Friday, May 9, 2008, 12:57 PM
I apologize for this actually being late news. The Arab American National Museum has graciously extended the length of the "Fragmentation & Unity" Exhibit throughout the summer! The exhibit will continue to be displayed at the wonderful gallery space in Dearborn MI until August 31st, 2008. Do not miss it!
For more information Visit the website.
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Sunday, January 27, 2008, 11:51 AM
The local newspaper in Mt. Pleasant, MI where Sari Khoury taught at Central Michigan University has a short article on the upcoming exhibit and the legacy of his work.
Legacy of Art
Professor's work gets new audience
By Lisa Satayut
Sun Staff Writer
Sue Khoury unrolls one of her husband Sari Khoury's works that she found in his studio after he died. Sue Khoury has been working on getting exposure and appreciation for the large body of work her husband left behind. "He never stopped producing," Khoury said. Sun Photograph by RYAN EVON
When world renowned Palestinian artist and Central Michigan University art professor Sari Khoury died of brain cancer 10 years ago, his wife made one promise to him.
That promise was to keep his legacy alive. And that's exactly what she has been doing for the past decade.
Starting next Thursday, Khoury's work will be on display at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn. The exhibit, "Fragmentation & Unity: The Art of Sari Khoury," will run through April 27.
"My sons and I promised him we would continue to show his art as often and as much as possible," his widow Sue Khoury said.
Khoury had just turned 56 when he died in June of 1997.
Not only was Khoury an art professor at Central Michigan University for more than 30 years, he was also a writer, a philosopher and a man who loved his family. Khoury was just as dedicated to his students as he was to his work, Sue said.
"He challenged them to explore and push the boundaries of their art," She said. "He was very dedicated to his students. It was a major part of his career."
Khoury was born in Jerusalem as the youngest son of an educator.
"He knew early on that he wanted to become an artist," Sue said.
When he was very young he would wander the streets of Jerusalem and draw faces, she said. His training began when he was growing up in the Holy City drawing scenery and the images of everyday life, she said.
Khoury left Jerusalem when he was 17 to create a new and simpler life in the United States.
The AANM exhibit will feature 25 pieces of Khoury's artwork, including a triptych piece that has never been seen by the public before. Khoury often used written words as well as images to express himself. Each piece at the exhibit will also feature a few of his own words.
"In his art and in his words, Sari Khoury often explored what he called the ‘non-tangible allegories' of fragmentation and unity," AANM spokesman Steve Williams said.
Khoury has had his large abstracts and drawings on display in Germany, Sweden and Tokyo.
Years after his passing, Sue remembers how she would find pieces of his work hidden around the house. Pieces she never even knew existed.
"I found this one up here," she said as she pointed to the rafters in the basement where his studio was, and still is.
Sue remembers one of her husband's art pieces that stood nearly 24 feet tall. This poses a problem when they have to be wrapped up and toted around to different museums.
"I got him to work smaller," Sue said laughing. "They are tricky to move." A seven-foot by seven-foot easel still stands in his studio. This easel was designed so that both sides are usable.
"He would work on both sides. He would switch from one piece to the other," Sue said.
Khoury often produced work that would tell the story of the turmoil that was, and still is going on in the Middle East.
"His commitment to an equitable political solution in Palestine led to his participation in an exhibit titled "It is Possible" in 1988," Sue said. He was invited along with 24 other Palestinian and Israeli artists for peace, she said.
For more information about the exhibit please call 313-582-2266. For more information on the life of Sari Khoury and to view his work please visit www.arabamericanmuseum.org. or go to www.khouryart.org.
A second article appeared in the Detroit News on January 22nd, 2008:
Arab American National Museum
Where: 13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn
Information: (313) 582-2266 or www.arabamericanmuseum.org.
Sari Khoury, a Palestinian painter who taught for 30 years at Central Michigan University before his death in the late 1990s, is the subject of the Arab American National Museum's major spring show, "Fragmentation & Unity," opening Jan. 31 (through April 27).
Khoury arrived in the United States from Jerusalem as a teenager, ultimately graduating from the Cranbrook Academy of Art.
Like many immigrants, says museum spokesman Kim Silarski, a sense of cultural dislocation and discovery -- or fragmentation and unity -- "are issues he struggled with and tried to reconcile in his art."
The results are colorful works that are movement-filled and fluid, and call to mind some of the earliest European and American 20th-century abstractionists.
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Sunday, December 23, 2007, 09:40 PM
Late 2007 and 2008 represents a turning point for attention and public visibility of Sari Khoury's artwork and ideas. By January, two books will be available that feature a chapter on him. The first book, by Fayeq Oweis, will be the first encyclopedia of Arab American artists, and feature many other great artists. The second book is a selection of essays published at the 2006 DIWAN Conference in Dearborn, MI.
We've arranged to create a small Amazon-affiliated store that feature these books, and a careful selection of other books about Palestinian Artists and other authors of importance.
Your use of these links when purchasing these books helps develop our website and preserve Khoury's works further.
Click to view A modest selection of books.
