SOMEWHERE ELSEWHERE A Premiere Contemporary Art Exhibition Somewhere Elsewhere is an art exhibition that provides a rare opportunity in the Bay Area to view contemporary art production by artists of Arab and Iranian heritage who are living in the United States. This exhibition brings awareness of the impact of stereotypes in general, and vilification of Arabs and Muslims in particular. Misrepresentations are collective definitions imposed by one group of people onto another group of people along religious, cultural or ethnic lines. The stereotyping of Muslims and Arabs has increased significantly after September 11th, yet it is a practice that goes back particularly to the Crusades of the Middle Ages. Arab and Muslim stereotyping is flooding all public arenas, from television and cinema to newspapers and the fine arts. Misrepresentation creates dissonance and conflict within diverse groups in a community and suppresses and impedes the visibility of the creative spirit. Envisioned and curated by Saná Makhoul, this exhibition is the culmination of a decade of research and study of the images of Arabs and Muslims in Western art. Her research reveals that from the fine arts to politics, there are numerous instances throughout history of institutionalized prejudice that sway public attitudes and perceptions, leading to the defamation of an entire people. Now more than ever, this exhibition is needed to help demystify and challenge long held prejudices that are dangerous to all communities. Somewhere Elsewhere presents a selection of artists coming from diverse backgrounds. The artists have exhibited their work and won awards on a local, national and international scale. This exhibition is a multi-disciplinary visual presentation that includes sculpture, painting, installation, and video films. The work exhibited here was produced after September 11 and some of the work is going to be premiered for the first time at this exhibition. The artists endeavor to map the broader implications of the misrepresentations of their art and cultures. The complexities of their art will inspire alternative views which will promote questioning the existing boundaries between cultures. This exhibition strives to engage the artists and the community in a cross-cultural dialogue that will introduce new perspectives on the misrepresentation of their art and cultures. The symposium includes a panel discussion with some participating artists and the screening of two films: Edward Said: On Orientalism, directed by Sut Jhally, and Introduction to the End of an Argument, directed by Jayce Salloum and Elia Suleiman. Participating artists: Rheim Alkadhi, Khalil Bendib, Doris Bittar, Ali Dadgar, Abdelali Dahrouch, Taraneh Hemami, Annemarie Jacir and Haleh Niazmand. Curated by Saná Makhoul Somewhere Elsewhere exhibition is fiscally sponsored by: Arab Cultural and Community Center in San Francisco (ACCC). Visit the web site: www.arabculturalcenter.org. Co-sponsors: The Zellerbach Family Foundation (www.zellerbachfamilyfoundation.org), The Mosaic Foundation (www.mosaicfound.org), Center for Middle Eastern Studies at University of California-Berkeley (ias.berkeley.edu/cmes), Arab Film Festival (www.aff.org), San Jose State University (ad.sjsu.edu), M Square Software Services, The Cultural and Visual Arts Resource/ICWA, KPFA - Pacifica Radio 94.1FM (www.kpfa.org) and True Identity (trueidentitydesign.com). Information about gallery hours and special events available here »