Exhibit strives to humanize Syria in time of war
When the Syrian Revolution started in 2012, Dania Alkhouli and her mother, Maria Khani, wanted to make sure people knew that their motherland was more than a war-torn country.
“We gathered some Syrian women from Orange County at our house and had breakfast and brainstorming sessions to discuss possible ideas of how we could showcase our country so that people don’t associate it with what they’re seeing in the media alone,” said Alkhouli, a Syrian American writer who grew up in Huntington Beach.
“What’s happening is happening, but there’s more to Syria than people know.”
The mother-daughter duo eventually came up with the idea of an exhibit that would showcase historical and cultural artifacts from Syria, and in July of that year they put together a display at the Huntington Beach Public Library featuring mosaics, tablecloths, fabrics, figurines and educational posters.
Four years later, Alkhouli and Khani have expanded their exhibit, “A Country Called Syria,” to more than 500 items, and have taken it to Irvine, Fullerton College, Chapman University and Los Angeles. It is now on display at the Cal State Fullerton Salz-Pollak Atrium Gallery until Dec. 21.
Many of the items come from Alkhouli and Khani’s family and other local Syrian American families, while other items were purchased from Syria specifically for the exhibit. The size of the collection has grown faster than the venues, so each exhibit has featured only a fraction of what they have in stock.
“Growing up, people would ask me, ‘Do you ride camels and live in tents in Syria?’” said Alkhouli. “And I would say, ‘No, we have apartment buildings, malls, taxis and cars.’ Now we’re able to provide people an opportunity to get to know the country in a way they didn’t before. It will show them pieces of Syria.”
Rashad al-Dabbagh, executive director of the Anaheim-based Arab American Civic Council, one of the sponsors of the exhibit, agreed.
“The exhibition is a great way to learn more about Syria, especially now in these times when it is only being discussed in the context of war, terrorism, ISIS and the refugee crisis,” he said. “It’s really important to humanize the Syrian people, to combat the hateful rhetoric that’s happening.”
The exhibit at Cal State Fullerton includes intricately designed folkloric clothing, hand-woven silk fabrics, glass-blown prayer beads and vases, pearl and wood mosaic jewelry boxes, musical instruments, paintings, jewelry and traditional hand-crafted dioramas depicting everyday life in Syria.
Alkhouli said these items highlight the Syrian people’s wide-ranging artistic skills, which have been passed down for generations, but are now in danger of being lost in the war.
In addition to the exhibit, “A Country Called Syria” on Nov. 5 will also host a live arts show featuring musicians, singers, calligraphers, graphic designers and woodworkers showcasing and selling Syrian arts and crafts.
The library exhibit also features historical artifacts, such as ancient tablets written in the Ugaritic language, and informational drop cloths and posters explaining many of Syria’s historical landmarks, such as the Theater of Bosra, the House of St. Ananias and the Castle of Aleppo.
“There are so many historical treasures and elements to the country that people don’t know are key to the establishment of civilization worldwide,” Alkhouli said.
Syria is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on earth, but as the Syrian Civil War continues, much of this history is being destroyed.
“It’s very hard, because every time we have an exhibit I have to update the labels because there’s so much going on, and I end up in tears,” said Alkhouli. “I can’t stand that reality, knowing that these landmarks are being demolished, that this history is being wiped out.”
For this reason, she said, “A Country Called Syria” is also an important contribution for Syrians. Alkhouli and Khani’s long-term goal is to establish a permanent display site in Southern California, as well as a traveling exhibition to go around the country.
“There are so many Syrian children who will never be able to go back to Syria,” she said. “This is an opportunity for them to grow up and learn about their country and culture. It’s an educational journey for us Syrians, as well as for those who are not.”
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IF YOU GO
What: “A Country Called Syria”
Where: Salz-Pollak Atrium Gallery, Pollak Library, Cal State Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd.
When: Exhibit open daily until Dec. 21
Cost: Free
Information: https://www.library.fullerton.edu/visiting/exhibits/exhibit-2016-country-called-syria.php
