June 2-19
Baghdad Revisited
works by
Ahmed Alkarkhi
Reception: Friday June 4, 6-8pm
Ahmad Alkarkh
"Looking Into the Future"
Back by popular acclaim for a second exhibit, the Foundry Gallery presents the recent paintings of Ahmad Alkarkhi, a young Iraqi artist. Ahmad arrived in Washington in late August of 2009, a refugee from his beloved Iraq, ready to make a new life in America for himself, his wife, and two young children.
He brings with him the richness and variety of expression that was so prevalent in the vibrant culture of Baghdad in years past. He worked there successfully until the end of 2006, when sectarian violence erupted and religious extremism became widespread. Playwrights, musicians, artists and intellectuals were targeted by militias.
As intellectuals and artists began to flee, Ahmad joined them and traveled to Damascus where he awaited his family and filed papers for refugee status with the United Nations. While in Damascus, Ahmad's work was shown at several UN-sponsored exhibits as representative of Iraqi art. When they saw the quality of his work, the United Nations presented his papers to the U.S. Embassy and he was accepted as a refugee to the United States.
During Ahmad’s exhibit last December at the Foundry, Susan Stamberg of National Public Radio interviewed him. You can hear the interview and view some of his paintings at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122214886
More of Ahmad's work can be seen at http://www.alkarkhi.com
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