One woman's solo journey documenting the people she meets, visiting places along the Silk Road and other Trade Routes.
November 11, 2013
June 30, 2013
Calm before the Coup in Cairo
Anti Morsi Protester on June 29, 2013 Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt |
It was only a
year ago the world witnessed the rejoicing in the streets as Egypt
celebrated its first democratically elected President. But Cairo, the Mother of
the World, never bonded with the child she had birthed. The Mother has rejected
her first born. Today, the world waits
with suspicion and fear as tourists alter their vacation plans for safer
destinations.
Even the Egyptian
Museum is eerily silent. Gone are the long lines of chattering foreign voices,
all the tourists have stayed away. I am
alone in the room with the mummies of the ancient Pharaohs: Ramses II, Tuthmosis
III, and Hatshepsut. I feel their spirits rising with the memories of this once
great nation.
Anti Morsi/Obama Posters Tahrir Square June 29, 2013 |
Outside, the
blazing streets are virtually deserted. The hot air rarefied with the
anticipation of the hundreds of thousands of people expected to arrive the next
day for the planned protests. Only a small noisy group has gathered keeping up
the drumbeat by responding forcefully to a series of passionate speakers
delivering angry shouts from the stage.
So, You have
figured out exactly what I am thinking as I carefully move deeper into Tahrir
Square this Saturday afternoon June 29, 2013
At first I see
many families with children. But as I move closer to the stage my handsome
guide suddenly becomes my bodyguard, standing tall in his tight white T-Shirt
and blue jeans. Then as quickly he becomes my boyfriend as I cling onto his
arm, shifting my body shamefully tight into his.
Men are starting
to rage, the situation is becoming very tense. I am afraid!
Anti Morsi Protesters Gather Tahrir Square June 29, 2013 |
Around my neck hangs a big Nikon camera, in my hand a Sony video camera. I'm shooting with both at the same time. I do not want anyone to get the wrong idea and think that I am a journalist.
Visions of the
countless, nameless women who have been violently molested and raped flash
before my eyes. I realize the situation could easily escalate out of control -
so I leave!
In May, when I first
booked the flight to Cairo, I had completely forgotten about the violent
revolution that had recently taken place in Egypt. Like any difficult birth, I
thought that the pain had been forgotten, replaced with an ecstatic love.
It was only after
I told everyone I was going that they all said the same thing to me;
'Aren't
you afraid? Why are you going to Cairo?'
I said 'Its a
short flight to Uganda, that's why' And besides, I yelled back at them, 'I am
fascinated with Egypt, Cairo especially!'
I had no idea
then, that my intuition must have chosen the morning of June 30th to leave
Egypt.
Did you know that
the source of the Nile is in Jinja, Uganda?
I did not know
that fact, so I went to Jinja to see for myself. Thus metaphorically tying
together why my stop over needed to be Cairo in order to get to Uganda.
April 12, 2013
International Women's Art Salon's Radio Interview
I was interviewed Monday night for the International Women's Art Salon's Radio on my Peace Caravan project.
The show broadcasts from Umberto's Clam House in Little Italy. The sound guy sits in a small closet with the stocks of olive oil and cans of anchovies. Jenny Green ( the woman in white ) - is the host. She is a professional at keeping the show going. She has previously worked at the BBC presenting the country's news. Heidi is the producer and founder of IWAS. She expends tireless efforts working as a curator, organizer and champion of women in the artistic world.
The show is going to be archived on www.cityworldradio.com on Thursday, April 11, 2013 if you want to take a listen.
To Listen to the entire broadcast:
To Listen to the entire broadcast:
February 15, 2013
Fatti un Film Finalist
Journey along the Silk Road: Xinjiang Province, China
by Marla Mossman. Usa, 2012, documentary, 17'5'' - Italian premiere
by Marla Mossman. Usa, 2012, documentary, 17'5'' - Italian premiere
The captivating glance of an American photographer will lead us to the discovery of the contemporary Silk Road.
Palazzo delle Esposizioni is pleased to present the selected short films concurring to the second edition of Shoot it out - exhibit your short film, contest linked to the exhibition On the Silk Road. Ancient Pathways Between East and West. An occasion to explore and interpret using the imagination of cinematographic narration, the wide range of subjects of a great exhibition. The works, mainly Italian premieres, arrived from all around the world and are now presented to the public in a two-day screening event. On Saturday 2nd will also take place the award ceremony sustained by La Placa and Canon, during which the best short films will be awarded at the presence of the cinematographic critic Francesco Castelnuovo from Sky Cinema and the public jury.
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Marla Mossman
- Peace Caravan: Journey Along the Silk Road
- One woman traveling alone, in search of her religious and cultural heritage.