African Art at Marian University

African art is on display through 16 October in the Fine Arts Gallery at Marian University, 3200 Cold Springs Road, Indianapolis. to be held in Marian University’s Fine Arts Gallery. The artworks from the private collection of ViAfrika.

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Taiwan Buys Indiana Corn and Soybeans

Members of a Taiwanese trade delegation signed a letter of intent last week to purchase Indiana corn and soybeans, reports Inside INdiana Business. Indiana's portion is part of a larger purchase by Taiwan from the Midwest over the next year.

Delegates of the Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission were led by Purdue alumnus, Dr. Paul M.H. Sun, Ph.D., board chair, AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center and advisor, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan. Other representatives included Mr. Yau-Kuen Hung, executive director, Taiwan Feed Industry Association (vice chairman, Sun Ford MFG., Co., Ltd.); Mr. Herbert W.Y. Huang, secretary general, Taiwan Feed Industry Association; Mr. Han-Yeh Wang, convener, board of supervisors, Taiwan Vegetable Oil Manufacturers; Mr. Tsao-Hsiung Chou, senior manager, Great Wall Enterprise Co., Ltd.; Mr. Yi-Chia Lin, Section Manager, TIET Union Corporation; Mr. Clove S.Y. Chang, director, U.S. Grains Council on Taiwan; Mr. C.M. Lynn, senior advisor, U.S. Grains Council on Taiwan; Ms. Carol L. Wang, manager, American Soybean Association; and Mr. Jong-Yean Chang, second secretary on home assignment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Institute for Global Enterprise Programs

Two major speakers are scheduled for November by the Institute for Global Enterprise at the University of Evansville. First up is Thomas Friedman, columnist for The New York Times and author of several books, including The World is Flat and Hot, Flat, and Crowded. He will speak at a noon luncheon 6 November in the Conrad Hotel in downtown Indianapolis and also give a free 7 p.m. lecture that evening in the Centre Auditorium in Evansville.

Dr. Christy Djockoua Manyaka Toko will speak on "International Education and the Bridging of Cultures: The Cameroon Experience" at 7 p.m. 16 November in room 170, Schroeder Family School of Business Administration, University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville. Her presentation, which is free and open to the public, is the keynote address for International Education Week, which is sponsored in part by a grant from the Office of Diversity Initiatives.

Also, Robert Clark, dean of UE’s Schroeder Family School of Business Administration and director of the Institute, will discuss its programs with Indianapolis’s Rotary Club next Tuesday (29 September). UE president, Stephen Jennings, also will attend the meeting at noon in the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Indianapolis.

The Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana is in its sixth year of activity. As an extension of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration at UE, its strategic focus is the global marketplace with the objective of enhancing the international business knowledge and skills for UE students and faculty, and increasing global competitiveness for Tri-State businesses.

For more information on these events, email or call 812:488-2455.


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Indiana's 21st Century Fund

The summer 2009 IUPUI Magazine includes a profile of Razi Nalim, a professor and researcher in the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis. He's a native of Sri Lanka.

Nalim is researching wave rotor combustors in the school's combustion and propulsion research lab (part of a research partnership initially backed by Indiana's 21st Century Fund). He was the 2002 and 2007 recipient of the Abraham Max Distinguished Professorship for research excellence at IUPUI.

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Economic Development Officials Head to Germany

Regional economic development officials are now on an 11-day trade mission in Germany, reports Inside INdiana Business. Representatives from the Indiana Economic Development Corp., The Indy Partnership and the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership are expected to meet with advanced manufacturing companies and renewable energy firms.

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IFEA Meets in Indy

The 54th annual convention and exposition of the International Festivals & Events Association is underway in Indianapolis through Friday (25 September). Headquarters hotel is the downtown Marriott, but the big event -- Thursday evening's IFEA Foundation Night Party & Auction -- will be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame.

Founded in 1956 as the Festival Manager's Association, the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) today has a worldwide membership. In partnership with global affiliates under the umbrellas of IFEA Africa, IFEA Asia, IFEA Australia, IFEA Europe, IFEA Latin America, IFEA Middle East, and IFEA North America the organization's common vision is for "A Globally United Industry that Touches Lives in a Positive Way through Celebration".

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The World Comes to Butler

“The World Comes to Butler” is the theme for the 2009-10 theater season at Butler University in Indianapolis. It opens with Bertolt Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle on 7-11 October, followed by William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice (11-15 November), Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard (24-28 February) and a fourth production to be directed by Colombian-born Bernardo Rey (pictured), a visiting artist in residence next spring (14-18 April).

