Yannis Behrakis was one of the most significant photojournalists in the world, and a person who found hope even in the most difficult circumstances. Behrakis captured some of the most important political, combat, sporting, and social events of the past 25 years. For him photo reporting wasn’t a job, it was a mission. An anthropocentric mission whose only goal was to raise awareness for the things happening around us. His camera captured thousands of stories that would have otherwise been left untold.

 

During his journeys around the world, Behrakis encountered the Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) a few times. “We do different things, but we share the same mission” he said. In October 2016, he worked together with the organization on a photography exhibition named ‘People on the Move’ that presented the journey of refugees through Greece.

 

 

 

Article originally posted on msf.gr
Translated by Xpatathens
Photo AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis

Printmaking as a form of visual creation is particularly relevant in both Greece and Japan.

The exhibition “Greek and Japanese contemporary printmaking” which is on display from 15th to 20th March, gives us the opportunity to focus on the art of the two cultures.

Greek and Japanese printmakers each present their own methods of expression and techniques in the creation of original artworks, which provide the opportunity to understand more about the culture and art of the two countries.

Artists with different backgrounds, experiences and history record their quests and concerns.

The exhibition at the Municipal Art Gallery of Piraeus is a tribute to the art of printmaking with participation by 44 Greek artists and 65 Japanese artists with more than 120 original prints.

The exhibition is also enriched by the workshop of Japanese woodcut on Sunday March 17th, from 12:00 - 14:00.

Athens is one of the least green cities in Europe but a local urban renewal firm hopes to change that by opening up a long-hidden river that flows through the historic heart of the capital.

 

In ancient times, the Ilissos River was an idyllic, winding waterway shaded by plane trees. The river was covered up during the 1930’s and a tram line was built over it.

 

However, the constant rumble of thousands of trams has caused structural damage to the tunnel below the tracks and consequently the tram line was shut down last October.

 

A team of urban planners have suggested that diverting the tram line along a different route is a more cost-efficient solution that will save millions of euros. Additionally, they are proposing the creation of a park along a one mile stretch of the formerly forgotten river. Even though project the project will take a long time to complete it has the support of the Greek government and feasibility studies are already underway.

 

“We are suggesting that the tunnel should not be repaired. Instead, we would uncover the river and create a pathway that would lead from the Acropolis to the Museum of Modern Art, right through the heart of the city,” said Katerina Christoforaki, an urban planner who is behind the proposed scheme. “We’ve just opened up the dialogue,” said Christoforaki. “But we think it will be completed within a decade. It’s something that we believe most Athenians would like to see.”

 

Image Source: Wikipedia

Having completed five years of operations full of positive social impact and having created a community where new ideas, innovation and creative spirits gather and work together to propose the “new” and the “fresh”, Impact Hub Athens welcomes its “new era” by talking about what has already happened and what new is emerging.

We want to discuss and assess the evolution of the ideas that we saw in their birth and today are dominant. Movements that began timidly and today are sweeping past certainties and are evolving. Trends and suggestions that at the moment might seem unlikely but they will determine the decisions in the next 5 years.

Starting an Impact Hub in Athens marked a first important step in the social economy ecosystem; the first time, that changemakers would gather together, connect & collaborate through a facilitated scheme, empower more citizens & entrepreneurs to be activated in that direction, make the sector more extrovert and represent it in corporate, philanthropic & government levels. As the first cycle of five years of this work has been completed, it is essential to explore, discuss and debate about the looming and pioneering themes, the leading-edge trends that will define the social impact agenda and designate the following 5 years of this evolving ecosystem. It is important to set the guidelines for the next steps of positive social impact, the steps that will further establish the social changes that have already occurred and take us to other 5 succeeding years.

Let’s imagine together the future we want to shape. Let’s connect and collaborate towards a common goal: to pioneer a just & sustainable world where business & profit are used in service of people and planet.

