Jordan Elgrably, Executive Director of The Markaz, the Arts Center for the Greater Middle East in Los Angeles returns from last week’s appearance to reflect on the coordinated attacks on Beirut, Paris, Baghdad, and the Russian jetliner. Before you get to our suggested reading list in the interview, refer to themarkaz.org for upcoming events at the Center in LA and http://www.mpvusa.org/ and http://www.themarkaz.org/ .

The second segment turns to Travis Kendrick, MFA candidate, who is raising a new crop of thespians at Culverdale Elementary School, through UCI’s Illuminations program. The 3rd – 6th graders’ poetry, stories, and songs will be presented in a program on November 20th and 21st at the Gillespie Performance Studios. Information is available at: http://illuminations.uci.edu/events/2015_11_20_21_Our_Stories.html.

Artist Sandow Birk and Jordan Elgrably, Executive Director of the Markaz, Arts Center for the Greater Middle East consider Birk’s epic project, “American Qur’an,” a recently opened exhibition at the Orange County Museum of Art. Running through February 28, 2016 the show is already getting a lot of attention. The museum is located at 850 San Clemente in Newport Beach. Details are available at: http://www.sandowbirk.com/ and http://www.ocma.net/.

In the second, short segment Erin Aguiar, manager of horticulture, talks about bringing her own artistic commentary to the Sherman Library and Gardens. Her yarn bombing installation, brought to you by the toiling of 100 local knitters, can be viewed until November 28, at 2647 East Coast Hwy, Corona Del Mar, CA. Information is available at: (949) 673-2261 or http://www.slgardens.org/.

UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts director Don Hill presents his version of “Man of La Mancha,” in this year’s dramatic arts theme Care/Cure/Corruption, at the Irvine Barclay Theater. Ticket sales are brisk and available at www.arts.uci.edu or the at the box office: 949.824.2787. The show matinee and evening performances continue through November 22nd.

In the second segment, Malcolm Warner, Executive Director of the Laguna Art Museum returns to the show with this week’s offering The Third Annual Art and Nature Festival, culminating on Saturday night with an installation on the nearby beach Electric Light Blanket. Although the events have come and gone, the following exhibits remain until January 17, 2016 – David Ligare: California Classicist and The Canyon Project: Activism. More information is available at: www.lagunaartmuseum.org or at the site: Laguna Art Museum, located at 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, 949-494-8971.