Let Brandeis hear
from you - WRITE and RALLY 5/04/06!
An art exhibit to show the work of
Palestinian children from Aida refugee camp was
showing at Brandeis University. Opening night was
Thursday, April 27. Over the weekend, an
administrator (Daniel Terris) called Lior (the
organizer) asking her to end the show prematurely
due to angry complaints from zionist parents and
the like (please continue
reading below for more details). Lior refused
but nevertheless the art was taken down Sunday
without notice; Lior has yet to find out where
the art is.
This art is offensive? ... because
these refugee children dream of returning to
their villages in what is now called Israel?? Use
the interactive presentation below to view sample
artwork and judge for yourself. PROTEST at Brandeis (details
below) on Thursday, May 4th.
We are demonstrating at 12 noon on Thursday,
May 4th on the Brandeis campus - on the square in
front of the main library [Farber]. Bring your
signs if you can. We will reclaim the artwork
then!
This link describes how to get to Brandeis by train. Lowest
level parking before you go up the hill and
before the castle, is open for the public.
Brandeis is showing its true colors. It's a
zionist campus that cannot tolerate that a
Palestinian voice is heard. Thank you, Salma
Below is Lior Halperin's recounting of a
phone call she got, putting pressure on her to
end the exhibit of childrens' drawings from the
Aida refugee camp. Lior went through all the
proper channels to secure a space for the
exhibit; she was relegated to the basement of the
library but even that didn't satisfy the
zionists.
Lior's recount of phone call:
The person who called me on a Saturday
afternoon at home was Daniel Terris, director of
the International Center for Ethics, Justice and
Public Life.
After explaining for ten minutes why I should
consider him a supporter of the Palestinian cause
and voice (he claims he has been involved in many
attempts to bring into the community of Brandeis
Palestinians and their voice), he started telling
me that the exhibition has been creating a
"mushroom of criticism" and that people
from the right wing can easily pick to it since
some of the images are very direct and since it's
not very clear why this exhibition exists in
Brandeis. He said that there is an increasing
pressure on Brandeis in the past year against
different attempts to create cooperation's and
relationships with Palestinian institutions, like
Al-Quds University and the employment of Khalil
Shikaky in the university, and that my exhibition
may create such pressure that the university will
be forced to give up some of its relationships
with such Palestinian institutions and projects.
He added that the university's administration
has received criticism and angry reactions to the
exhibition and particularly to the paintings
presenting Israel covered with a Palestinian
flag, and they are asking me if I can take the
exhibition down earlier than planned.
To my answer that this is outrageous and I
refuse to be silenced [or allow] silencing such
voices he thanked me and finished the
conversation.
Event description
Join us for the special opening
of Voices From Palestine
An Art Exhibition of Children's paintings from
Aida Refugee Camp, Bethlehem
Wednesday, April 26th, 5:30pm
Goldfarb Library, Brandeis University
Ibrahim Masri has over ten years of
experience working with children and families
living in Palestine. He will talk about the
political, social, psychological situation and
its impact on the Palestinian family in general
and the children in particular.
Khitam Edelbi worked at "The Early
Childhood Resource Center" for 14 years,
where she taught drama to kindergarten teachers
and children in E.Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza.
She will talk about her experiences.
Salma Abu Ayyash, member and co-founder of
Tawassul for Palestinian Arts and Culture, will
talk briefly about Tawassul's mission and the
importance of promoting Palestinian art in this
conflict.
