From El Bab Gallery, Museum of Modern Art, Cairo Opera House
One of URI’s newest Cooperation Circles, CARAVAN, launched its 2014 interfaith art exhibit in Cairo, Egypt, on June 17, featuring 30 premier Egyptian Muslim and Christian artists.
CARAVAN is an interfaith arts non-profit founded by Reverend Paul-Gordon Chandler. Rev. Chandler co-curated the exhibition along with celebrated Egyptian artist Red Abdel Rahman.
The former Grand Mufti of Egypt helped to officially open the exhibit, sponsodered by SODIC, entitled, “AMEN — A Prayer for the World” at the Museum of Modern Art in the Cairo Opera House grounds. Participating artists included a diverse range of Egyptian contemporary artists, from renowned veterans such as Farghaly Abdel Hafiz, Ahmed Shiha, Mohamed Shaker, to rising younger artists such as Marwa Adel and Karim Abd el Malak.
The artists of CARAVAN are making the statement that they, together, are praying for peace, justice and the wellbeing of all in the world.
When CARAVAN’s exhibit moves to the US, it will also feature premier Western Christian and Jewish artists; it is set to run from August 31-October 6 at the National Cathedral. The exhibit will then move to New York City’s Cathedral of St. John, where it will run from October 12-November 16. For more information, see Caravan’s website.
Rev. Paul-Gordon Chandler has spent the last ten years living in Cairo, Egypt where he was the Rector/Minister of St. John’s Church (Episcopal) and Interfaith Arts Center, which was a unique bridge and catalyst for Christian/Muslim and East/West relations through the Arts in Egypt, holding many arts programs that foster creative inter-religious/intercultural initiatives.
