By Sgt. Ben Hutto

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE KALSU, Iraq – Local artists displayed their work as part of an art fair in the Contingency Operating Site Kalsu dining facility, June 2 and 3.

Paintings by 15 artists from the Babil province were put on display and offered for sale.

“The art is beautiful,” said Spc. David Holcombe, a generator mechanic assigned to Headquarters Company, 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. “I thought the people around here were mostly farmers. I didn’t know they had so many creative artists.”

The event was put together by the 1411th Civil Affairs Company.

“We wanted to bring a little cultural experience to the [base],” said Capt. Kristen Brockman, the commander of the 1411th CA Company. “The artists in this area have a tough time selling their works to locals in the area, so this is an economic development project for them.”

In order to attract American soldiers, the artists kept their products affordable. Pieces ranged in price from 30 to 50 dollars.

“We felt this was a good opportunity for the soldiers here to carry home something meaningful,” said Brockman, a native of Jackson, N.J. “I think a lot of the art speaks so well about the environment here. The art really captures what the people of this area are like.”

Many of the artists whose work was represented at the event were happy so many soldiers were interested in their work.

“So far, we have sold between 65 or 70 pieces,” said Ali Ghason, a local artist. “We are very happy. This was our only outlet to express ourselves and show what we can do.”

Ghason was happy that American soldiers would be taking his work back to the United States with them.

“We hope our art is a good reflection of our culture to the U.S. people,” he said.
For Holcomb, a native of Leominster, Mass., the piece he purchased is a good way to remember the two deployments he served in Iraq.

“It is something to keep from Iraq to say I was there,” he said. “It will look really nice in my work room back home. Who knows? Some day it may be worth something.”

Students at Perpich Center Arts High School in Minneapolis, USA recently created postcards to send to students in Iraq as part of their “Women and Water” project. The students also wrote messages on the backs of the postcards. Below is a sample of what will be sent to Iraq.

If your school would like to be involved in the Iraqi Art Project, please contact us.

Below is a story of a volunteer who has connected with an Iraqi Artist, Anwar Qamar.

From Iraq to Minnesota: Connecting through Art

Barb is a Minnesotan who recently heard Sami Rasouli, Director of MPT, speak about life in Iraq and the continuing consequences of war. After Sami’s talk, Barb wrote, “We were all devastated, and called to action, and also inspired by the potential that we people can reach across to each

other and simply create peace.” Barb bought a painting by Iraqi artist Anwar Qamar that Sami had brought with him. She emailed Anwar and, with some help in getting the email to Anwar from IARP’s partner in Iraq the Muslim Peacemaker Teams, talked with Anwar via their computers. Anwar showed Barb other pieces of his work and asked her to speak slowly so he could catch the English.

In an earlier email to Anwar, Barb wrote, “After (Sami’s) talk, I had a chance to look through the paintings which Sami brought.  As soon as I saw your painting, “Help!” I burst into tears, grabbed it and bought it.  It is now hanging right in front of me.  Just now when I rolled open your painting and found your contact information on the back, I cried again.  Again the horror of what is happening in Iraq was made real to me.  Thank you for sending your cry for help.  We have heard it and I am answering that call.”

Barb is excited about how art can help personalize Iraqis to Americans. She plans to arrange for art shows in the LaCrosse-Winona area and is starting her outreach with a popular restaurant. She plans to do the front work of talking with the owners and then coordinate with IARP about selecting Iraqi pieces.

Barb told Anwar in another email, “I am so grateful and I look forward to being in touch with you, Anwar, and developing this wonderful connection between ordinary people who care about goodness and beauty, and about justice. Please do write to me, Anwar.  I want you to know many things- mostly that there are millions of people like me here in the US, and all over the world, who are hearing your cry and know what’s happened.  I am working hard to help….

There is no news here about radioactive dust, about cancer and dead babies and poisoned water and destroyed systems.  Everything is kept at a comfortable distance in the media. I want to keep your cry for help fresh and close so that I will mobilize to help you in a powerful way. We are all one family. I am your friend. I hope to have the opportunity to meet you someday….

