Title
Recognizing Le Chapeau Project and its artists on the occasion of their one-day art gallery showcasing international artists and challenging the negative narrative surrounding immigrants and individuals from Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Body
WHEREAS, In January 2018, during a conversation in the Oval Office concerning immigration policy, President Trump balked at the prospect of allowing immigrants from some majority non-white nations to enter the United States, allegedly describing them as “s**thole countries.” The White House did not deny the veracity of the reports; and
WHEREAS, The Founders of Le Chapeau Project, currently living in Morocco and Mexico, were among those who listened to the President’s comments with dismay. The organization Le Chapeau Project was formally established in 2018 to democratize engagement with art. Curating one-day only art galleries around the world, Le Chapeau Project showcases contemporary artists from around the globe who would not be presented in typical galleries. After the President’s remarks, they chose to use their first exhibit to challenge this negative characterization of non-white countries. Thus, the art exhibit was conceived, named after President Trump’s now notorious remarks; and
WHEREAS, The exhibit is a one-day art gallery showcasing artists hailing from at least 15 countries, including Haiti, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Rwanda and Tunisia, as well as art from local Philadelphians. The exhibit will allow audience members to explore art from countries demeaned by President Trump like never before; and
WHEREAS, The art exhibit will be experiential and feature many different types of media, including sculpture, paintings, performances, photography, and video. One room in the exhibit will be entirely dedicated to the life and work of renowned Tunisian documentary photographer Sophia Baraket, who passed away in July 2018; and
WHEREAS, Le Chapeau Project chose to hold the exhibition in Philadelphia as it is the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, as well as the first Capital of the United States and the only UNESCO World Heritage City in the United States. People look to Philadelphia as representing American values, making the City the perfect place for the people to reaffirm that they will not stand for racism or xenophobia; and
WHEREAS, The art exhibit is further made possible by the generous participation of its diverse and talented roster of artists, including Wandulu Timothy of Rwanda, Bruno Ruganzu of Uganda, Ruth Zehntner of Mexico, Dina Benbrahim of Morocco, Zaahirah Muthy of Mauritius, Amine Landoulsi of Tunisia, Merieme Mesfioui of Morocco, Mwarv Kirubi of Kenya, Salim Zerouki of Algeria, Lorena Mondragon of Mexico, Daniel Justa of the United States, Zineb Ben Jelloun of Morocco, William Wallace of the United States, Fatima Chafaa of Algeria, Seif Eddine Nechi of Tunisia, Vanny Channal of Cambodia and the United States, Doris Nogueira Rogers of Brazil, Mourad Ben Cheikh of Tunisia, and Jason JaFLEU of Haiti; and
WHEREAS, The Art Exhibit will be on display at The Adrienne Theater in Philadelphia on September 28 from 10am to 7pm. The gallery will be open to the public: no invitation is required, and all are invited to come as they are; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize the Le Chapeau Project and its founders on the occasion of their one-day art gallery showcasing international artists and challenging the negative narrative surrounding individuals from Africa, Asia and the Americas.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That Engrossed copies of this resolution be presented as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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