You are invited to join the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project at a Virtual Artist and Storyteller Talk. Through the portraits and stories of Iraqi Minnesotans, the Home of Memories exhibition brings us a complex and intimate portrayal of what home was, is, and what it can be. Photographers Ahmed Alshaikhli and Jaafar Alnabi, storytellers Abir Majid and Zena Khalil, and CarryOn Homes member and curator Zoe Cinel will come together for this exciting virtual talk.

Ahmed Alshaikhli is a seasoned photojournalist. He holds a high diploma in Fine Arts and Photography. Ahmed has worked at prominent Iraqi and international television broadcasters such as MBC, Al Arabia, Al-Hurra, and the Associated Press. He also worked as a cameraman and media officer with the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff in Iraq. In 2014, he moved to the U.S. and eventually made his way to Minnesota in 2016 where he now lives with his family.

Jaafar Alnabi is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on filmmaking and visual effects. He is a 2016 graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, filmmaking BFA program. He moved to Minnesota in 1996 and is now based in New York City, working between NYC and Minneapolis.

Abir Majid, born and raised in Baghdad, grew up in a Baha’i family. He has a B.A in Chemistry from the University of Sulaymaniyah, He moved to the U.S. in 1979 and has lived in several other countries since. Abir now lives in Golden Valley with his wife.

Zena Khalil, born and raised in Baghdad in an Arab family, followed the path of her father and graduated from Bagdad’s College of Medicine. There she met and married Dr. Bangean Abdullah who is from a Kurdish family in Dohuk. They moved to the U.S. in 1994 where Zena completed her residency and went on to work in the VA Medical Center and Regions Hospital. Together they have two sons and live in North Oaks.

This is a free event and will take place via Zoom on November 16, 2020, at 6:00 PM Central Time. Register in advance for this meeting: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tdeuhpzorEtbTH04df2w6MmMPaEFUdhHA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you have never used Zoom before, you will be prompted to download the Zoom app or join from your browser. Zoom works best on the Google Chrome browser. 

Home of Memories is on view at Banfill-Locke Center for the Art through December 12, 2020. You can visit the virtual exhibition here: https://www.banfill-locke.org/homeofmemories

Give back: This program is free. IARP relies on your support to present its programs and exhibitions. Please consider making a contribution at https://reconciliationproject.org/donation-form