The Surging Spring Tide

A reception is planned from 4 to 5:45 p.m. Wednesday (23 September) for the opening of "The Surging Spring Tide" in Ransburg Gallery, Good Hall, University of Indianapolis, 1400 East Hanna Avenue, Indianapolis. After the reception, there will be a talk about Chinese painting.

The exhibit, by painter Xiao Jinhui, Shandong University of Art & Design, China, will be open through Friday (25 September). It's sponsored by Asian Programs at UIndy. Information, Dr. Phylis Lan Lin, 317:788-3288.

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Fiesta! and the Irish Fest This Weekend in Indy

Fiesta! takes place tomorrow (19 Saturday) on the American Legion Mall in downtown Indianapolis. The annual event showcasing Indiana's Hispanic heritage is noon 'til 11:45 p.m. It's sponsored by La Plaza.

And, on the other side of downtown Indy, check out the annual Irish Fest, open today (18 September) through Sunday (20 September) in Military Park. The whole schedule is here.

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Ingraham Honored by Tochigi Prefectural Government

On 15 September, senior representatives of the Tochigi Prefectural Government presented official documents signed by Governor Tomikazu Fukuda to Larry Ingraham (pictured), President of Ingraham & Associates, Inc. of Carmel, designating him as “Tochigi Goodwill Ambassador”.

Tochigi Prefecture, Japan is the sister-state of Indiana.

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Lotus Festival: World Music & Arts

The Lotus World Music & Arts Festival, set for 24-27 September in Bloomington, has so much going on it's hard to settle on just one aspect.

For example, here are just some of the performers scheduled to appear:

# Rahim AlHaj / Friday
Virtuoso Iraqi oud

# Bajofondo / Saturday
Electrotango from Argentina

# BLK JKS / Saturday
Psychedelic, Afro-futuristic rock from South Africa

# Cara Dillon / Friday, Saturday
Irish traditional song

# Forro in the Dark / Saturday
Northeastern Brazilian party music

# Hanggai / Saturday, Sunday
Folk music from Inner Mongolia & China

# Huun Huur-Tu & Carmen Rizzo / Friday
Electronica meets throat-singing from Tuva

# Kinobe & Soul Beat Africa / Friday, Saturday
Ugandan song, dance, & drumming

# Srinivas Krishnan & Madras Broadcast / Saturday, Sunday
Indian fusion

# Little Cow / Thursday, Friday
Ska/rock/funk/Gypsy fusion from Hungary

# Los de Abajo / Friday, Saturday
Salsa, punk, and rock from Mexico

# The Megitza Quartet / Friday
Roma and East European world fusion

# Occidental Brothers Dance Band International / Friday
Central & West African dance music

# Orchestra of Tetouan / Friday, Saturday
Traditional vocal & instrumental music of Andalusia & North Africa

# Parno Graszt / Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Hungarian Gypsy music

# Salaam / Saturday
Middle Eastern & North African traditional music

# Väsen / Thursday
Contemporary instrumental folk music from Sweden

# Vishtén / Saturday, Sunday
Acadian traditional music, song, and dance

# Watcha Clan/ Friday, Saturday
Global fusion from France

# The Zolfonoon Ensemble of Iran / Saturday
Classical Persian

Did you know that the festival honors Lotus Dickey (1911-1989)? The folk singer, songwriter, and musician from rural Orange County, Indiana, wrote tunes and songs that drew from his family and community, as well as from country singers and fiddlers he heard on the radio. Each year, the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival honors Lotus Dickey's memory with a set of music or an interactive workshop that introduces new audiences to his music and the old-time traditions of the United States.

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Evansville Greets Tochigi City Delegation

The City of Evansville and Tochigi City, Japan, are marking the 10th anniversary of their Sister City relationship with a series of events. Nearly 60 residents of Tochigi City will arrive in Evansville on Saturday (19 September). Among the delegation is Mayor Yoshiyuki Higano of Tochigi City, who will be visiting Evansville for the first time, along with the Chairman of the Tochigi City Council and other dignitaries.

In addition, four dozen members of the Tochigi City Wind Orchestra will perform two concerts. The first begins at 3:30 p.m. Sunday (20 September) in Neu Chapel at the University of Evansville; admission is free. The second is the TCWO’s performance of “The Orient Express” at the Victory Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Monday (21 September). A large screen behind the orchestra will provide visuals as the music follows the journey of the Orient Express from Istanbul to London. (The TCWO has performed this concert in China as well as in Japan.) For ticket information, go online or call 812: 425-5050.

