On Naji al-Ali
March 8 - May 3, 2008
opening reception Saturday, March 8 from 6 - 10pm

Panel Discussions
March 8, 7pm
March 22, 7pm
April 12, 7pm
May 3, 7pm
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Chicago, IL- Twenty years after the assassination of Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali, the issues he sought to reveal continue to rage unchecked by the lack of a fair and peaceful agreement between the Israeli and Palestinian people. Curator Haseeb Ahmed and Around the Coyote Gallery present On Naji al-Ali, a major exhibition of politically oriented Palestinian artwork from some of the most influential contemporary artists from the Middle East. A selection of al-Ali's works from their original publications spanning two decades of bloody conflict between Israel and Palestine will be presented along with the contemporary work of New York/Ramallah based artist Emily Jacir and United Arab Emirates based artist Tarek al-Ghoussein.

Naji al-Ali, Untitled

Naji al-Ali's depiction of the young character Handala has become an iconic symbol of resistance to the Palestinian people and all victims of the conflict. Handala speaks to al-Ali's audience through his innocent view of the increasingly violent world that al-Ali illustrates. Often delineated with his back to the audience, Handala witnesses atrocious events that Palestinian children have learned to accept with enduring normality. In an era when few speak out in the face of gross injustice, Naji al-Ali's work is a relentless critique of Israel's involvement in the demise of the Palestinian people.

Since his death, al-Ali's work has been proliferated in a vast selection of books, magazines, newspapers, and websites along with numerous articles eulogizing his life. This exhibit uniquely presents Naji al-Ali's work in combination with selected works from contemporary artists Emily Jacir and photographer Tarek al-Ghoussein along with historical mapping of the conflict to uncover the unique responses artists have given over the years to the catastrophic events experienced throughout the Israeli and Palestinian conflict.

Throughout the exhibition, Around the Coyote Gallery will host numerous panel discussions and a film screening in order to further explore the most contemporary perspectives on the Israeli and Palestinian conflict. In collaboration with Platypus, a Chicago based Marxist reading group, the gallery will host a panel discussion on March 8th designed to examine the political implications of the exhibition. Raja Halwani, professor of philosophy at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Richard Rubin co-founder of Platypus combine forces to investigate the juxtaposition of idealism and reality upon the underlying prospect of the 'one state solution'. Exhibition curator Haseeb Ahmed, a Chicago-based artist, curator and student of the Architecture and Visual and Critical Studies programs at the School of the Art Institute, discusses the legacy of Naji al-Ali on March 22nd. A film screening sponsored by the Chicago Palestinian Film Festival will be held on April 12th. And a panel discussion regarding the future of Palestine with Atiya Khan, Ph.D candidate at the University of Chicago and Tomis Kapitan, professor at Northern Illinois University and the co-author of "Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Philosophical Essays on Self-Determination, Terrorism, and the One State Solution" will be held on May 3rd. All special events start at 7pm at the Around the Coyote Gallery, 1935-1/2 W. North Avenue in Wicker Park.

Naji al-Ali was born in the northern Palestinian village of al-Shajara in what is currently Israel; he was raised in Ain el-Hilweh, a refugee camp in southern Lebanon. In 1961 Naji al-Ali published his first newspaper and worked as a cartoonist for several prominent newspapers including Al-Safir and Al-Siyasa. In 1979, Naji al-Ali was elected president of the League of Arab Cartoonists and concurrently received the leading prize in the Arab Cartoonists exhibition held in Damascus, then again in 1980. The International Federation of Newspaper Publishers awarded him the "Golden Pen of Freedom" posthumously in 1988. Al-Ali spent most of his life exiled in Beruit and Kuwait. He died in London on August 29, 1987 from complications relating to a gunshot wound to the face.

Tarek al-Ghoussein, Untitled 2 (Self Portrait Series)
Archival Inkjet Print
Edition of 6
60x80 cm

Tarek al-Ghoussein was born in Kuwait of Palestinian origin; he lives and works in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. He received his BFA from New York University and his MA with an emphasis in photography from the University of New Mexico. His work has been exhibited at Roy Miles Gallery, London; Aperture Gallery, New York; MMCA, Germany; La Boca Gallery, Madrid; and Randolph Street Gallery, New Zealand; among others.

Emily Jacir received her MFA from the Memphis College of Art; she lives and works in Ramallah and New York City. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. She has had solo exhibitions at Alexander and Bonin, New York; Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita, KS; Debs & Co., New York City; Anthony Reynold Gallery, London; among others. She was included in the 2004 Whitney Biennial and the Greater New York show at P.S.1.

Panel Discussions
at the Around the Coyote Gallery

Additional Upcoming Events

• WPBGA 2nd Saturday Gallery Walk March 8 from 6-10pm. www.wpbga.com for more information.
  
  
• Around the Coyote SELECT exhibition March 7-9 where over 50 of Around the Coyote's most promising artists will be exhibiting their work throughout the Flatiron Arts Building (1579 N. Milwaukee Avenue) along with lectures and readings from some of Chicago's best new playwrights. $5 suggested donation. March 7 from 6-10pm; March 8 from noon to 9pm; March 9 from noon to 6pm. www.aroundthecoyote.org for more information.
  
  
• Around the Coyote at The Artist Project (April 24-28). In conjunction with The Artist Project, Around the Coyote will be presenting a Video Lounge curated by LiveBox featuring some of the best and brightest upcoming filmmakers from Chicago and around the world. A selection of some of Chicago's best new visual artists will also be on display at the Around the Coyote booth at The Artist Project (for more information visit www.aroundthecoyote.org or www.theartistproject.com).
  
  
• Around the Coyote Artist Studio Tour at Artropolis (April 26 from 8:30am to 11am). 3-4 of Chicago's hottest new artists will be highlighted on a personal tour, led by Around the Coyote Executive Director Allison Stites, and offered as part of the VIP program at Artropolis. Tour is free and includes breakfast and trolley service. For more information call 773-342-6777.
  
  
• Around the Coyote Spring Festival at Looptopia (May 2-4). Around the Coyote is moving its Spring Arts Festival to the Loop in conjunction with Looptopia! Come see over 100 of Chicago's best new sculptors, painters, photographers, and installation artists at the Around the Coyote Riverwalk Gallery as well as performances at the Fine Arts Building by some of Chicago's best musicians, actors, authors and filmmakers. For more information visit www.aroundthecoyote.org/festivals.
  
  

This exhibition is made possible in part by a generous donation from Peroni. Around the Coyote, a 501(c)3 non-profit, supports, promotes and makes accessible Chicago's multidisciplinary arts community. Our activities enhance public discourse and provide creative outlets for emerging artists. Year-round programming includes multi-media arts festivals featuring visual art, theater, dance, video and poetry in the winter and fall; art exhibitions in the Around the Coyote gallery; an artist-in-residence program; membership opportunities for artists and art aficionados; educational outreach for all ages through multi-media art workshops, lectures, collaborations with local schools and agencies, and career development workshops for artists. This programming is partially supported by a generous grant from Peroni beer, the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and the CityArts Program 2 grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. Gallery/Office Hours: Tuesday through Friday 10-6pm and Saturday 12-6pm. Mondays by appointment only. Directions: Located in the historic Flat Iron Arts Building, take the Blue Line to Damen Avenue. Chicago, Illinois USA