her project “Russian Mind in the Montenegrin World.”

Alberto Vega Rivera talks about their project “Ultrallanos: Stay and Resist.”

Following the poster presentations, Dr. Angela Brintlinger opened the poetry and music section of the evening with a reflection on art in a time of war. Pianist Olena Mladenova then began her musical performance with a classical Ukrainian set, including Myroslav Skoryk’s “Melody,” Sergiy Bortkewich’s “Prelude,” and Myroslav Skoryk’s “Waltz from Partita.”

Poet Julia Kolchinsky

Poet Luisa Muradyan

Julia Kolchinsky was the first poet to read her work. Her emotional performance moved the audience; her words resonated with both frustration and mirth. Next, Luisa Muradyan read from her collection of humorous, yet poignant work. Witnessing these performances live was truly special.

Mladenova’s second set comprised Ukrainian folk songs, including a new piece composed by Mladenova’s friend, making Ukraine: Sheltering in Place its world premiere!

After the performances many of the guests remained to mingle, admire the artwork and posters, and reflect on the evening.

Read more about the night’s presenters here

On Monday October 14th over 50 filmgoers gathered at the Gateway Film Center for the Film/Video Festival “Reframing Refug(e)” curated and organized by Assistant Professor of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts Rasel Ahmed. The festival, supported by the Armed Conflicts and Im/mobility grant showcased three films which focus on the themes of mobility/immobility of people living within conflict/heavily militarized zones, or while seeking asylum. Ahmed kicked off the event with some opening remarks before the three films were screened in succession. The event ended with a Q&A session with directors Prabhash Chandra and Gelare Khoshgozaran.

The film lineup:

Still from The Retreat. Image source

The Retreat (Artist: Gelare Khosgozaran, 22 min)

Synopsis: The film follows a group of people experiencing exile from different parts of the world as they share their stories and form bonds.

Read a conversation with creator Gelare Khosgozaran here.

Roqaia film poster. Image source

Roqaia (Director: Diana Saqib Jamal, 11 min)

Synopsis: After surviving a suicide bomb attack in Kabul, 12-year old Roqaia finds herself in the middle of a media frenzy as she deals with her trauma alone.

Still from Roqaia. Image source

Movie poster for I Am Not the River Jhelum. Image source

I Am Not the River Jhelum (Director: Prabhash Chandra, 95 min)

Synopsis: The film shows glimpses of the life of its young protagonist Afeefa living in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

CONFLICT, CRISIS, AND IM/MOBILITY CALL FOR PROPOSALS – GRADUATE RESEARCH AND CREATIVE WORK GRANTS

The Armed Conflicts and Im/mobility project funded by the Global Arts and Humanities Discovery Theme invites applications for graduate student grants for research and creative work on the topic of the project. What happens to people living through armed conflict or crises? Humanitarians seek to provide immediate relief for those faced with homelessness, hunger, violence, and disease. Human rights law examines the claims to protection and redress of those suffering dispossession and abuse. This project, however, is intended not to intervene but to explore a critical dilemma for those concerned: to go or to stay. Flight is an understandable human response to threat, and in many cases, removal is forced on populations affected by war or disaster. But not all can emigrate and some choose to stay, finding ways to “shelter in place.” Mobility and immobility in precarious circumstances present parallel challenges: physical survival, labor, and educational opportunities, family and community support, relations with authorities, and more. Over time, experiences of grief, disorientation, and creative adaptation generate novel documentary, artistic, and social responses.

We will evaluate research and creative project proposals on all aspects of im/mobility in the wake of armed conflicts or humanitarian crises. The grants are open to all enrolled graduate students at Ohio State University. We expect to award 5-6 research or creative work grants, for up to $3000 each.

Graduate research grants offer funding to be used in support of the candidate’s PhD dissertation/MA thesis research. The funds could be used for travel to archives or library collections, the recording and transcription of interviews, the acquisition of research materials not available at Ohio State, and other appropriate uses such as programming (e.g. symposia, exhibits).

Graduate creative work grants offer funding to be used toward the completion of filmmaking, photography, fine art, dance, theatre, music, design, creative writing, or interdisciplinary arts projects for MFA or PhD, as well as Master of Architecture (MArch) students. Funds could be for materials, travel for production or research, documentation, or other relevant uses.

To Apply: Please submit a 2-page double-spaced research project description, an itemized budget of your research expenses (per diem will not be considered), a schedule for project completion, and a faculty statement of support to verbitskaya.2@osu.edu. Please use the subject line, “Graduate Grant Proposal.”

Questions about the grants program can be directed to hashamova.1@osu.edu

We will assess the proposals based on the following criteria: 1) relation to the topic of the project; 2) relevance for the advancement of your research and studies; and 3) practical and ethical feasibility, including preparedness to conduct the proposed work. The funds should be expended by the beginning of AU24.

Awardees are expected to present their work at events organized by the Armed Conflicts and Im/mobility project during 2024-2025 academic year.

Application deadline: November 27, 2023. Results will be announced in January 2024.