On Saturday, September 27, Pacifica Institute participated in the Irvine Global Village Festival at Bill Barber Park. The Global Village Festival is a celebration of the diversity and multiculturalism found throughout Irvine and Southern California. It featured international cuisine, live entertainment, a kids village with crafts and activities, cultural and religious exhibits, and an international marketplace.
With Pacifica Institute, festival-goers could take their picture with the Sultan, who greeted passersby as they perused the booths. We also featured a calligraphy artist, who beautifully crafted names upon request. Later on in the evening we demonstrated ebru, or Turkish water marbling, a delicate art form in which the artists paints on the surface of water, and later transfers the completed work of art onto paper. Our booth also featured informational facts about Turkey, Turkish culture and history, Turkish tea and coffee sets, and The Sacred Trusts of Topkapi Palace.
Overall, the Irvine Global Village Festival was full of unique and exciting cultural experiences. Pacifica Institute was pleased to take part in such an informative and entertaining event, and to represent Anatolian culture in both the local Irvine community, and also contribute to our transnational, global community.