During #5yearsofimpact, for 3 impactful days, experts, stakeholders, practitioners, curious & interested, young & older people will come together to explore, debate and design around core issues of the social economy sector. We are going to host a safe & inspiring space where unlikely allies can share concerns, practices, experiences and leave inspired, aligned and connected for potential joint ventures, programmes & actions. And all the above using our imagination as a tool of creativity, a way to envision the big picture and shape our strategy.

Learn more about the event's agenda HERE! 

Sunday, the last day before Lent, according to the Christian Orthodox calendar, saw the conclusion of Carnival celebrations in Greece. Helped by the sunny weather, many thousands took part in the parades and other Carnival celebrations all around Greece.

 

The best-known Carnival in Greece takes place in Patras, the country’s 3rd largest city. This year the Patras Carvival attracted some 40,000 visitors and included a Chinese troupe, “Flying Dragons and Dancing Lions - Team of Cuigezhuang Township”.

 

The Patras Carnival is most likely the most flamboyant and crowded, while places such as Naoussa in northern Greece and the island of Corfu base their celebrations on old traditions and retain a more authentic character.


To read this article in full, please visit: ekathimerini

Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday) is one of the most favored holidays in Greece. Not only because of the delicious lenten food, but also because it marks the beginning of spring and is a great opportunity to enjoy nature and spend time outdoors.

 

One of the most significant Kathara Deftera traditions is kite flying; families and friends head to the city’s parks, hills, and open spaces to fly their kite. Weather permitting, because a little breeze is imperative to get the kite up into the air, the Athenian sky becomes a beautiful sight, filled with kites of all shapes and colors.

 

If you're wondering where exactly you can fly a kite in Athens, here are some of our top suggestions:

Syggrou Park


Credit: dasosygrou.gr

Syggrou Park is a lush urban paradise in the northern suburbs of the city, between Maroussi and Kifissia. This 950-acre park is a verdant heaven filled with pine trees, firs, cypresses, and almond trees. Here you will find cycling paths, footpaths, basketball, football, and volleyball courts, and quite a few clearings to practice your kite flying skills.

Sounio


The temple of Poseidon in Sounion. Credit: _zerfos_

Located approximately 70 kilometers from the city center, Sounio is an ideal Kathara Deftera destination. Around Sounio you will find plenty of beaches such as Legrena, Saronida and Agia Marina and open spaces to let your kite fly up into the air. After flying your kite head to a seaside tavern to enjoy a traditional Lenten lunch.

Mount Lycabettus


The stunning views from Mount Lycabettus. Credit: @giannischousos

 

Mount Lycabettus is the perfect place to go and fly your kite if you don’t want to leave too far from the city center. Located just a few minutes away from the lively Kolonaki neighborhood, Lycabettus offers amazing views of the city and plenty of open spaces ideal to send your kite soaring!

 

Philopappos Ηill


Wrap-around views from Philopappos Hill. Credit: @jananasss

Philopappos Hill is the most traditional and popular kite flying spot in Athens. Every year the City of Athens organizes a celebration with live music, lenten food, and traditional dances! We advise you to take the Metro to Acropolis station and continue on foot because, on Kathara Deftera, traffic and parking can be really challenging.

 

 

 

In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8 and their 60th anniversary, Mattel has created a new series of role model Barbie dolls in an effort to inspire even more girls around the globe.

 

 

 

 

As a part of the #MoreRoleModels initiative, Eleni Antoniadou has become the first Greek Barbie doll. Eleni Antoniadou is a NASA researcher and one of the most notable Greek scientists in the world today. She is an expert in the fields of regenerative medicine and bioastronautics, an advocate for organ donation, an activist against illegal organ trafficking, and a firm supporter of girls in STEM. Antoniadou has been awarded with several academic distinctions and honors for her continuous efforts to connect the dot between technology policy, research and entrepreneurship!

 

Other role model Barbie’s include Tessa Virtue, an ice dancing champion from Canada, Patty Jenkins a filmmaker from the USA, and Iwona Blecharczyk, a professional truck driver from Poland.

