Hosted by Island Mountain Arts, please join us for a slideshow talk on the story behind the Syrian exhibition with curator, Paul Crawford.

This event is by donation, but we must ask for pre-registration as space in the Sunset Theatre is limited to 20 people due to WorkSafeBC Covid19 Protocols. Also please let us know if you are attending as a group or family, so we can pre-assign seating with proper social distancing. You may only sit with people who you are living with.

The doors will open at 7:00pm on Thursday, July 16 and the event will be begin at 7:30pm. We may assign arrival times for your party and you may be required to wear a mask until you are seated in the venue.

Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/Momv2eajKJ58YQUX7

Syrian architect Humam Alsalim and Penticton Art Gallery Curator – Paul Crawford collaborated in 2015 via the internet to arrange for 100 works of art by these 20 Syrian artists to be sent out from behind the lines of the Syrian War to be first exhibited at the Penticton Art Gallery.

“This work is powerful, raw and striking and I think could be the most important exhibitions I have undertaken. I am indebted to Humam Alsalim for curating this exhibition from his home in Damascus. It’s been a real feat of trust on both sides and I think we are both in awe that it has come all together on time and as planned. In total he has brought together the following 20 artists some of whom are still living in Syria and some of whom have fled and re-established themselves outside of Syria.” Crawford explains.

Behind the Lines | Contemporary Syrian Art aims to explore conflict zones and to see the people of Syria through art. Most of the 20 artists featured here still live in Syria. They come from places made familiar through news reports like Damascus, Aleppo and Homs. Many are now in Damascus. Some have left Syria altogether.

Crawford has described the work as “a testament to the capacity of the human spirit”. He added, “I hope these exhibitions will help build an even greater understanding of the Syrian people, their art and culture.”