Baghdad, Iraq - Iraq is famous for many things, including woodcrafts. Woodcarving in particular is something well-known in Iraq. Iraqi families such as those of Abu Mustafa Al-Rubaie have been handing their skills down from generation to generation. Iraqi artists are one of many groups who have been the target of violence, such as bakers, academics, and those seen to be connected with the Multi-National Coalition forces. The development of the craft has become rare as well-known artists and professionals of all variety with the means have fled the country. Today there is just one institute still teaching the skills of these Iraqi artisans. The Fine Arts Academy in Baghdad, where many artists have displayed work and taught, continues to provide lessons in woodcarving. Many artists are learning and developing their craft alone, displaying their work primarily in some of the remaining galleries of the Karrada neighborhood. This artform is displayed by Iraqis and Muslims all over, some for purely decoration, but many others for religious purposes. There are woodcarvings and paintings that display images of Imam Ali, the Ka’aba in Mecca, and various sayings from the Qur’an, among others. Abu Mustafa is most proud of his work creating images and paintings with the ay’at or verses of the Qur’an. He also takes pride in keeping true to the traditional methods of the original creators of these works, and makes each by hand. Other artists have begun using machines that enable the reproduction of facsimiles with a minimum of effort on the part of the artist, after the original is finished. … If you appreciate our work, please consider making a donation, or becoming a paying subscriber and providing ongoing support for the work of Iraqi journalists. Although we are dedicated to continuing to offer this work for free, it is primarily with the support of our viewers that we can continue our work. Please feel free to contact us if you have any comments, suggestions for stories, or other feedback! Less

The Local Gourmet October 2007 (19:44 minutes) Eating locally is a trend on the rise—for reasons of health, ecology and simply, for the pleasure of farm-fresh flavour. In our premiere episode, Ian chats with three guests whose passion for local food is inspired by the artisanal cheeses they find close to home. - PodNova/fe76dfdb3e5035688500310e05656b46 - Less

[Translator's Note: A Ciudadela is an area with some protection from the elements found in the interior of a large plaza. In the case of this specific Ciudadela it is a large market used for the sale of crafts and artisan works and plays an important role in the economic and cultural lives of the people living there.] The Ciudadela is a Mexican crafts market where cultural groups from around Mexico distribute their crafts to other parts of the country and the world. These artists and have developed and maintained this space for more than 40 years. The land the Ciudadela occupies has been threatened with demolition, to convert the area into a government office building. The Ciudadela’s craftspeople are organizing so the eviction might be prevented. They are working to educate people about valuable cultural and artistic work that is done every day in the market. The Ciudadela offers artwork made of wood, cloth, glass, paint, metal, pottery, and embroidery. You can purchase paintings, scultures, typical and traditional costumes, along with thousands more items. The market sells crafts from the entire country, and members of at least 10 indigenous groups live there, including the Triquis, Tzeltales, Tzotziles, Huicholes, Mixtecos, Purépechas, Tlapanecos, Otomíes, Zapotecos, Nahuas and Mazahuas. These cracts people count on the Ciudadela space for art production as well as sales, employing more than 1200 craftspeople. For more than 40 years the Ciudadela has been a hub for the world-wide distribution of Mexican crafts, and the market has also been a necessary stop for any tourist in Mexico City. During this time the knowledge of the artisan’s craft has been passed from generation to generation, and they continue with this work to this day. ----------------- La ciudadela es un mercado de artesanías mexicanas, donde grupos culturales de todo el país venden y distribuyen sus artesanías a otras partes del país y del mundo, ellos también son artesanos y han mantenido y hecho crecer este espacio durante más de 40 años. Sin embargo el lugar que ocupan ha sido amenazado de ser demolido para convertirlo en un edificio de oficinas para el gobierno. Los artesanos de este mercado han decidido organizarse ante un posible desalojo y buscan dar a conocer lo que en La Ciudadela se hace todos los días para que sean considerados por su trabajo esencialmente cultural y artístico; para que con esto se reconsidere la intención de expulsarlos de su recinto. En el mercado de la ciudadela se trabaja la madera, el hilo, el vidrio, la pintura, el metal, la escultura, la alfarería, el bordado, los trajes típicos y tradicionales entre mil cosas más. Se comercializan artesanías de todo el país y viven en el mismo por lo menos integrantes de 10 pueblos indígenas: triquis, tzeltales, tzotziles, huicholes, mixtecos, purépechas, tlapanecos, otomíes, zapotecos, nahuas y mazahuas y cuenta con un espacio para talleres, lo que da trabajo a mas de 1200 artesanos mas. Con más de 40 años, este lugar se ha convertido en un difusor de las artesanías a nivel mundial y se ha convertido también en un paso obligado de los visitantes extranjeros de la ciudad de México y del país. Durante este tiempo los conocimientos de su trabajo han pasado de generación en generación y así se mantienen hasta la fecha. Less