I bought a plate of hummus for dinner, however when I came to the table Meiko offered me some octopus. It was my first time eating octopus and I loved it.

There are a lot of interesting and generous folks here at the Faisal. Pictured with Meiko is Mordechai Vanunu. Many of you will have heard of him. He is a former Israeli nuclear technician who leaked to the press that Israel had secretly developed an extensive nuclear program. He was subsequently kidnapped in Italy by the Mossad (the Israeli spy agency) and then imprisoned for 18 years. 11 of these in solitary confinement. He was released in 2004 under strict restrictions, like not being able to leave Israel.

ellenogrady.com/multimedia/soundsfromfaisalbalcony2.mp3

Writing from the Faisal Hostel in Jerusalem, just near Damascus Gate of the Old City.

Tom and Claude took me out to dinner before my flight and then to the airport. I slept a good part of the 12 hours on the flight from Atlanta to Tel Aviv. None of the airport taxis were going to East Jerusalem, so I got dropped off at a bus stop in West Jerusalem and after waiting a half hour took a taxi from the second cab that stopped by. The first said he wouldn’t drive into the East side and the second dropped me off a block from the hostel because he was afraid to go any closer. I got a bed at the hostel then went downstairs to buy hummus from one of my favorite hummus/falafel restaurants in Jerusalem. I don’t know what it is, however you cannot find hummus in the US that comes close to the hummus here. I enjoyed talking to the guy behind the counter. My Arabic is coming back ok.

Now, I’m feeling tired, which is good because it’s almost 11pm, a normal time to go to bed.

So. Good night from here.

Ellen.

It has been months since I have posted anything, so writing this feels a little like putting a message under a rock. However, I am heading back to the Middle East and figure I should get back into the habit of writing blogs.

For four weeks, I will be conducting interviews in both Palestine and Israel. The interviews will revolve around the subject of home and belonging. In addition to gathering stories, I will take photographs of the interviewees inside and outside their homes, some of these will include the surrounding landscapes and streetscapes. Upon my return, I will create an audio documentary and a series of paintings that I plan to present together in venues throughout the US.

With Dave’s help I will be updating this website before I go and will be able to download audio clips while I am there.

If all goes well, Charlie will be joining a wagon trip while I’m gone, riding across the midwest with a couple cowboys.

More to come. Ellen

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Multicultural Resource Center
Exhibition: January 7 – March 2, 2007

maf.dept.uncg.edu/mrc/

Artist Reception on Wednesday, February 7, from 5 pm to 6:15 pm.

Exhibition at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Multicultural Resource Center
January 7 – March 2, 2007

maf.dept.uncg.edu/mrc/

Artist Reception on Wednesday, February 7, 2007, from 5 pm to 6:15 pm.

Pacifica Radio Interview (KPFK)

October 12, 3:30 pm (PST)
www.kpfk.org

Mixed Media in the Triangle (Group Exhibition)
Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission
100 Library Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

www.chapelhillarts.org/programs_exhibitions_curr.php

Curated by Luna Lee Ray

September 17 – November 20

Reception October 1, 2:30 – 4pm

The Jerusalem Fund Gallery
2425-35 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
Tel. 202 338 1958
www.thejerusalemfund.org/index.php

Opening reception from 6:30 – 8:30pm

I am working on a series of paintings on paper. The two below are versions of paintings from Outside the Ark. The top one has movable parts. I am experimenting with creating a stop-action animation based on paintings. The new work will be exhibited at the Jerusalem Fund Gallery beginning July 21.