U.S. Consulate General Jerusalem and Palestinian Authority Ministry of Culture Host Opening of Exhibit Entitled “I Value All These Voices” With American Artist Peter Bruun

January 21, 2010

Jerusalem: The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem and the Palestinian Ministry of Culture hosted an exhibit entitled "I Value All These Voices" at the International Academy of Arts in Ramallah on January 21, 2010. The exhibit brings together work by American artist Peter Bruun and over 60 Palestinian artists who participated in workshops led by Mr. Bruun as a part of a U.S. Department of State-sponsored Cultural Envoy program.

Speaking at the opening, Minister of Culture Siham Al Bargouthi and the U.S. Consulate General's Deputy Principal Officer Greg Marchese celebrated the cooperative program and they congratulated the achievements of the participating artists. The exhibit represents the culmination of two weeks of intensive workshops for professional artists from throughout the West Bank, students at the International Academy of Arts in Ramallah, aspiring artists at the Ramallah-based Young Artists' Forum, and the Jerusalem Artists' Forum.

Mr. Marchese said, "I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the Ministry of Culture and our American artist, Peter Bruun, who kindly accepted the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem's invitation to travel all the way from Baltimore, Maryland to undertake this project. Peter's sensitivity, vision, and commitment to art as a tool for building communities and promoting mutual understanding made him uniquely equipped to undertake this challenge of working with so many talented artists to create the beautiful artwork you see here this evening."

Mr. Bruun, in turn, commended the thoughtfulness and talent of the Palestinian artists. He said, "During our workshops, I asked each participant to consider what they value most— in others, in the world, in themselves -- and to represent it artistically in new and creative ways. These artists, from so many different backgrounds, created beautiful artwork that reflects the things that they care about most in life. I called this exhibit ‘I Value All These Voices' because that is truly how I feel: I value their hopes and aspirations and respect the contributions they make to Palestinian society through their artwork."

This Cultural Envoy program is one of many sponsored by the U.S. Consulate General throughout the year in the arts, culture, and education seeking to engage Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza to promote dialogue and mutual understanding between Palestinians and Americans.

For more information please contact the U.S. Consulate's Press Office at 02-622-6908 or 02-622-6909 or Information Officer Arlissa Reynolds at 054-662-0236.