Swarthmore College Exhibition: Friends
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Printing block for the cover of Yes to Hope on a letter press, Second State Press. Photo by Hussam Al-Obaidi.
Over the past two years, Swarthmore College’s Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary brought together book artists and members of Philadelphia’s Iraqi and Syrian refugee communities to share histories, cultures, and personal stories of refuge. Focusing on the core theme of “friendship,” a culminating exhibition at Twelve Gates Arts invites audiences to explore sculptures, dictionaries, archaeology books, and paintings that celebrate cultural and historical moments, conversations, and personal stories.
Artists on display include collaborators and book artists: Layla Al-Huseini, Fadaa Ali, Islam Ali, Samah Al-Kasab, Asmaa Diab, Amaal Alnajar, Abdul Karim Awad, Maureen Cummins, Osama Herkal, Mohamed, Marwa, Fadia, Erik Ruin, Fouad Sakhnini, and Ali Salman.
Upcoming Programs:
- June 7, 6–8:30 pm: First Friday Opening Reception with live performance by Erik Ruin and Julius Masry
- June 8, 10–1 pm: Accordion book workshop and story share with Islam Aly
Swarthmore College presents concurring exhibitions at City Hall, on view through July 26, and at the Free Library of Philadelphia through August 2. Swarthmore College hosted the project’s first exhibition and launched its series of events in March 2019.