Interfaith arts festival in Cairo promotes understanding between East and West

By Matthew Davies, January 28, 2010 [Episcopal News Service] Enhancing understanding and respect between Muslims and Christians is the goal of an innovative interfaith art exhibition and supporting events being held Jan. 28 - Feb. 3 at St. John the Baptist Anglican/Episcopal Church in the suburban Maadi district of Cairo, Egypt.

The CARAVAN Festival of the Arts exhibition, which brings together more than 40 Middle Eastern and Western visual artists, follows the success of a similar event held in January 2009.

This year's artistic initiative, with the theme "Harmony: East and West," will also include a series of literature, film and music events, among which is a Feb. 1 presentation by Egyptian actor Omar Sharif. Other events will include a literary presentation by best-selling Anglo-Afghan writer Tahir Shah and a musical concert performed by renowned Iraqi oud (lute) master Naseer Shamma.

"Through this exhibition the goal is to highlight how the arts can serve as one of the most effective mediums of encouraging friendship, deepening respect and facilitating sharing between the Middle East and the West," a press release from St. John's Church said.

The festival was launched Jan. 28 by Bishop Richard Chartres of London and the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Sheikh Ali Gouma, followed by a reception with all the artists present.

Each artist is submitting one piece of artwork that reflects the theme, and for each sale 10% will go to Egyptian charities.

Also on display is an interfaith photographic exhibition, titled "Allahu Akbar / How Great Thou Art," using the photography of President Bishop Mouneer Anis of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East.

The Rev. Paul-Gordon Chandler, an appointed U.S. Episcopal missionary who has served as rector of St. John's since 2003, is patron of the festival, and Roland Prime, a participating British artist, serves as its curator.

"Our desire through this second exhibition is that we will see how much we all have in common and how we can enhance and deepen each other's lives," said Prime.

For Chandler, art is a universal language "that has the ability to dissolve the petty differences that divide us."

Quoting the words of 14th century Persian poet and mystic Hafiz, Chandler said: "Art is the conversation … Art offers an opening for the heart. True art makes the divine silence in the soul break into applause. Art is, at least, the knowledge of where we are standing … In this Wonderland … We are partners straddling the universe."

Founded in 1931, St. John's Church "serves as a unique catalyst for Christian/Muslim relations due to the local respect it has developed over the last 80 years," the press release said.

Further details about the festival are available here.

Participating visual artists include:

Egypt & Middle East

Mohamed Abla      
Mohamed Mandour   
Mariam Forham   
Dr. Reda Adbel Rahman  
Dr. Omar El Fayoumi    
Dr. Farid Fadel   
Soha Abou Hussein   
Sabah Naim    
Maher Ali    
Hisham El Zeiny    
Ahmed Nosseir   
Saleh Abd el-Sabour      
Salah El Meligy   
Rania El Hakim   
Isolde Kadry    
Mansour Ahmed   
Naguib Mahmoud   
Randa Fakes-LoGerfo   
Asmaa Takieddine   
Samia Hosny
Rania Anis    
Ahmed Selim

The West

Roland Prime 
Britt Boutros Ghali
Hugh Sowden    
Herbert Grimm   
Julie Klimentos   
Silvia Davies    
Neil Crouch    
Cosima Lukashevich  
anne du boistesselin   
Carolyn Seaton
Julie Oxenforth
Connie Fiorelli   
Lucy Westwood
Thomas Hartwell
Emma James
James Crabb
Dorian Haqmoun
Cath Barnes
Kimberley Odekirk 
Maaike Draper-Albers
Marielle van der Woude 
Katrina Vrebalovich

-- Matthew Davies is international correspondent and editor of Episcopal News Service.