Many people who have been forced into exile struggle in their efforts to adjust to their new environment. Trying to adapt to what can be a living situation far different from what they are used to can trigger a wide range of emotions: homesickness, culture shock, mobility issues, and the struggle to establish a new identity, can all become obstacles in the adjustment process.
Almost one year ago a group of artists collaborated to form a coalition in order to pool their talents for the purpose of raising awareness about the injustice experienced by Syrians every day under the tyranny of the Assad regime
Many Syrian artists now living in exile in the diaspora seek to find ways to use their creative talents to tell stories of loss and hope and to demonstrate the ways in which the experience of exile is universal.
Almost one year ago a group of artists collaborated to form a coalition in order to pool their talents for the purpose of raising awareness about the injustice experienced by Syrians every day under the tyranny of the Assad regime. The participants comprise a diverse mix of Syrian and American artists who believe in human rights, equality for all humans and sympathize with the displacement experience. They all collaborate in their efforts to raise awareness about the Syrian rise for freedom
The exhibition represents the empathy Syrian and American artists feel through their art, with a major focus on the Syrian war, the recent earthquakes in Syria, and other natural disasters and humanitarian crises
On March 5, 2023, a group of these artists conducted an online exhibition of their work titled Artists 4 Syria. Etab Herib, Nada Odeh, Muna Omari, Marc Nelson, Saad Fansa, Nasib Nouilati, and Dylan Connor participated in the art show that was coordinated by Nada Odeh. The exhibition represents the empathy Syrian and American artists feel through their art, with a major focus on the Syrian war, the recent earthquakes in Syria, and other natural disasters and humanitarian crises that Syrians have been experiencing in their homeland for more than a decade.
Artwork inspired by daily events and life in Syria and the USA was displayed during the event and is also available for purchase with 50% of the profits going to the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) which is one of the organizations that has consistently maintained a presence in northwest Syria.
Each artist who participated was also given the opportunity to tell their story and describe the art pieces they had included in the exhibition, with the exception of musician Dylan Connor who sang two of his original songs at the conclusion.
A video of the event can be viewed on Nada Odeh’s Facebook page and the exhibition of the artwork that is now available for purchasing can be found here.
