Hand in Hand - Stitching for Justice & Peace - Exhibition of Quilts from Israel, Palestine and Canada

May 26, 2010

Toronto, May 25, 2010 – The exhibition of quilts from Israel, Palestine and Canada, opening on
June 3, 2010, and co-sponsored by: United Jewish People’s Order, Trinity St. Paul’s United Church & Beit Zatoun.

The exhibit brings together a number of workshops centred around peace and hope in Palestine and Israel. Vancouver-based fabric artist Sima Elizabeth Shefrin facilitated the workshops and will attend the opening reception and speak about her experiences with the creation of this project in Israel, Palestine, and Canada.

In March 2007 Sima Elizabeth Shefrin facilitated three art workshops in Palestine and Israel in which she invited participants to create fabric self-portraits along with messages they wished to send to their North American counterparts. The workshops were all opportunities for participants to speak about their own lives. The first workshop took place in Hand in Hand School in Jerusalem, one of the very few mixed Arab/Jewish schools in the country. The second workshop was held with young people in Palestine Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation. The third workshop was organized by Tent of Nations and participants were local women who met at the Women's Educational Centre near Bethlehem. Later British Columbians quilted the fabric pieces and prepared them for display.

Shefrin, facilitated the Middle East Peace Quilt, an international community art project made by about 300 people from all over the world, who were asked to create a quilt square in response to the question "What is your vision of peace in the Middle East?" The Middle East Peace Quilt (31 separate panels) has toured North America since 1999 and has been exhibited in churches, synagogues, community centres, as well as at university campuses, art galleries and the National Archives of Canada.

Sima Elizabeth Shefrin is an artist and quilter who has been researching and practising political stitchery for over 25 years. She has worked for 18 years teaching and participating in peer counselling and listening projects. She is a member of the Palestinian/Jewish Women for Peace Dialogue Group.

Beit Zatoun (House of Olives), a new culture and art venue located in Toronto is a gallery and performance space for the justice and human rights communities. It aims to raise awareness and create greater understanding towards peace through art and culture. Beit Zatoun is located in Mirvish Village at 612 Markham St. (Bathurst subway), Toronto.

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Hand in Hand - Stitching for Justice & Peace
Exhibition of quilts from Israel, Palestine and Canada
Co-sponsors: United Jewish People’s Order, Trinity St. Paul’s United Church & Beit Zatoun

DATES: Opening Reception: June 3, 2010, 7:00-9:00 p.m., featuring talk by Sima Elizabeth Shefrin
Exhibition: June 3 to June 23, 2010
VENUE: Beit Zatoun, 612 Markham St. (Bathurst subway) Toronto
PRICE: Free
INFO: (647) 726-9500 / www.BeitZatoun.org

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For more information contact:
Robert Massoud
Director
Beit Zatoun House
Phone: (647) 726-9500
Email: info@beitzatoun.org
Website: www,beitzatoun.org

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