Photo: facebook

STOart Korai presents the work of Mary Cox, in a lively painting exhibition entitled "Unruly Phenomena".

The show focuses on plants, particularly wild ones growing in Attica, whose hardiness and resistance is the basis for the title. Synonyms for "unruly" are wild, unmanageable, and not amenable to discipline or control. Each work in this series is based on photographs which are zoomed in on to magnify details that are often overlooked. The paintings set realistic, detailed images against abstract backgrounds, often reworked from earlier paintings done years before. Vibrant bright colors and manipulated perspectives translate the work from photographic to fantastical, while the inclusion of fences, architectural elements and other objects references social and political, as well as psychological states. Included in this exhibition is another recent series: small digital prints of collages made using reproductions of art from art magazines. Each piece is essentially an amalgam of appropriated work, playing with color and composition as well as scale. The rejection of the idea of originality, inherent in appropriation, and the melding of styles results in a happy, hybrid metamorphosis.

Mary Cox is an American painter with Greek nationality living and working in Greece since 1993. She holds a Masters in Fine Art from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, California. She has shown her work in galleries in Greece and abroad since 1999. Over the years she has taken up different subject matter and used a range of media, from a mixed-media series on migration which was selected for a biennial in Lulea, Sweden in 2011, to a photo- realistic series of paintings of old houses in the southern suburbs of Athens. Since 2014 she has co-directed the alternative artist-run FokiaNou Art Space.

Opening Day: 12 March, 7 pm
Duration: 12 March - 11 April, Monday-Friday 10am - 8pm

As of March 1, 2019, we have introduced a new fee structure regarding how individuals can post on XpatAthens. Until now, we did not charge for individuals to post on XpatAthens, which includes uploading Classified and Event posts.

We have elected to introduce a small fee for uploading posts because we respect your contribution, value the work that we do, and want to enable our team to continue improving the quality of our content and services.

Anyone who has lived in Athens knows exactly what it’s like to chit-chat with a friend at one of the capital’s countless coffee shops while enjoying a cup of coffee for on hours on end. Even though Greeks love their coffee and leisurely time they are also keen book lovers, appreciate a vivid conversation or an interesting book presentation. Recently, a few bookstores around the city cover the need for a cup of coffee and a healthy snack while nurturing the locals’ need for intellect, culture, and good books.

 

 

 

Little Tree Books & Coffee

Located just around the corner from the Acropolis Museum, Little Tree is the ideal place to relax and read your book while enjoying a fragrant cup of coffee or tea and a light homemade snack. Food here is prepared using a variety of fresh local ingredients and the desserts are simply delicious. Apart from its cosy atmosphere and yummy snacks, Little Tree is also stocked with interesting books of all sorts and holds an exceptional selection of children’s books.

Address: 2 Kavalotti, 117 42, Makrygianni, Athens
Telephone: 210 9243762

Booktalks

Part bookstore part coffee shop, Booktalks is one of the most delightful little shops in Athens. It’s the ideal place to relax, rest, read, drink and eat. Located in Palaio Faliro, Booktalks was created by two bibliophile bloggers who came together to create a welcoming space that combines two of their favorite pleasures, books and coffee. Drop by to buy a good book, enjoy a hot cup of coffee, and join the various book presentations and literaryevents that take place at the bookstore.

Address: 47 Artemidos & 58 Agiou Alexandrou, 175 61, Palaio Faliro
Telephone: 210 9802520

Evripidis Kifissia

Evripidis in Kifissia is much more than just another bookshop. It’s a meeting point, a relaxation spot, a hub for fruitful discussions, and a charming coffee shop at the same time. One of the oldest bookshops in Athens and one of the largest in Greece, Evripidis first opened its doors in 1955 and continues to attract bibliophiles from all around Athens because of its large collection of Greek and foreign language books. Evripidis runs a book club, hosts events on a regular basis, and serves delicious coffee and snacks.

Address: 310 Leoforos Kifissias, 145 63, Kifissia
Telephone: 210 8075792

 

Image Credit: Little Tree Books & Coffee