art under siege:

Charcoal drawings by Momen

PLEASE DO Gallery is honored for the opportunity to showcase artwork from some of Gaza’s talented artists.

Like nearly all residents of the Gaza strip, Palestinian artists in Gaza are critically deprived of even basic, vital resources. Artists and teachers struggle to make a living under such harsh impositions; galleries, schools and markets have been decimated, and art supplies can be difficult to obtain.

The talents and voices of Gaza deserve to be heard. Their work deserves the exposure and consideration afforded to the wider world, and their stories, insights, and beautiful creations are of rich value to our own lives.

-art diplomacy-

A Palestinian artist named Momen reached out to me on Instagram, asking if I had any ideas on how to get art from Gaza to a larger audience and market. We discussed the prospect of making reproductions from high quality images, as a means to display the work, and to facilitate purchases of prints.

My new gallery space inside RAD Rendezvous studios in Asheville, still has a blank wall, so I decided PLEASE DO Gallery is a suitable place to begin this project. Thus was born of collaborative efforts: Art Diplomacy; a wall within the gallery to feature these obscured but critically important expressions.

calling on allies, collaborators, investors and facilitators

Right now, Momen is my sole collaborator on this project. I’m in touch with several other talented artists in Gaza, but I want to secure some resources and lay groundwork before continuing to build the roster.

If you are interested in contributing or getting involved, please contact james.kellis.art@gmail.com

The artistic expressions of people living under oppression is of great value to the world, and can serve as a reminder of our shared humanity. The people of Gaza have a passion for life, and it shows in their powerful, touching, and often heartbreaking works of art. That artwork deserves a place on our walls to be admired, enjoyed and contemplated, inspiring hope for brighter days.

Thank you all, blessings. Free Palestine.