My Lai Memorial Exhibit Featured At Hairpin Arts In Chicago In June
The Memorial Exhibit was part of a series of events at Hairpin Arts – “Endless War: Memory,Trauma And Resistance” celebrating the powerful impact of art and activism in a world torn by war and violence featuring visual and performance art, workshops, veteran storytelling, interactive art projects, and voices calling for action and resistance. Kathy Kelly, Member Chicago Veterans for Peace and Co-coordinator Voices for Creative Nonviolence was the guest speaker at the opening reception.
A companion exhibit included a selection of posters that speak to the trauma of war from the viewpoint of returning veterans and community activists, inspire resistance and speak for peace and social justice. Included were posters from Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative and Iraq Veterans Against the War – “War is Trauma”, “Celebrate People’s History – Iraq Veterans Against the War”, “Inaugurating Resistance” Portfolios and posters from the Chicago Peace Building Program of the American Friends Service Committee.
Aaron Hughes, an artist, activist, organizer, teacher, and Iraq War veteran based in Chicago contributed the art installation “Ahmed: A Selection Of Ahmed Jabar Shareef’s Photographs” featuring a powerful video is based on footage taken by Ahmed Jabar Shareef, a nine year old Iraqi boy who came to New York to receive medical assistance in 2006 thanks to the generous support of Global Medical Relief Fund.