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Friday, December 14, 2007, 11:19 AM
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A major new exhibit of artwork by Khoury will be on display in January 2008 at the wonderful Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. It is set to feature approximately 30 pieces, including one very large triptych exhibited for the first time ever. A reception will be held on January 31st in conjunction with the AANM's "Global Thursday" series.
The title of the exhibit is "Fragmentation and Unity."
For more information, Click Here.
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Thursday, August 23, 2007, 07:21 PM
Recently, a thoughtful woman emailed after discovering the website. She had purchased a piece at a Cranbrook graduate student exhibit long ago!
She describes the experience:
The actual size is about 40" x 40" and it is signed "Khoury" and dated '64. I also have the 'price tag' including his name, that was on it at the time we purchased it. ($45.00) Putting the price in perspective: In 1964/65 I was teaching at a grand amount of about $5000 a year -- my grocery budget for a family of 3 was about $30. a week. Spending $45 on a painting was a big deal for us and my husband at the time was not enthusiastic about the expenditure!
She was kind enough to take a photo of the piece in her home. We are always certainly glad to hear of people who had purchased Sari's work over the years and continue to enjoy it.
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Sunday, December 31, 2006, 11:10 AM - Research
;)
(From the Bentley Website)
The Bentley Library at the University of Michigan has a large and growing collection of papers and artifacts from the Arab American community in Michigan. Sari's papers, photos and correspondence are featured there and available for use by active researchers.
Also of note, the University of Minnesota has a similar collection at their Immigration History Research Center. Their collection includes papers from the legendary historian and Princeton Professor, Philip Hitti. Their staff was friendly and helpful in locating information for me recently.
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Sunday, December 31, 2006, 09:59 AM - Publications
Sections of two pieces were chosen for the most recent issue of Hatithe Ramallah magazine
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Tuesday, October 3, 2006, 01:53 PM - Exhibitions
Here are a few photos taken from my camera cellphone of the wonderful exhibition space from this Fall's "Selected Works" exhibit.
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Monday, August 14, 2006, 01:42 PM - Exhibitions
;)
A new exhibit featuring rarely seen drawings and paintings by Sari Khoury is now on display at the Central Michigan University Park Library Baber Room. The exhibit is on display from August 15th to October 25th, 2006.
Hours from their website are:
During the academic year, the Baber Room and Third-Floor Exhibition Area are open during regular library hours, 7:50 a.m. to midnight Mondays through Thursdays, 7:50 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to midnight Sundays. The Extended Hours Study is open 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 7 a.m. to midnight Fridays, 9 a.m. to midnight Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sundays during the academic year. For more information about the library’s exhibitions, call Exhibition Coordinator Megan Moreno at 989-774-6415. Click here for Exhibit Postcard.
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"Light, Freedom, and Mystical Presence: The Artistic Works and Ideas of Sari I. Khoury" to be published.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006, 01:40 PM - Publications
The paper presented by Chris at the 2006 DIWAN Conference on Arab Americans in the arts will be published as part of a collection of essays sometime in 2007. Stay tuned for publication info.
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Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 01:38 PM
Christopher Khoury will be speaking about his father's work at the upcoming Arab American National Museum Conference, entitled "DIWAN: A forum for the arts" between March 30th and April 2nd, 2006 in Dearborn, MI. For more information, email diwan@accesscommunity.org or visit the Museum Website.[ add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink
Tuesday, July 8, 2003, 01:36 PM
Link to Exhibit Press Release
CONTACT: Jennifer Sroka
PHONE: (313) 593-5644
DATE: July 8, 2003
Exhibition showcases Arab and Middle Eastern heritage
DEARBORN---The Center for Arab American Studies (CAAS) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn will present an art exhibit called "Diversity in Harmony: Works by American Artists of Arab and Middle Eastern Heritage" September 8 through October 10 at the Alfred Berkowitz Gallery on the UM-Dearborn campus.
The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, will feature paintings, sculptures, drawings, ceramics and video art.
"This exhibit presents works of art of diverse professional artists who carry artistic links to the culture of the Middle East, or have experienced multiculturalism through amalgamation of the Middle Eastern and Western cultures," according to Hashim Al-Tawil, exhibit curator and lecturer in Islamic art at UM-Dearborn. He also is a member of the CAAS academic advisory committee.
"All artists in this exhibit have been impacted by that multicultural exposure in various degrees and manners. Each artist carries his or her unique cultural and artistic talent, augmented by years of professional experience, and a rich history of creativity, thus presenting an interesting lifetime experience in the form of visual art forms," Al-Tawil said.
Artists participating in the exhibit include Mamoun Sakkal, a traditional Arabic calligrapher; Mumtaz Husain, a renowned artist with exposure at the United Nations and many galleries in New York City; Maysaloun Faraj, an artist, gallery director and organizer of an international art event bridging the cultural path between Europe and the United States; Leila Kubba of Washington D.C.; and Mahmoud Obaidi, who is well known in Canada, the United States and the Middle East.
Al-Tawil, whose art has been shown in major exhibits in Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, also will feature some of his own work. He recently completed and installed an outdoor ceramic monument representing the Arab/Muslim community in Detroit at Solanus Casey Center. His work also is on display at the Rotterdam museum in the Netherlands.
