A Night from Baghdad: Auction of Art from Iraq to Benefit Artists in Iraq

Event Description:

On Friday, June 27, Artist Rescue Mission (ARM) http://artistrescuemission.org will auction 31 paintings by 8 different artists living in Iraq to benefit those same artists. Beginning at 7:00 p.m. at G Gallery http://ggalleryhouston.com at 301 E 11th Street, the Benefit offers assistance to the artists and insight into the war-torn Iraq, art meant “to tell about the suffering of our artists inside our wounded Iraq,” as one of the artists, Salem Al Haj writes.
The evening will offer the 31 paintings in a silent auction; the highest bid will take the painting when the bidding closes at 9:00 p.m. If you are reading this on the PAA home page, click on the event title for more details.
Night from Baghdad graphic

All proceeds from the art auction will go directly to artists in Iraq, and expenditures above the dollar value of the painting are tax deductible.

“One lesson we can take from this event is a finding of hope in that Baghdad produces art even in such difficult times,” stated Board member Yasser Shaib. “All you hear about is violence and death, but beauty and hope co-exist with war.”

While viewing the art, patrons will enjoy music, wine, and food from Iraq, as well as a presentation explaining the journey of the paintings from Baghdad to Houston.

ARM is a non-profit organization that assists artists in areas of conflict, providing various means for their artistic expression. ARM was founded in 1994 to respond to the genocidal breakup of Yugoslavia. Its current endeavor is to assist Iraqi artists.
“Artists are all one. We all believe in the great potential of the human spirit,” said ARM president Michael Woodson. “‘A Night from Baghdad’ is ARM’s, and Houston’s opportunity to financially support, at least in a small way, the artists who are suffering terribly from war in a part of the world that has offered us so much by way of education, culture and civilization.”

Project Iraq has a fourfold mission: one, an Iraqi Art Exhibition late in the fall of 2008; two, residencies for Iraqi artists to interchange with Houston; three, a documentary about Iraqi artists and their culture in the context of the show’s curatorial efforts. Finally, ARM will present Iraqi cultural awareness programs in Houston featuring speakers, film, and cultural events.

Event Sponsor:
Artist Rescue Mission

Event Contact Name:
Michael Woodson

Event Phone Contact Information:
713.444-2477 or 713.529-6900

Event Email Address:
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Event Website:
paa-tx.org/node/2980