Untitled (Marsaba) by Amit Geron

The Riffe Gallery will present Aspirations: Toward a Future in the Middle East, an exhibition of more than 170 images by 11 Israeli and Palestinian photographers January 25-April 8. The opening reception on Thursday, January 25, 5-7 p.m. is free and open to the public. Curated by Robert Stearns and Nella Cassouto, Aspirations seeks to address a goal that seems impossible and inevitable at the same time peace in the Middle East between the Israeli and Palestinian people.

"The issues at the heart of this exhibition concern everyone, no matter where we live," said Wayne Lawson, executive director of the Ohio Arts Council. "For that reason, we were inspired to assemble an exhibition of diverse viewpoints from the Middle East and to share it with audiences in North and South America. We hope it will encourage dialogue among many different cultures about a situation that will continue to evolve over time and affect our lives for years to come."

Artists in the exhibition were chosen for their ability to convey a sense of self, place and community. The exhibition will reflect on the current political and cultural situation in the Middle East and provide a common ground for grasping the artists' very different messages. Images in this exhibition convey the realities and aspirations of the photographers. The artists desire peace, but in the face of the perpetual disappointments of the past, they view their world with a combination of optimism, skepticism and irony.
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OAC DIRECTOR ATTENDS WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE

What is the role of culture in America's global presence? Wayne Lawson, executive director of the Ohio Arts Council, met in late November with U.S. and international political and corporate leaders, academicians, artists, cultural leaders and members of the news media at the White House Conference on Culture and Diplomacy to discuss that issue.

Sharing America's arts and cultural programs can enrich the perception that foreign audiences have of the United States. Cultural diplomacy programs can correct misrepresentations about who we are as a nation and contribute to international understanding. Lawson says Ohio's contribution is to represent the United States by sharing our state's cultural voice. "Cultural exchange does not necessarily emanate from the east and west coasts," said Lawson, who oversees the Ohio Arts Council's International Program. "Ohio and its artists and arts institutions play a very important role in cultural diplomacy."
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