Also this issue:

Spontaneous Combustion
Dance, drums and tabla combine to light up the Painted Bride.
-Deni Kasrel

Out of this World
-Susan Hagen

Lee Blessing
-Interview by David Anthony Fox

He Talks Pretty
-David Anthony Fox

Family Affair
-Debra Auspitz

From Chippendale to Talavera
-Lori Hill

Moving to the Desert
-Deni Kasrel

Stage Flight
-Debra Auspitz

October 17-23, 2002

artpicks

Quilting Bucks

Fundraiser

What do women in burkas, computers and comedy have in common? Nothing, but a Philly-based organization called eLIT (Empowerment through Learning Information Technology) is aiming to patch them together. This Saturday evening, the group is sponsoring a fundraiser, titled Asian-American Quilt, to establish a computer education center for the women in Afghanistan (similar facilities already exist in West Philly, Pakistan and India). Last March, eLIT went to Afghanistan to see if the idea was even feasible. "What we discovered is that Afghan women are really eager to learn computer skills because there are many jobs available they are not yet qualified for," says eLIT founder Dr. Safia Rizvi.

The rich tapestry of performances at the fundraiser will include Bina Sharif's play Burka, spoken word and comedy from Asians Misbehavin' and Indian dance by Courtyard Dancers. In addition, an original video about Afghan women and children made during eLIT's fact-finding mission will be shown, and dinners and services, such as hiring a Wharton student to annoy someone for a day, will be auctioned off. "Computers can really unlock many economic opportunities for women in my part of the world," says Rizvi.

Asian American Quilt, Sat., Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m., $15-$50, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 33rd and Spruce sts., 215-474-0169.

—Helen i-lin Hwang