Home Culture Culture Diplomatic Spotlight: March 16, 2023

Diplomatic Spotlight: March 16, 2023

0
Diplomatic Spotlight: March 16, 2023
Gabriela Pedrali delivers a speech at the at the Open Borders exhibition (Photo courtesy of the Embassy of Argentina).

Embassies rally around Ukraine after one year of war

To mark one year of war in Ukraine, the Embassy of Latvia staff and friends joined a support rally for Ukraine on Feb. 25 in front of the Lincoln Memorial. 

A support rally for Ukraine took place on Feb. 25 at the Lincoln Memorial (Courtesy of Photos by Renāte Beķere).

The support rally was accompanied by Ambassador Māris Selga and Deputy Chief of Mission Jānis Beķeris ​​and was co-organized by various nonprofit organizations, including the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Razom for Ukraine, United Help Ukraine, US Ukrainian Activists, the Ukraine House in Washington DC and many others.

The rally demonstrated solidarity with the country, promoting courage and perseverance to help Ukraine regain freedom and restore its democracy.

“You are fighting for all of us. Latvia will stand with Ukraine until victory, we all must support Ukraine until it is free again!” Selga said.

Argentine Embassy hosts Open Borders exhibit

On March 2, the Embassy of Argentina showcased “Open Borders,” an exhibit centered around art from La Rioja artist Paloma Marquez, curated by Lorena Mercado. 

PetroLumen exhibit at the Embassy of Argentina.

The installation is the newest addition to the arts and cultures promotion program from La Rioja. “Open Borders” brings two exhibitions from Marquez: a selection of acrylic paintings dedicated to diversity titled Distances and Proximities and an interactive electronic installation, PetroLumen, which centers on nature and the historic yet everlasting impact of riverbeds. 

Marquez, born in La Rioja, Argentina, received a degree in audiovision and sound and a master’s degree in technology and the aesthetics of electronic arts. Along with art, Marquez has ventured into research, receiving awards in both regional and national capacities. 

Gabriela Pedrali, the national representative for La Rioja who was present at the inauguration, said “[T]his initiative will strengthen the Regional and International political, cultural, commercial and touristic relationships.”

Pedrali promotes the importance of the arts in the world: “They are the most authentic form of a society’s representation, endowed with identity, diversity of thought, loaded with traditions, ideologies and their people’s history, which are transfused in the reaffirmation of the identity of the artists, being expressed in each of their works.”

The exhibition is on display until April 28.

Bahrain envoy helps kick off 2023 F1 Grand Prix

Dressed in his orange and brown McLaren F1 team jacket, Sheikh Abdullah Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s ambassador to the United States, hosted a group of friends at Washington’s Proper 21 restaurant on March 5 to watch the 2023 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen—the two-time defending champion—won the race by 12 seconds, beating out Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.

Amir Hadzimehmedovic, manager of the McLaren dealership in Sterling, Va., brought out a 720s Spider and Artura and parked them outside the restaurant along 21st Street. The Kingdom of Bahrain owns has a majority stake in the company that builds McLaren cars.

Photos by Fatema Al Rumaihi.

Washington Diplomat