![\"Port](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/3-Port-by-Mark-Rimlandwebtop.jpg\")
<\/a>Both organizations are based in El Cajon, which has a sizable Iraqi population. Sophie\u2019s Center provides an array of programs for adults with such disabilities as autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy, to help them reach their full potential. The Kensington Gallery is one of three operated by the center. The Iraqi Culture and Arts Association has a mission of building relationships within the community by increasing understanding of the art and culture of Iraq.<\/p>\n
Association president Hussein Al Ghazali explained their goal, using an interpreter.<\/p>\n
And, again, the proof is in the painting. A comparison of two paintings in the exhibit \u2014 a Baghdad cityscape by Iraqi artist Rabea Alwiswasee and a Tijuana cityscape by U.S. artist Mark Rimland \u2014 reveals their similar approach to capturing the colorful mosaic of a dense urban environment.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are a lot of misunderstandings about both groups,” said Wendy Morris, administrator of the gallery. “Art is a way to transcend that. That people are all the same comes out through art. People paint places they have gone, beautiful scenes, family, animals, everybody can relate to that. It breaks down a lot of barriers. It\u2019s important to see all the artists for who they are and embrace them as members of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n Morris pointed out that the Iraqi Association initiated their joint efforts.<\/p>\n \u201cThey sought us out. Somebody saw our gallery, and the president of the association asked if we would have a show with them. They asked to include our students,” she said. “It\u2019s a way of building friendships with them and creating some interest and awareness of their culture through the artwork \u2014 to capture the public\u2019s attention. I think our groups feel very close to one another. We’re friends now. It\u2019s an honor to include them in our schedule of shows.\u201d<\/p>\n Artist Rabea Alwiswasee, chief of the association\u2019s arts program, is pleased with the exhibit\u2019s title, \u201cCommon ground.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what he\u2019s trying to show in his art,\u201d his son and interpreter Osamah said. \u201cHe feels very good about it. It\u2019s a chance to see other artists just like him, maybe better than him. Artists getting together to share ideas, mixing the art from both cultures \u2014 and people can share everything, that would be even better.\u201d<\/p>\n Osamah explained Alwiswasee\u2019s thoughts on the two nation\u2019s attitudes toward art.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is interest in Iraq in art, but there are limits. He can\u2019t show about religion, about culture. There are limits, what he can paint, what he can present. In the States, maybe there\u2019s less interest in art, but there\u2019s that freedom that every artist needs,\u201d Osamah said.<\/p>\n Freedom is also an underlying theme of the exhibit. It\u2019s about the freedom to step beyond expectations and stereotypes, to learn and grow, to explore one\u2019s true identity, and to express it freely through art. It\u2019s also about reaching for an audience willing to examine the artwork and the artists with open hearts and minds.<\/p>\n Rimland, from Sophie\u2019s Center, has been painting for 39 years. He believes that art \u201ccan help make a person feel good. It can be part of making lonely people very happy people. I think [the exhibit] sends a message to the community \u2014 maybe it might encourage them to come see it and they\u2019ll feel happier.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked about the show\u2019s theme, common ground, Rimland said, \u201cIt\u2019s like magic. A very good surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n The \u201cCommon Ground\u201d exhibit runs June 4 through June 30. Stop by for a bit of magical cultural exchange \u2014 and maybe a very good surprise.<\/p>\n Por Kit-Bacon Gressitt<\/p>","protected":false},"author":844,"featured_media":250317,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"11555","_seopress_titles_title":"Iraqi and American artists find common ground","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[11547,11551,11550,11555],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-250316","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-news","category-top-stories","category-uptown-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250316","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/844"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=250316"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250316\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/250317"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=250316"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=250316"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=250316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/a>\u201cWe really appreciate the collaboration. We believe that it \u2014 the Iraqi art with the American art \u2014 is really important, to show how we are involved in this society. We like to be in the melting pot. Our artists represent the ancient Iraqi culture and show it in their art,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>\u2014Kit-Bacon Gressitt writes commentary and essays on her blog, \u201cExcuse Me, I\u2019m Writing,\u201d and has been published by The Missing Slate, Ms. Magazine blog and Trivia: Voice of Feminism, among others. She formerly wrote for the North County Times. She also hosts Fallbrook\u2019s monthly Writers Read authors series and open mic, and can be reached at\u00a0<\/em>kbgressitt@gmail.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"