Events
The Paglees are coming to North Carolina! Link to Review of debut show in Chicago.
Location: McColl Center, 721 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Opening Reception: May 22, 2025 with activations by Shelly Bahl and Monica Jahan Bose.
Public lecture by Prof. Melia Belli-Bose: June 12, 2025. + performance by Monica Jahan Bose
The Paglees: Between Reason and Madness
The Paglees is a feminist collective of artists of South Asian origin living across the United States. Paglee or pagli means crazy woman in a number of South Asian languages.
In their exhibition, The Paglees investigate – with fierceness, beauty, and wit – the impact on women of generations of patriarchy, religion, white supremacy, colonialism, violence, capitalism, and environmental plunder.
The title of the exhibition derives from Rosa Parks’ words: “There is just so much hurt, disappointment and oppression one can take. The bubble of life grows larger. The line between reason and madness grows thinner.” (Rosa Parks: Writings, Notes and Statements,1956-58).
Featuring mixed-media works on paper, fabric, and canvas, sculpture, performance, photography, installation, and moving image, The Paglees: Between Reason and Madness, questions and reframes the labeling of non-conforming women as crazy and the marginalization of immigrant women of color. This collective exhibition presents new decolonial narratives that center the reason and wisdom of brown women of the Global South and diaspora, and provide pathways to a creative feminist future. The Paglees believe in working in collaboration with other marginalized communities to build bridges and demand social, environmental, and legal justice for all.
The seven Paglees are South Asian American artists living and working across North America: Shelly Bahl (New York City), Monica Jahan Bose (Washington, DC), Fawzia Khan (Minneapolis, Minnesota), Indrani Nayar-Gall (Charlotte, North Carolina), Renluka Maharaj (Boulder, Colorado), Nirmal Raja (Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Boston, Massachusetts), and Pallavi Sharma (San Ramos, California). We are diasporic South Asians with roots in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Trinidad & Tobago.
NOTICE REGARDING
PROPOSED PUBLIC ART PROJECT
“RESILIENCE”
ARTIST: MONICA JAHAN BOSE
The art project RESILIENCE proposes to create a hand-made ceramic tile mural at the exterior of 1001 4th Street SW, Washington DC 20024. The tile mural will be affixed on the exterior grey wall on the south side of the building, which is adjacent to a private driveway but viewable from the street. The tile mural would be approximately 4 ft. x 19 ft., the size of a fabric sari. Bose is a Bangladeshi-American artist known for her fabric sari installations, and this will be a more permanent sari in ceramic. RESILIENCE will be created using sari woodblocks, hand painting, and stenciled poetry. As part of the project, Bose will lead several community poetry and art workshops. “Resilience” speaks to community resilience in the face of climate change and other challenges, and our deep connection to the water and the environment. Bose will seek a public art grant from DCCAH; the completion of the project is contingent on the grant.
When: The project would be installed in Spring/Summer 2026.
Where: The proposed site for the public art project is the exterior wall at 1001 4th Street SW, Washington DC 20024.
THE “RESILIENCE” PROPOSAL WILL BE PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED AT THE ANC 6D VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING ON JUNE 16, 2025 from 7-9 pm. To attend the meeting use this link: https://dc-gov.zoom.us/j/83836436659
To access the meeting by phone: 1 301 715 8592, Meeting ID 838 3643 6659
THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO JOIN AND ASK QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK. The project is contingent on receiving grant funding from DCCAH. Contact: monicajahanbose@gmail.com storytellingwithsaris.com @storywithsari
Join us on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 for a gardening and poetry workshop at the Well at Oxon Run, 300 Valley Ave SE, Washington, DC 20032. Bus C15 will take you right there. You can catch the bus from Anacostia Metro.
Storytelling with Saris continues its tradition of connecting with the soil and plants. We will be helping out at a huge urban farm, taking vegetables home, plus doing movement and breathing exercises, writing some poetry, and making art on a sari. We will also be remembering our dear friend Sherri Gales, a big part of Storytelling with Saris for so many years.
The links says 11 am to 4 pm but we will only be there for two hours. If you have joined prior Storytelling with Saris workshops, please bring with you your folder of materials — journal, pencil etc. Looking forward to seeing you! Please email storytellingwithsaris@gmail.com with any questions or accommodation needs.
This project is supported by a grant from the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities.
Join me on Governors Island for the Works on Water Triennial.
Opening Reception: Thursday, August 28, 5-9 pm (Remarks at 7pm)
Exhibition dates: August 28-October 26, 2025
Open Fridays from 2-5:30 pm; Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5:30 pm | Additional hours by appointment
LMCC’s The Arts Center at Governors Island, Upper & Lower Galleries, 110 Andes Rd, New York, NY 10004
August 28* – October 26
Opening Night: Thursday, August 28, 5-9pm (Remarks at 7pm). It’s right when you get off the Governors Island ferry from Manhattan (seven minute ride from South Ferry and $5 fare).
Artists roundtable on September 27 at 4-5 pm with Monica Jahan Bose and Dana Harper and the WoW team.
Ride the ferry from South Ferry to Governors Island with Monica Jahan Bose on September 28 at 2 pm and join her for a walkthrough tour of her installation.
