Through foundation efforts and the hospitality of the Side Door Studio in Olympia, Washington, a provocative exhibit THE U.S. SENATE READS AN EMAIL BY THE LATE RACHEL CORRIE TO HER PARENTS, made a September west coast debut here in Olympia, Washington.
(Click here to see images of the exhibit.)
Inspired by Rachel’s story, Peter Schumann, founder and director of the internationally celebrated Bread and Puppet Theater, created this large, mixed-media art installation. Six primitive life-size figures painted with excerpts of Rachel’s e-mails describing the misery of occupation are juxtaposed with dozens of smaller portraits suggesting ignorant and complicit members of the U.S. Senate. Schumann is renowned for his use of simple, affordable, or free materials to elucidate social and political themes. The exhibit’s images are all on recycled corrugated cardboard, many painted with latex paint.
Schumann’s own daughter had traveled to the West Bank to do human rights work. “But unlike Rachel she returned unharmed. So obviously Rachel Corrie’s tragedy carried a very special weight for me,” he said.
On September 16, a reception featured guest Linda Frank, of Tacoma’s Northwest Middle East Peace Forum, and Craig and Cindy Corrie speaking about Congressional lobbying for a just peace in Palestine and Israel and efforts in the US Congress to secure an independent investigation into Rachel’s killing.
The U.S. Senate Reads an Email by the Late Rachel Corrie to her Parents was previously exhibited in Vermont, New York City, Boston, and Montreal. A Seattle showing along with Schumann’s street theater presentation is planned for 2006. To host the show in your community, contact foundation board member Christi McGinley at [email protected]
