Through Walls: A Heritage Dialogue celebrates women empowerment and cultural heritage by exploring the connections between Chicano and Egyptian cultures through the creation of two murals, one in Cairo (April 28 - May 9) and one in Los Angeles (to be implemented in summer).

In this seminar moderated by Bahia Shehab, the artists participating in the Through Walls project will explore the challenges of public art, particularly as women in a field largely dominated by men, and their experiences in collaborating across cultures. The 6 artists are: Fajr Soliman, Grace Haynes, Mai Mostafa, Noura Slim, Nuria Ortiz, and Valentina Zapata.

The seminar will be accompanied by an exhibition displaying the process and the artwork the artists have produced as part of this project, as well as the unveiling of the Through Walls Cairo mural.

Schedule:
7:00-7:30pm - Doors open.
7:30- 8:30pm - Seminar
8:30-9:15pm - Exhibition opening + Light reception
9:15-9:45pm - Walk to mural

The Through Walls project is part of the Communities Connecting Heritage^SM program, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, administered by World Learning (www.worldlearning.org). It is implemented in Cairo in collaboration with Athar Lina Initiative, and in the US in collaboration with Avenue 50 Studio.

Bio:

Bahia Shehab is an artist, art historian and scholar based in Cairo. She is associate professor of design and founder of the graphic design program at The American University in Cairo where she developed a full design curriculum focused on the visual culture of the Arab world. Her artwork has been on display in museums, galleries and streets around the world, and was featured in the 2015 documentary Nefertiti’s Daughters. She is the recipient of many international recognition and awards, which include a Prince Claus Award (2016), TED Senior fellowship (2016) and BBC 100 Women list (2013). She is the first Arab woman to receive the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture.Her publications include A Thousand Times NO: The Visual History of Lam-Alif.