Movie and Art aficionados should clear their schedule on Tuesday night when XVA’s Movie Nights return to Dubai.Taking place at the gallery’s Al Bastakiya location, the event is the second time that the artists’ hub will transform itself into an outdoor theatre, this time with a screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic film, The Birds, airing from 7pm.
Nestled among the winding alleyways of the city’s most historical neighbourhood, just a stone’s throw from the Creek, XVA and its quaint courtyard provide an atmospheric setting from which to enjoy an evening under the stars. Refreshments and snacks will be available from its vegetarian café, particularly renowned for its mint lemonade and Lulu Salad, named after owner Mona Hauser’s pet Chihuahua.
Taking place once a month, XVA’s Movie Nights are part of a program of events taking place at both XVA Bastakiya and XVA DIFC, which also includes their monthly Affordable Art Nights, a rare opportunity to purchase work by established local artists. Monday 29 October saw a gaggle of the city’s most creatively-inclined perching on XVA DIFC’s elegant sofas in order to best admire the heavily discounted art on display. Particularly arresting were Jonathan Gent’s pencil etchings on silk (4,000 AED each) and Eleanor Smith’s photographs of the UAE, in particular Deira Fish Market 1 (2,000 AED). A series of Arezu’s haunting gelatine prints (3,100 AED each) and Sameer Reddy’s kitsch montages (3,000 AED each) also drew attention from the well heeled.
Meanwhile, the team behind Showcase Gallery was out in force with owner Sharon Harvey displaying some of her exquisite hand-made jewellery while her daughter Michelle graced the walls with her Untitled series. Such was the excitement surrounding Maitha Demithan’s dainty depictions of cicadas (350 AED each) that only the promise of burrata and steak at La Petite Maison next door could tempt any of us away.
The next XVA Movie Night event will take place on Tuesday 13 November. On Tuesday 11 December a screening of the suitably festive White Christmas will conclude the XVA Movie Night series for 2012. XVA Affordable Art Nights are scheduled to run on the last Monday of every month.
For further information, please visit www.xva.com.
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