Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WSC Professor Inspired

By Afghanistan Children’s Drawings

(WORCESTER - March 3, 2007) Susan Fisher, senior instructor in the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Worcester State College and National Faculty at Lesley University, has taken inspiration from children’s drawings to design the cover for Qu Qu Qu Barg-e-Chinaar: Children’s Songs from Afghanistan.

Professor Fisher’s fellow colleague at Lesley, Dr. Louise Pascale, originally coordinated the Afghan Songbook Project in 1968 when she was in the Peace Corps in Afghanistan. She traveled to schools teaching the children the songs and having them illustrate the songs. Five years ago Dr. Pascale came across her original copy of the songbook from 1968 and realized, due to turmoil in the country over the years, she probably had the only copy left. Thus began the revival of the project and Professor Fisher was asked to contribute to the songbook cover art both conceptually and from a design standpoint.

Professor Fisher's collage for the songbook cover was inspired by the original children’s drawings done in 1968. The cover honors the past and creates a colorful and vibrant statement. The cover has become the logo for the songbook. 

The final product, is a 60-minute CD and a brightly illustrated accompanying booklet with music and lyrics of sixteen songs in Farsi, Pushto, Hazara, and Uzbeki. Three thousand songbooks have been printed and will begin distribution to schools in Kabul and area provinces in March 2007.

For more information about the project or to purchase a songbook please contact Susan Fisher, sfisher@worcester.edu ext. 8791.

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