The relationship between Evansville and Tochigi City began in November 1998, when a delegation from Tochigi City visited Evansville. In April 1999, Mayor Frank McDonald led a delegation to Tochigi City, which was followed by a return visit from Tochigi City in July 1999, led by Mayor Suzuki. It was during this visit that the ‘Sister City Agreement’ was signed by both Mayors. Mayor Weinzapfel first visited Tochigi City in 2005 and then again in 2007.

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Institute for Latino Studies Celebrates 10th Anniversary

The Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame celebrates its 10th anniversary this month with a series of special events on the South Bend campus.

An academic symposium will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 16 September in McKenna Hall Auditorium. Latino academicians from around the country have been invited to discuss the state of Latino studies, "past, present and future". Registration information is available online. Among the presenters are Latino/Chicano studies scholars Silvio Torres Saillant, Syracuse, and Alicia Gaspar de Alba, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA); historians María Cristina García, Cornell University, and Mario García, UC Santa Barbara; theologians Davíd Carrasco, Harvard Divinity School, and Roberto Goizueta, Boston College; sociologists Patricia Fernandez-Kelly, Princeton University, and Ramona Hernandez, City University of New York, and anthropologists José Limón, University of Texas at Austin, and Arlene Dávila, New York University.

"Letras Latinas", a literary presentation, is scheduled at 9:30 a.m. 17 September in Rooms 210-214 of McKenna Hall. Titled "Sharing our Stories, Sharing our Poems", it features Orlando Ricardo Menes, poet, and Alicia Gaspar de Alba, poet, novelist and activist. The Re-Opening Ceremony for the Institute for Latino Studies' library begins at 3 p.m. 18 September in McKenna Hall Library.

Perla Batalla, a Latina vocalist, composer, and arranger from Los Angeles, performs at 8 p.m. 18 September in Leighton Concert Hall on the Notre Dame campus as part of the "Visiting Artist Series". Tickets are $32.

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From Ethiopia to IUPUI

"Developing the Capacity for Teaching Excellence in Social Work and Social Development in Ethiopia Project" at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis is a partnership among Addis Ababa University, the IU School of Social Work and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Addis Ababa U. is the first school in sub-Saharan Africa to offer a PhD in Social Work and Social Development, reports the IUPUI news bureau.

Abebaw Minaye Gezie (pictured), a university lecturer at Addis Ababa U., is one of this year's participants.

Gezie has a degree in Pedagogical Science and in Educational Psychology and has 12 years of teaching and research experience in education and psychology in various colleges and universities in Ethiopia. He has been a lecturer in Psychology since 2003 at Addis Ababa U., where he is a 2nd year PhD student in Social Work and Social Development.

Gezie will learn more about the art of teaching while at the IU School of Social Work and UIC, and has been selected to become the expert in pedagogy at AAU. By teaching and training other PhD students at Bahir Dar University, Gondar University and Adama University in teaching research and methods, he will contribute to the development of expert pedagogy at three emerging departments of social work.

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Ethnic Fairs This Weekend

Greek, Native American, German, Scottish, French, Chinese -- "welcome to the world in Indiana isn't just a slogan this weekend: check out these ethnic festivals in the Hoosier heartland!

36th Annual Greek Festival, today and tomorrow; Carmel.
35th Annual (German) Oktoberfest, today and tomorrow; Indianapolis.
19th Annual French Market, tomorrow; Indianapolis.
18th Annual Scottish Festival, tomorrow and Sunday; Columbus.
2nd Annual Chinese Festival, tomorrow; Indianapolis.
Andersontown Powwow and Indian Market; tomorrow and Sunday; Anderson.

Don't forget Indy's International Festival, coming up in November!

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Indiana's China Ties in Spotlight

Gov. Mitch Daniels (on a trip to China) helped unveil a new bybrid bus line from Columbus-based Cummins Inc. that will be used by the Hangzhou Public Transit Authority, reports Inside INdiana Business. (The unveiling is pictured, at left.)

But there's more China news than that this week. Eli Lilly & Co., is congratulating two of its employees, Helen Huang and her husband John He, for their work in helping other Chinese become acclimated to Indiana (an ad featuring the couple ran in The Indianapolis Star's business section on 9 September). He is an organic chemist, and Huang a bioanalytical chemist. He has been a six-term president of the Indianapolis Chinese Community Center.

And, today (10 September), a feature on the International School's new Mandarin Immersion program ran in the paper's "North Indy" section. Sherry Yang is the instructor.

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ExactTarget Launches International Division

ExactTarget, a provider of on-demand email marketing and one-to-one marketing solutions, announced it has launched a new international division in London following the acquisition of U.K.-based Keymail Marketing.

The new division, which serves as the headquarters for ExactTarget’s operations outside of North America, allows the company to directly support the international needs of its multinational clients and expands its offerings to marketers in the growing UK and European markets.