The Mural Speaks

The Rachel Corrie Foundation and
Break the Silence Mural Project co‐present
The Mural Speaks

The Mural Speaks

Come celebrate the completion of this dynamic, interactive mural at a free event at 6:00 p.m., Saturday, May 8 at the Labor Temple building, corner of State and Capitol, downtown Olympia.  The Mural Speaks event is more than a mural commemoration; it’s a public art project that has galvanized and touched local residents, as well as individuals and groups nationwide and globally.  The Mural Speaks is also the finale to the People’s Movement Assembly, May 8th, 9-5, a gathering of Olympia’s grassroots organizers to discuss the US Social Forum and other strategies moving forward (for more information: <omjp.net>).

The Olympia-Rafah Solidarity Mural Project furthers Rachel Corrie’s dream of building a sister city relationship between Rafah, Gaza Strip, Palestine, where she was killed in 2003, and Olympia, Washington, USA, where she grew up and attended The Evergreen State College.  “Through collaborative art the mural educates and raises awareness that human rights are universal — everyone deserves a viable life,” says Susan Greene, a clinical psychologist and muralist, who conceived of the project.

The 100-foot-long mural is located on the north wall of the Labor Temple building, at the corner of State and Capitol in downtown Olympia.  It features an enormous olive tree with more than 150 leaves representing issues of environmental justice, racism, colonialism, rights of indigenous peoples, and anti-war movements, ranging from the Americas to Europe, from Asia to the Middle East.  This summer, a related effort, the Rafah Public Art Project will be completed in the town of Rafah in Gaza, Palestine.

The Olympia Rafah Solidarity Mural embraces innovative technology.  Viewers can use a cell phone to call and hear the creator of each leaf talk about its meaning and theme.  Some artists have included poetry and/or music to add cultural flavor to the image and the audio soundscape.  Conceived in 2008 by Susan Greene in collaboration with San Francisco’s Freedom Archives, and created by program designer Sam Stoller, this audio/visual computer technology is also available on the mural’s web site: <http://olympiarafahmural.org/>.  It adds a powerful and dynamic dimension to the project, utilizing a multidisciplinary approach to communicate the message of the mural and each component, as well as the history, mission, and goals of each participating artist or organization.

“It was very exciting to include electronically-provided images from Gaza school-age children alongside art by Olympian school-age children,” Greene says.  “We were able to use technology to include images and ideas from those in another part of the world who couldn’t come to Olympia and work on the mural.”

The mural features artwork by numerous local, national and international artists and organizations.  Olympia and Washington State contributors include Pastors for Peace; GRUB, a gardening and youth empowerment program; International Trauma Treatment Program; Buddhist Temple of Bainbridge Island; Black Student Union, Evergreen State College; Safe Place Women’s Shelter; anti-war and veterans groups; KOWA-FM; several organizations in solidarity with Latin America; labor organizations; and others.

National contributors include Common Ground in New Orleans; Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism–San Francisco; Pomo Indians; Indigenous Youth Delegation–San Francisco; and Valarie James, Arizona artist and creator of the sculptural installation “The Mothers; Las Madres,” a response to the human suffering and ongoing death of migrants crossing the Mexican/American border.

Ziad Deeb, a Gazan artist who lost both legs and his family in the January 2009 Israeli bombings of the Gaza Strip is represented, along with a Palestinian soccer team named for Rachel Corrie; Indonesian muralists Sama Sama (“together”); the Bogside Muralists from Derry, Ireland; artists with Middle East Children’s Alliance; and many others from Palestine and Israel, including work by Israeli Jews.

Palestinian participants include:

Fayeq Oweis, USA/Palestine
Nida Sinnekrot, USA
Nouha Sinno, USA
Vera Tamari, West Bank, Palestine
Wishah, West Bank, Palestine
Rana Bishara, Palestine
Sliman Mansour, West Bank
Shareef Sarhan, Gaza, Palestine
Rachel Corrie Soccer Team, Gaza, Palestine
Shai Pollack, Israel and Bi’lin Popular Committee, Palestine
Ronen Edelman, Israel
Qattan Foundation For the Child, Gaza, Palestine
Zochrot, Israel
One State, Osama Zatar, Tal Adler, Israel
Maschom Watch, Israel
New Profile, Israel
Eman Mohummad, Gaza,
Palestine Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, Gaza, Palestine Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, Israel, Palestine
IBDAA, West Bank, Palestine
Breaking the Silence, Israel
Stop the Wall- Palestine
Basel El Maquosy- Gaza, Palestine
Baladna- Haifa, ’48
Anwer Yehia, Artist, Gaza
Art Wave – West Bank and ’48
Anarchists Against the Wall, Israel
Asia Aamer, West Bank
Hani Abuamra, Gaza

The Olympia-Rafah Solidarity Mural Project, in the tradition of political muralists and artists such as Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, recognizes the unique relationship that exists between the people of Olympia and Rafah.  The project highlights the transformative potential of global solidarity, linking struggles for peace and justice in Palestine/Israel to a range of oppressions and social justice struggles around the world.

“The project uses culture and technology in innovative ways to build community and to organize for justice for all” says Barbara Lubin, founder and executive director of the Middle East Children’s Alliance, which partially funded the project.

SCHEDULE:

6:00 p.m.: Doors Open- DJ and Refreshments
Gathering at the Mural
Food & Beverages
DJ Turtledove

7:30 p.m.: Live Music
Southern Skies, Olympia
Audio Pharmacy, San Francisco
Cindy Corrie of the Rachel Corrie Foundation,
Susan Greene, Project Director, Olympia-Rafah Solidarity Mural Project

8:30 p.m.: The Mural Speaks!
Introduction of the Mural Audio Components
Mural participants will introduce their leaf images
Representatives of local Olympia groups will speak and recorded audio of national and international participants will be featured (the Rachel Corrie Foundation, the Olympia Rafah Sister City Project, Parents Organizing for Welfare & Economic Rights, Indigenous Youth Delegation to Palestine, Inmigrantes Unidos, Safe Place, Garden Raised Bounty [GRUB], Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace [OMJP], Books to Prisoners, Stonewall Youth, the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, Industrial Workers of the World, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, Gateways for Incarcerated Youth, and more!)


For more information: 415-271-0576 or olympiarafahmural.org




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