New Exhibit

"Uprooted"

A Visual Engagement of Forced Displacement and its Causes - Curated by Khalid Kodi

Showing at the Brant Gallery

Massachusetts College of Art and Design
South Building, 3rd Floor
617-879-7400

April 14th – 24th, 2008
Reception: April 24th 6:00pm – 8:00pm - Click here for printer friendly version

Refugee Blues by W.H. Auden

Say this city has ten million souls,
Some are living in mansions and some are living in holes:
Yet there is no place for us,
My dear, yet there is no place for us.

Once we had a country and we thought it fair,
Look in the atlas and you’ll find it there:
We cannot go there now,
My, we cannot go there now.

In the village churchyard there grows a n old yew,
Every spring it blossoms anew;
Old passports can’t do that,
My dear, old passports can’t do that.

The consul banged the table and said:
‘If you’ve got no passport, you’re officially dead’;
But we are still alive,
My dear, but we are still alive…

The twentieth century and the new millennium have been marked with massive forced displacement and global refugees movements. These massive movements stem from a shouting lack of basic rights, injustice and insecurity. They reflect deep local injustices.
Dislocated artists often use different genres to process, articulate, and document their and their communities’ experience of loss and displacement. They use different genres to reconstruct “home”, and to resist the factors behind violent and forced displacement.
Through visual art, artists from Sudan, Chad, Iran, and the USA reflect conflict, violence, and destructive “development” schemes that force communities into displacement and exile.

Featuring works by John Michalczyk, Naveed Nour, Adam Abdalla, Charles A. Meyer, Elshafei Dafalla Mohamed, and Khalid Kodi.

"Uprooted" - Brant Gallery, Mass College of Art and Design

Past Exhibit:

History Recalls, and Nothing has Changed - January 2007

Viewers' Comments at the "History Recalls" exhibit at Northeastern University: (see pictures here) January 2007

It's interesting to see the human resilience in the face of tragedy and despair. Thank you for your challenging exhibit that shows the fragility of our material possessions and the vast importance of interpersonal and intercultural discourse and understanding. - Nathan

Dear all, thank you for showing the true pain of war. These images have made me want to work harder for world peace. Keep up the good work. More people need to see this exhibition. – Donnell

I find this to be a very moving exhibit that brings to such a place of empathy for people I do not know and who are so distant from me but so close in their grief for lost loved ones and their resolve to find and shape some normal life out of a cruel, chaotic context of war. How is this possible? This is at once a celebration of the human spirit and a condemnation of the forces that denigrate and shame humanity. Thank you for bringing this to us. – Buddy B.S.

Coming into this I didn't know what to expect. Seeing things on TV and in newspapers you don't get the real effect unless you are surrounded by it and absorb it. Thanks for showing what the rest of the world seem to hide. – Maritza B.

Thanks for giving my students a greater understanding of the world. Thanks for taking the time to keep this suffering present for me. I believe that this has changed the kids' world and at best one of them will do something amazing that will be directly connected to this moment. – Connie (Middle School Teacher)

Very powerful – very sad – a real thought provoking exhibit + nothing has changed today! Thank you for showing the world the reality of war – exhibit all the time. Best of luck to you all. Pat T.

Very moving exhibit. Creates a true connection across cultures, bring the bond of humanity to the forefront. Thanks for sharing your work here. - Christine Willis

How is it that women's faces have such a capacity to show grief and strength at the same time? Thank you for your work and this exhibit. – Tracy

It was the most beautiful work of art I've ever seen, and it made almost everyone cry. Great work. – Emily Torman

I find this to be a very moving exhibit that brings to such a place of empathy for people I do not know and who are so distant from me but so close in their grief for lost loved ones and their resolve to find and shape some normal life out of a cruel, chaotic context of war. How is this possible? This is at once a celebration of the human spirit and a condemnation of the forces that denigrate and shame humanity. Thank you for bringing this to us. – Buddy B.S.

I don't have words. – Hanna

Dear all, I am happy and sad. Happy to see this treasure in Boston. It's amazing and wonderful to have the opportunity to see this treasure. Great!! Thank you. – Maher Mutlaq

Thank you so much for bringing us on your journeys and opening our eyes. Now we all walk forward together. – Erica

Dear all, thank you for showing the true pain of war. These images have made me want to work harder for world peace. Keep up the good work. More people need to see this exhibition. – Donnell

It is difficult to understand the scope of these events. I only hope that peace is the ultimate end for us all. – Timothy

A fantastic and powerful exhibit. More like this please! Cheers and I hope the show travels to spread the word of peace. - Annie DeVane

Very powerful and meaningful exhibit. Thank you for speaking for those who have been silenced by war. – Nazanin

Incredible! I see the message, I feel it. It brings up memories, my past. Powerful. Thank you. – Babak

This exhibit truly gives the voiceless a voice in beautiful photos + artwork  thank you for coming to Boston. – Alia

War is Never The Solution. Thanks For showing us how much pain the world is in. It has touched me. – Maria

The art that you have created is very powerful and shows a message that has been captured somewhat by the magnificent paintings you have created. It only makes me realize what we have done to these people and how badly they need help. – Kätchen Lachmayr

I really like the one that said: “I remember very well the day many of these men were born, no one marched on that day.” – Ben Hitchcock

Post card No.1 from the "Post Card Series", by Jim Chiavelli (30x40")