This is the truth which, together, we can bring out of our hearts and make real on this earth in Iraq: ‘Every object and being in the universe is a jar overflowing with wisdom and beauty,a drop of the Tigris that cannot be contained by any skin. Every jarful spills and makes the earth more shining, as though covered in satin… Make peace with the universe. Take joy in it. It will turn to gold. Resurrection will be now. Every moment, a new beauty‘ (Rumi).

We can do this together:

‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has‘ (Margaret Mead).”

If you would like to get involved with the Iraqi Art Project, please contact Tricia Heuring, Director of the Iraqi Art Project, at tricia (at) reconciliationproject.org. To see a sample of the Iraqi art that IARP shows in the U.S., click here.

The Departure - Esam Saheb

Call for Artist Submissions
The Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project is seeking artists to submit their work for a juried visual arts group show, The Art of Conflict: Identity in Conflict and Displacement, opening in August 2010 at a gallery space in Minneapolis, MN. The exhibition will feature 12-15 works from local Twin Cities artists, and 12-15 works from Iraqi artists. To read guidelines and submit work, click here.

The exhibition aims to explore the themes of violent conflict, war, displacement, and personal identity by combining perspectives from those living within a violent conflict (Iraqi artists) and those who have “escaped” from such conflict (local refugee, immigrant, and veteran artists). In Minnesota, life amid violent conflict – in Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Honduras, Burma, or elsewhere – is difficult for many to imagine. Yet many Minnesotans, including refugees and veterans, have experienced directly war or violent conflict and live with that experience everyday. Art can be a powerful medium to express incomprehensible experiences. This exhibition will provide a creative outlet for artists and an opportunity to reflect on and make real their experiences with war. The focus on Iraq provides a recent, relevant experience with conflict to which many can relate. Stories of war, as with all stories, are made real only in the telling. This project will express our stories of war, violence, displacement, and identity through art.

Artists of all levels are encouraged to apply. Every submission will be featured in an online gallery, regardless of inclusion in final exhibition.

Eligibility: Artists whose work embodies the themes of personal identity and escape or existence within war, conflict or displacement and engages the hearts and minds of the community. Entries must be originals by the artist. Media accepted: painting, drawing, photography sculpture, mixed media, and installation. Entries must be accompanied by a one paragraph artist statement.

Submissions: Preference for mail-in submission of a CD including high-quality photos of the artwork with a minimum of 72 dpi (preferably higher). Also include full measurements of the artwork and printed copies of the photos (4 per sheet). Mailing address is 1346 Westwood Hills Road, St. Louis Park, MN 55426. Please do not send originals of your artwork. Artists may submit 1 piece of art for each medium.

Submission can also be made by emailing submissions@reconcilationproject.org or online here. If emailing, please include artist statement, bio and contact information in body of the email. Submit 3 – 5 high resolution digital images of your work with a minimum 72 dpi. Also include full measurements of the artwork and include title, date, medium, and dimensions. Please send artist statement in body of email or as a pdf attachment. Deadline for submissions: March 30, 2010.

Compensation: 2 artists out of the 12-15 selected from the Twin Cities will be invited to be featured artists, and show several artworks. These two artists will be included in programming which includes an opportunity to tell their stories. Each of these artists will be compensated $500. Artists from outside of Minnesota will be eligible for display at the gallery, but not the $500. Displayed art at the gallery will not be for sale.

Notification/Selection: Selected artists will be contacted by May 15, 2010.

Deadline: March 30, 2010
Organization: Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project
Project Director: Tricia Heuring
Phone: 612-978-5566
Email: submissions@reconciliationproject.org
Website: www.reconciliationproject.org

This activity funded, in part, by the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

The delegation from Najaf to Minneapolis headed home to Iraq on October 2nd after a productive 2 weeks. The delegates met with hundreds of Americans and set a strong foundation for further connections and peace-building activities between the two cities and countries. You can read about their visit here and here. Below are photos from the delegates’ visit.

One of the delegates, Dr. Najim Askouri, writes,”Thank you very much for your hospitality towards us during our visit to Minneapolis. We spent beautiful days to be remembered for a long time. We hope that the sister city relationship will be promoted and fulfilled for the benefits of people and the cause of peace. God bless you all.