CARAVAN Festival of the Arts 2010

Over 40 world-class Middle Eastern and Western visual artists have gathered and contributed their work to the 2010 edition of CARAVAN Festival of the Arts in Cairo, Egypt. Taking place January 28-February 3, 2010 at St. John the Baptist Anglican/Episcopal Church, the festival is themed “Harmony – East and West” and aims to build interfaith bridges between Eastern and Western faiths through visual art, literature, film, and music. The exhibition is following the success of a similar event held in January 2009 titled “On a Caravan: East to West Journey Together Through the Arts”.

In a press release from St. John’s Church, the goal of the exhibition is to “highlight how the arts can serve as one of the most effective mediums of encouraging friendship, deepening respect and facilitating sharing between the Middle East and the West”.

Rev. Paul-Gordon Chandler, an American priest of St. John’s Church, adds, “Art is a universal language that has the ability to dissolve the petty differences that divide us. And we take to heart the profound words of the 14th century Persian poet and mystic Hafiz, when he wrote, ‟Art is the conversation…Art offers an opening for the heart. True art makes the divine silence in the soul break into applause. Art is, at least, the knowledge of where we are standing….In this Wonderland…We are partners straddling the universe.‟Each of the 40 artists is submitting one piece of artwork reflecting the theme of the exhibition. All of the pieces will then be featured in a selling exhibition, of which 10% of the proceeds will be donated to various Egyptian charities.

The exhibit is showcasing a diverse range of artists from 13 different countries including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, USA, Canada, England, Norway, Germany, France, Australia, Wales, Switzerland, and Holland. Some of the artists being featured are one of Egypt’s leading contemporary artists, Mohammed Abla, renowned ceramicist Mohammed Mandour, and expatriate artists Britt Boutros Ghali and Roland Prime.

In addition, an interfaith photography exhibition featuring the work of Rt. Rev. Dr. Mouneer H. Anis, the Egyptian Anglican Bishop of Egypt, titled “Allahu Akbar / How Great Thou Art” will be on display throughout the duration of the festival.

Other presentations include a visit from best-selling Anglo-Afghan writer, and author of “In Arabian Nights” and “The Caliph’s House”, Tahir Shah, a showing of Omar Sharif’s latest interfaith themed film, “Hassan and Morqos”, and a closing musical concert by renowned Iraqi oud (lute) player, Naseer Shamma.

In a closing statement in their press release, exhibition curator, and participating British artist Roland Prime said, “Our desire through this second exhibition is that we will see how much we all have in common and how we can enhance and deepen each other’s lives.”

Founded in 1931, St. John’s Church was the last church designed by the eminent English architect Sir Herbert Baker, who built churches from Cape Town to Cairo. Over the past 80 years, St. John’s has played a crucial role in building bridges between Christians and Muslims in Cairo.

Website: www.oncaravan.org