Title
Honoring the Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary project for its work in providing Philadelphia-based Iraqi and Syrian residents a space to explore and share their experiences of migration, resilience, and refuge through the arts.
Body
WHEREAS, From 2018 to 2019, the Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary Project enabled local Syrians and Iraqis to work with commissioned artists, writers, and illustrators to create handmade books that explore connections between history and experience, displacement and refuge, empathy and belonging. Resettled Syrians and Iraqis now living in Philadelphia developed their printing, binding, and other artistic techniques through a series of workshops that took place across the City of Philadelphia. These workshops served as a space to share personal stories, build understanding, and increase empathy; and
WHEREAS, The Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary Project initially supported five book artists and fifteen Syrian and Iraqi refugees in creating book arts of people's stories and experiences weaved with archival materials in the Swarthmore College Libraries. It also engaged at least ten other artists, fifteen translators, five other participants, as well as many Swarthmore College students, faculty and staff, and Philadelphians. Artists conducted a series of workshops, interviews, and gatherings with project collaborators that contributed to many collaborative and individual works of art. The final artworks are currently on display: Friends at Twelve Gates Arts, Peace at Parkway Central Free Library, and Sanctuary at City Hall; and
WHEREAS, Five artists-Islam Aly, Maureen Cummins, Erik Ruin, Courtney Bowles and Mark Strandquist-were commissioned to create new works emerging from conversations with project collaborators and research in Swarthmore's Friends Historical Library and Peace Collection. These new works, which combine historic and contemporary experiences, were featured in exhibitions in Swarthmore and Philadelphia, and will soon tr...
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