Other Michigan-based artists with works in the exhibition will include Kegham Tazian, Lila Kadaj, Kathleen Rashid, Ilham Mahfouz, Adnan Charara, Mohammed Fradi, Salam Norie, Wafer Shayota and Sabah Yousif.
A special feature of the exhibit will be the work of the late artist Sari Khoury, and a video presentation by Joe Namy. Al-Tawil and Sakkal will give several lectures during the exhibition.
The Alfred Berkowitz Gallery is located on the third floor of UM-Dearborn's Mardigian Library. The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information, call Al-Tawil at (248) 361-1735, or e-mail hmaltawi@umd.umich.edu.
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Thursday, November 14, 2002, 01:34 PM - Press Releases
Link to Exhibit Press Release
Al-Jisser, the Arab American Media Center,
& the Arab Women's Solidarity Association present:
Williamsburg Bridges Palestine
The Face of Palestinian Humanity through Art & Culture
November 2-24, 2002
Opening Gala Reception:
Saturday November 2nd 5:30-8:00 P.M.
ONLY IN WILLIAMSBURG!
Organized by Renda Dabit, a month-long exhibition of Palestinian art and culture from 1960 to the present featuring the work of approximately 50 artists — established as well as emerging talent — of Palestinian origin. Included will be paintings, drawings, photography, video/film, installation, calligraphy, henna, dance, music, poetry, and more. The purpose is to invite the greater New York community to share in the expression of Palestinian culture and heritage and to foster a bridge between our two communities, and to positively portray a people whose human experience and worldwide image have been wrenched by war, regional conflict and international terrorism. Al-Jisser ("The Bridge") is U.S. based organization dedicated to the promotion of Arab Art and Culture. Arab American Media Center (AAMC) works to bring to the general public a fair and accurate representation of political, economic and social issues about Arabs and American-Americans.
Artists:
Dahna Abou Rahme, Dareen Fawzi Abu Dakka, Mohammed Abu Sill, Bassel Aklouk, Zuhdie Al Adawi, Tamam Al Akhal, Muhammad Al Amery, Mustafa Al Hallaj, Mohammed Al Hawajri, Muhammad Al Jalous, Abdul Rahman Al Mozayen, Adnan Al Sharif, Nabil Anani, Reem Bader, Tayseer Barakat, Rana Bishara, Rajie Cook, Aissa Deebi, Hanah Diab, Jumana El Husseini, Samar Ghattas, Samia A. Halaby, Alexandra S. Handal, Ziad Hammud, Zahed Izat Harash. Lena Hassan, Hala Hilmi, Nabila Hilmi, Hasan Hourani, Reem Hussein, Annemarie Jacir, Emily Jacir, Ahmad Kanaan, Sari Khoury, Sliman Mansour, Rima Mozayen, Abdel-Hay Musallam, Khallil Rayyan, Raeda Saadeh, Osama Said, Majed O. Shala, Ismail Shammout, Abdul Raouf Shamoun, Hani Shehada, Huda Siksek, Fayez Sirsawi, Vera Tamari, Adnan Yahya, Sami Zubi, Hani Zurob
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Thursday, October 3, 2002, 01:33 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: October 3, 2002
CONTACT:
Mr. Theodore Khoury
(214)-327-2721
info@khouryart.org
www.khouryart.org
CHICAGO - The work of the late Professor Sari I. Khoury is on display again, on an internet website dedicated to preserving his paintings, drawings, and artistic ideas. A virtual exhibit of thirty-two paintings can be seen and will be periodically updated, highlighting the depth of Sari's work.
Sari I. Khoury was born in Jerusalem, Palestine in 1941. Speaking of his childhood in Palestine, Sari once said, "I witnessed all kinds of upheavals and painful situations and learned to internalize the agony of our impoverished status. My therapy from all this was in drawing. I drew figures, and tormented faces, old wrinkled people." At the age of 17, he came to the United States to complete his art degrees, receiving an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Painting and Sculpture. He taught painting and drawing and served as chairperson of the art department at Central Michigan University.
Khoury's work ranges from referential to abstract, a constant exploration of the fragmentation of form and the play of light within the composition. The range of influences in his work span from Byzantine Icons and Arabic calligraphy to elements of cubism and early abstraction. The artist spoke of these, saying "The Byzantine influence manifests itself mainly through the suspension of images,and a non-objective approach to the human figure. Elements of Arabic script is manifested in my work in the balance of curvilinear configurations and geometricity."
The website, www.khouryart.org, was created to preserve and document much of Khoury's work in electronic format, with the aim of getting the work shown to a wider audience and a new generation of artists. In addition, writings and archival photos of the artist at work are documented on the website.
Recently, Sari Khoury's work was selected for exhibition in Williamsburg Bridges Palestine, in Brooklyn, NY (November 2-24) and a mural he completed for the ACCESS Center in Dearborn, MI was featured on the front cover of the Arab-American Encyclopedia. Previous solo exhibits included the Alif Gallery in Washington, D.C., the Midland Center for the Arts, and the CMU University Art Gallery. Sari Khoury is survived by his wife, Suheila, and three sons, Michael, Theodore, and Christopher.
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