For up-to-date information on the show, click here. Two Iraqi artists participating in the show will be at the Minneapolis Aquatennial on July 18, 2010. Come to welcome them and see their work! IARP is excited to announce the opening of The Art of Conflict: Identity in War and Displacement on July 29 at Tarnish and Gold gallery in Minneapolis. The juried art show will bring 15 pieces by Iraqi artists and 15 pieces by American artists together in dialogue on the effects of war and displacement. Two Iraqi artists will travel from Iraq to Minneapolis for the exhibit. [caption id="attachment_1860" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="Middle East ...
By Mika Thuening Thirteen-year old Hassan Khalid was suffering from fever, headaches, and vomiting. He had drunk water from a tap and contracted typhoid. Unfortunately, Hassan is not alone in falling victim to the unsafe water of Iraq. In 2007, the World Health Organization confirmed over 3,300 cases of cholera, a disease that spreads through contaminated water, resulting in at least 14 deaths.[1] The number one killer of children under 5 years of age is water borne diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid, and hepatitis.[2] Although these diseases are preventable by treating water for human consumption, millions of Iraqis remain at risk ...
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.[gallery order="DESC"]
On January 28, 2010, Dr. Liz Wieling traveled to Najaf, Iraq to collaborate with the Muslim Peacemaker Teams to conduct an initial assessment of mental health needs and psychological trauma of families in Najaf. To read the report, click here.
After more than a year of moving toward this goal, the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project (IARP) and our partner in Iraq the Muslim Peacemaker Teams (MPT) are celebrating the beginning of a formal Sister City relationship between Najaf, Iraq and Minneapolis, MN USA. On Friday, July 31st, the Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution by unanimous vote establishing the two cities as official Sister Cities.
One day, a teacher was showing art by Iraqi students to a third grade classroom in Minnesota. A boy looked up and asked in a shaky voice, “You mean, there are children in Iraq?” In response to this innocent, heart wrenching query, the Iraqi & American Reconciliation Project (IARP) has created educational materials for school students, youth and adults. Here's how the project works: Read over the lesson plans for ideas you like. Read the background articles on schools, education, and water in Iraq. Download the PowerPoint of your choice and select the presentation format that works best for you. (Note: All PowerPoints include Speaker ...
Below are some images of children at Al-Ghadeer Kindergarten in Najaf, where a small water purifier unit was recently installed by the Muslim Peacemaker Teams. 150 kids attend the school. Thanks to the sisters at Racine Dominicans for donating the purifier unit. I feel bad for the kids having to sit through so many pictures! (there are many more not shown here...)
Anthony Shadid at the Washington Post has a recent article about the pervasive influence of the American occupation on Iraqi culture (copied below). According to Shadid, some (mostly younger) Iraqis have embraced elements of American culture like rap, heavy metal and tattoos, while other Iraqis reject the changes. Great article, makes me wonder: how many Americans could name one famous Iraqi singer, or one Iraqi TV show, or one Iraqi Arabic word, or other marker of Iraqi pop culture?
On January 28, 2010, Dr. Liz Wieling traveled to Najaf, Iraq to collaborate with the Muslim Peacemaker Teams to conduct an initial assessment of mental health needs and psychological trauma of families in Najaf. To read the report, click here.
Press release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Government and civil society join forces to protect prisoners in Iraq
Erbil, 23 February 2010 Civil society representatives and prison focal points under the Central Government and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) this week completed a series of joint trainings aimed at improving the treatment of prisoners and detainees in Iraq. More »
A commentary piece written by Sami Rasouli, Director of IARP’s partner organization the Muslim Peacemaker Teams, appeared in the Star Tribune on February 22, 2010. In the commentary, Sami writes, “In January, I returned to Iraq. I left Minneapolis with thanks for Americans’ commitment to peace and their generous spirit. I left, also, with a plea: Let us remember the people of my other homeland, Iraq. Let us remember our brothers and sisters.” To read the whole piece, click here.
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.
Dear Peacemakers,
I am writing to ask you to join the Twin Cities Peace Campaign, and others in an EMERGENCY PROTEST to say “no” to the attack on Marjah, Afghanistan:
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010
4:30 pm in front of the office of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
1200 Washington Avenue So., Minneapolis
STOP THE ESCALATION IN AFGHANISTAN: SAY `NO’ TO THE ATTACK ON MARJAH END THE WAR! BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW! More »
Kathy with Mayor Jacobs
The Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project is proud to announce that Executive Director Kathy McKay has been awarded the 2009 Human Rights Award from the St. Louis Park Human Rights Commission. Ms. McKay received the award on January 19, 2010 from the St. Louis Park Mayor and City Council.
According to the Council report, “McKay was nominated for her work with the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project. She became involved in IARP as a volunteer Executive Director in 2007 and… has been involved in a variety of ways to promote (IARP’s) mission. She has worked on letter writing projects between children of both countries; multiple exhibits of original art by current Iraqis including a two month art exhibit at Sabes Jewish Community Center and two nights of multi-faith programming at the JCC; initiation and successful establishment of the sister city relationship between Najaf and Minneapolis; and most recently planning and implementation of a delegation of 13 Iraqi professionals for a two-week visit to the Twin Cities, including St. Louis Park.” More »
IARP announces the release of two new photo galleries of students and schools in Iraq that have participated in IARP’s Water for Peace program and now have access to clean water. IARP thanks the many generous donors who have given these kids safe water and a healthier life.
Click on the images below to see the galleries.
Water for Peace Gallery 2
Click on the flyer to see the full size with information on tickets.
Our friends at The Simple Way and filmmaker Jamie Moffett are creating a documentary called, “The Gospel of Rutbah.” The trailer is below. For more information, visit http://www.thesimpleway.org/rutba/.
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. More »
