Exhibition: Convergence: New Art from Lebanon, Washington DC, April 2010

The first comprehensive North American exhibition curated in the aftermath of Lebanon’s tumultuous civil war (1975-1990), Convergence brought together nearly 50 paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs and media-based art by 29 artists—more than a third of them women— based primarily in Beirut. Reflecting the memories, hopes, dreams and political and religious realities of a culture seeking to reclaim itself, the exhibition introduced Americans to the vitality and volatility of today’s art from Lebanon.

Convergence was held in 2010 at the Katzen Arts Center in the College of Arts and Sciences at the American University in Washington D.C.

Participating Artists:

• Ayman Baalbaki
• Oussama Baalbaki
• Lulu Baasiri
• Mouna Bassili Sehnaoui
• Huguette Caland
• Joseph Chahfe
• Chaouki Chamoun
• Hala Dabaji
• Amal Dagher
• Mansour El Habre
• Rim El Jundi
• Mohamad El Rawas
• Chawki Frenn
• Bassam Geitani
• Joseph Harb
• Joumana Jamhouri
• Nadim Karam
• Nabil Nahas
• Jean Pierre Watchi
• Jocelyne Saab
• Mario Saba
• Marwan Sahmarani
• Nada Sehnaoui
• Kris Seraphin
• Hanibal Srouji
• Anita Toutikian
• Katia Traboulsi
• Paul Wakim

Film Series

A series of six feature-length works, three short films, and one documentary representing the best in contemporary Lebanese film.

After screening discussions were led by Jeffrey Middents, a professor and director of the Cinema Studies minor and world literature at the American University in Washington DC, and Alicia Sams, an Emmy-Award winning producer and director with extensive experience in both documentary and feature films.

• NOT LIKE MY SISTER (2008) – Leyla Assaf Tengroth
• THE NORTH ROAD (2008) – Carlos Chahine
• BOSTA (2005) – Philippe Aractingi
• UNDER THE BOMBS (2007) – Philippe Aractingi
• ZOZO (2005) – Josef Fares
• QUAND MARYAM S’EST DEVOILEE (2001) – Assad Fouladkar
• AFTER SHAVE (2005) – Hany Tamba
• BEIRUT OPEN CITY (2008) – Samir Habchi
• ASHES (2003) – Joana Hadjithomas, Khalil Joreige
• THE KITE (2003) – Randa Chahal Sabag