Metaflora The American University in Cairo Photographic Gallery is opening its new academic year by hosting a photographic exhibition entitled "Metaflora" by American photographer Walter Chappell. This is the first time these powerful collections of richly toned black and white images have been exhibited outside of the Unites States. Chappell, a poet, painter, musician and a pioneer in the world of photography, was known for his stunning photographs of plant life, natural forms and the human body. In the early 1970s, he began experimental work with electron photography, which is high voltage photograms of living plants realised without a camera in total darkness. The result was his Portfolio in 1980, a compilation of rare images which reveal the energy and life force of Metaflora plants. Chappell, who was born in 1925 in Portland, Oregon, studied architectural drawing at Benson Polytechnic School as well as piano and musical composition at the Ellison-White conservatory of Music. After World War II, he became associated with great photographers such as Ansel Adams and Edward Weston. In the mid-1950s, he studied printmaking with Minor White in Rochester, New York. He spent his later years in New Mexico and died in 2000 at the age of 75. photos: Nasr Attia German Ambassador to Egypt Michael Bock and his wife Dagmar hosted a spectacular fashion show followed by a reception at Bock 's residence in Zamalek last Thursday. The collection on show was of Egyptian and German designers inspired by Bedouin artisan traditions in South Sinai where women wear embroidered and beaded dresses, head-covers, belts and accessories in lively colours. Bock and his lovely wife warmly welcomed a host of foreign ambassadors among other guests. The American University in Cairo (AUC) held inauguration ceremonies for newly established technology transfer offices at AUC, Cairo, Assiut and Helwan universities, as part of the Enterprise-University Partnership (EUPART) project. The offices will support research at all stages of technology implementation from idea and invention, to establishing companies and the commercialising of intellectual property. The project will bridge the gap between university and enterprise and will contribute to socio-economic development in Egypt. The event was attended by AUC senior administrators including Counsellor Amr Ezzat Salama, Provost Lisa Anderson, Dean of School of Sciences and Engineering Medhat Haroun and Dean of Graduate Studies Amr Shaarawi. Senior officials at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research were present. According to Vice Rector for International Affairs at Vienna University of Technology Hans Kaiser, the technology transfer model has been working in Europe for over a decade and holds great potential for Egypt. Helwa ya Baladi, a non-governmental organisation launched in 2008, organised a spectacular concert by the lake at Al-Azhar Park, Nesmahar Sayed reports. Known to its organisers as "A concert with a cause", the event attracted around 1,000 people. According to Randa El-Kaddah, founder and board member of the organisation, the concert was held to raise funds to finish a polyclinic that was donated by a businessman in Abu Regeila, Ain Shams district. The concert featured a poetry recital by young poet Hisham El-Gekh, performances by percussionist Nesma Abdel-Aziz on marimba, and the Salalem and Cairokee bands. Nada Mahmoud, who is in charge of the Abu Regeila project told Al-Ahram Weekly that the concert was organised under the auspices of Al-Azhar Park, Promise, United group, Stage and Light and Ticketsmarché and the Platinium sponsor, Mars Egypt. At the end of the concert, members of the NGO gathered on stage and sang Dalida's famous song Helwa ya baladi to celebrate the occasion. The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Egypt once again issues the challenge to Egypt's amateur photographers to enter its national competition to find the 30 best images on the theme of "Celebrations". A prize of $1,000 will go to the winner selected by a panel of eminent experts, and an SLR digital camera will be awarded to the runner-up. The 12 best photographs will be used in the EU delegation's highly prestigious wall calendar for 2011. The 30 best images will be publicly exhibited in a Cairo art gallery and included in a catalogue of Photo competition. Contestants are invited to express their personal vision of how, what and where Egyptians celebrate. Birth, marriage, death, feasts, traditions, history and sport are among the themes the EU delegation is interested in. All amateur photographers living in Egypt are invited to participate. The deadline for submission of entries is 31 October 2010. Full details for the photo competition can be found on the website of the delegation at www.delegy.ec.europa.eu. photos: Ayman Barayez Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Hisham Al-Nazer hosted a reception at Semiramis InterContinental Hotel marking the Saudi National Day. Many high-profile personalities were present, such as speaker of the People's Assembly Fathi Sorour, Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Meselhi, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee at the People's Assembly Mustafa El-Feki, former prime minister Atef Ebeid, minister of manpower Aisha Abdel-Hadi, head of trustees of the Presidential Office Said Zada, permanent Saudi representative to the Arab League Ahmed Al-Qattan, Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Maged George as well as Minister of Higher Education and of State for Scientific Research Hani Hilal. Also present were Al-Ahram Editor-in-Chief Osama Saraya, Al-Ahram veteran writer Anis Mansour, Al-Ahram back page editor Mona Ragab and head of Plastic Arts Syndicate and caricaturist Mustafa Hussein. Beautiful actress Laila Elwi and actors Ahmed Rateb and Khaled Zaki also attended. Al-Masri Foundation for Community Service headed by Ibrahim Badran held an honorary celebration for Minister of Investment Mahmoud Mohieldin on the occasion of his new appointment as a managing director of the World Bank. Chairman of the Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority (EFSA) Ziad Bahaaeddin, former minister of economy Mustafa El-Said, professor of management and marketing Sabri El-Shabrawi, Judge Khaled El-Qadi and vice dean of Cairo University Heba Nassar were present at the ceremony. On the occasion of the Bicentennial of the Independence of Chile, Ambassador of Chile to Egypt Geiger Soffia and his wife Aline Faddoul welcomed their guests in a spectacular reception at the Egyptian Diplomatic Club. Ambassadors and high-profile figures such as Ambassador of Argentina Luis Enrique Cappagli, Ambassador of NicaraguaArgentina Barrantes De Yassin and Mexican Ambassador Carmen Onate Munoz, were present. photo: Abdel-Hamid Eid Cairo Opera House Main Hall witnessed a Latin American night enlivened by the Cairo Opera House Orchestra. The brilliant performance was attended by many ambassadors, ministers as well as other high-profile personalities. Omar Samra, the first Egyptian to climb Mount Everest and the founder of the travel consultancy in charge of organising and leading "The Right to Climb" initiative was joined at the top of Africa's highest mountain with 25 fellow climbers. Thousands of people joined the climbers for the week-long trek on Facebook and Twitter where they were able to be part of the Middle East's first virtual mountain climb and literally follow their favourite climbers to the top. After days of strenuous effort, climbers and sponsors reached the summit and shared their thoughts. The expedition and the dramatic final ascent were also recorded for a special documentary that will be aired in October when the climbers return home.
