Fine Arts Exhibits

Africa Series by Karen Kohlberg

Karen Kohlberg’s “Africa Series” is about giving voice to the African woman. Recent travels to Tanzania have inspired her to record and contemplate images of daily life and to understand the challenges these women face daily. While retaining the individuality of each woman, these paintings illustrate the extraordinary within the ordinary.

“Life remains difficult for African women of the Kigoma region in Tanzania, and elsewhere, as HIV and high infant mortality rates continue to be critical challenges.Basic sustenance is all consuming, yet when these women sing, smile or nurse their children, there is warmth, dignity and grace.There is beauty within the community and within each woman, amidst her daily hardships.”With passion and emotion, Kohlberg’s rich multi-layered textures can be interpreted as a metaphor for these complex challenges.

“I began this series thinking that I was giving voice to the African woman and realize now that the African woman has given voice to me.”

Exhibit by Inocente

Exhibiting pieces from her Lost Planet collection, Inocente's talent intimates the communicative power of art. Drawing on extraordinary challenges and opportunities faced in her fifteen years she demonstrates a unique perspective on her surroundings and the human condition.

Exhibit by Stephanie Goldman

Inspired by her recent travels to Morocco, Stephanie Goldman explores issues of gender, culture, religion and identity through exotic images rich with symbolism. The piercing gazes of her subjects ensconced in vivid hues immediately evoke issues of identity, agency, rights and universal humanity. Goldman explains the impetus for this exhibit having sprung from an ardent desire to bear witness, allowing observers an opportunity for personal reflection on the meaning they find in her pieces.

Peace Quilts Exhibit

As a young girl, Tzighereda (Tziggy) Schindler grew up in a small village of Eritrea, where her father was an asker (soldier) in the occupying Italian army. His vivid stories of war made a searing impression on her childhood. As an adult she is increasingly disturbed by the ongoing devastation wrecked by wars around the globe. She has created Peace Quilts representing five of the seven continents, in the hope that they may be displayed at the United Nations as a constant reminder for the member nations to commit to peace. On each quilt, a peace dove flies for every country on the continent and a fervent call for peace is embroidered for the leaders of those nations.

Poetry Exhibit

In My Words: Refugee women’s experiences of war and displacement

In collaboration with the refugee resettlement agencies of San Diego County, the Institute for Peace & Justice invited women refugees in the San Diego area to submit poetry entries on their experiences of war and displacement. A selection of the submissions will be on display with the festival's visual arts exhibits.

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Refugee Photography Exhibit by Norma Hill

Photographer Norma Hill brought her lens to the International Rescue Committee's First Things First program to photograph resettled women refugees and their children. Her stunning portraits evoke the spirit, resilience and humanity of her subjects as they adapt from a variety of native cultures to their new home in the U.S.

Survivors of Torture Quilt Exhibit

The quilts on display represent the creation of a safe haven for torture survivors, symbolizing security, unity and warmth. The “Quilt of Healing” was a collaborative effort involving two volunteers and two torture survivors. The group used the Survivors of Torture, International (SURVIVORS) logo throughout the quilt; the logo’s designer hoped it would symbolize moving beyond trauma and breaking through to reconnect with humanity and life. The second quilt on display, titled “My Universe,” was given to SURVIVORS in 2004 from a female torture survivor who had received services from the organization. When she presented the quilt, she said that “this quilt represents my universe and SURVIVORS is a part of that universe.”

Another Way of Seeing Exhibit

Self-taught artist Sonabai Rajawar, while living in enforced isolation by her husband for 15 years in a remote village in central India, created her own joyous sculptural environment. Developing an innovative art form, which she later taught to other artists, Sonabai was honored by the government of India with its highest award for artistic merit.

Guest Curator Stephen Huyler, Ph.D., has selected 33 sculptures by Sonabai and her family as well as 38 works by four artists trained by her for this dynamic exhibition that includes videos of daily village life and the artist at work as well as projections of village dancers and photomurals of Sonabai's studio.

Exhibition running July 26, 2009 - Sept. 5, 2010 at the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park.