Keep calm and party on.

It’s been quite a week in Beirut, at least from a foreigner’s perspective. The border was bombed by Syrian warplanes. The recent clashes in Tripoli have left six dead, a Lebanese army solider among them. Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s Cabinet resigned yesterday.

But for many Beiruti’s, it was business as usual. As I followed news streams on Twitter yesterday morning through the afternoon, a Lebanese friend of mine was unaffected by my constant updates. “It’s normal…we party.”  Indeed, out in the streets, it looked like any other night, with people spilling out of bars up and down Gemmayzeh Street.

So, when in Rome…

I went to UNESCO Palace for a swanky exhibition opening last night. Titled “One Blood,” the photographer took portraits of blood donors around the world. The idea with blood is that it’s the essence of life, the ultimate entity that connects humanity.

The curator of the exhibit wrote, “His idea was to uncover the mystery of blood, to let blood speak for itself, defending its own arguments and thereby convincing skeptics. His own mixed blood, with his own experience of the pain of being different during civil strife in Beirut – the city that has suffered so, and which epitomes all conflict in the world – he has shown that our blood, are different bodies, are one…the intention was not to reveal times of despair, but to show times of hope, not times when life was taken away, but times when life is given so generously.”

Message from the curator.

The beliefs of the people photographed.

Rita.

One of my favorite photos, third from the left on top.

One Blood.

A simple idea with beautiful black and white (and occasionally with a splash of red) portraits, the photos were placed back-to-back with their matching blood bags or drops. People from everywhere, professions of everything, beliefs ranging and blood types varying.

Plus the best spread of hors d’oeuvres and drink choices I have seen at an event since I left the States. And free! Party on…