The Hamersly Library cordially invites you to the spring 2012 exhibits and event exploring Cultural Identity. The exhibits begin on Monday, April 9th and a performance installation will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. Read more below.
These exhibit funded, in part, by the Polk County Cultural Coalition.
IDENTITY
The 2011-2012 Hamersly Library exhibits theme is Identity. The exhibits featured this year will explore the characteristics that determine who we are. Our individual experiences, the communities we live in, and our culture all play a significant role in establishing our identity.
In spring we are looking at cultural identity. Two international artists are exhibiting separately and joining together for a performance piece to explore similarities and differences to open a dialogue among cultures.
Kanaan Kanaan Palestinian Artist, Portland, OR
April 9 - June 15, 2012
Born and raised in Amman, Jordan in a Palestinian refugee camp, Kanaan is an artist by training, studying at the College of Fine Arts at Baghdad University prior to immigrating to the U.S. in 1994. Currently he works in the International Studies Department at Portland State University and continues to produce art. Kanaan’s artwork is a continuation of his personal belief in using art to reach out to others, to heal and make connections. It focuses on creating intelligent and thoughtful dialogue about similarities and differences of culture, language, tradition and faith. Through his art, Kanaan hopes to create peaceful and intellectual dialogue about his native culture and faith.
Michele Feder-Nadoff Jewish Artist, Chicago, IL
April 9 - May 28, 2012
Born in Chicago, Illinois, she lives and works both there and in Mexico. In 2010 she received a Fulbright-Garcia Robles Fellowship for research in Mexico for a coppersmithing project in Santa Clara del Cobre. Feder-Nadoff has spent numerous visits with traditional coppersmiths of Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacán, Mexico for research and community organizing initiatives on behalf of the nonprofit Cuentos Foundation, which she founded in 1998 with other artists and community activists.
Her works take on numerous forms including paper, metal, clay, wood, fiber and combining several in mixed media works. Currently she has returned to Mexico to begin her doctoral studies.
Passing A Performance by Michele Feder-Nadoff & Kanaan Kanaan
Wednesday, May 16, 2012, begining at 9:00 a.m.
Reception for the artist: 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Michele Feder-Nadoff and Kanaan Kanaan, known as menucha-kanaan,
as a Jew and a Muslim:
we grew up having prayers for everything – for the rain
the thunder,
he sun rising,
for the wind,
the rainbow, and the washing of hands,
for death and birth.
Our work is like building a house and sweeping
its floor together.
Passing, a durational performance by artists Michele Feder-Nadoff and Kanaan Kanaan, is part of a series of collaborative works begun in 2001
as a response to on-going Middle East conflict and worldwide strife. Illuminated by their personal experiences of diasporas based on their respective Jewish and Muslim traditions, together they have created works that explore and symbolize the struggle and desire to maintain hope through trust.
A printable flyer is available at this link.
Mr. Kanaan’s background is both interesting and diverse. He was born and raised in Amman, Jordan, in a Palestinian refugee camp. An artist by training, Kanaan studied at the College of Fine Arts at Baghdad University prior to immigrating to the U.S. in 1994. After moving to Portland, he obtained his bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and Graphic Design from PSU 1999, and in 2006, earned his Master of Fine Arts in Painting and Mixed Media from Warnborough University in Ireland.