Artist’s Meeting for Oly-Rafah Mural Project

Greetings, Artists and Friends!

The Olympia- Rafah Mural Project invites all artists to join us this Sunday, July 27th, 1:00 pm, to participate in design work for the Olympia-Rafah mural and to learn how to be further involved in its creation and painting . The Olympia-Rafah Mural Project is a collaborative community-based project to honor the sister city relationship that exists between the people of Olympia, Washington, and Rafah, Palestine. Susan Greene, one of the leading artists of Break the Silence Mural Project (San Francisco) and visionary for the Olympia mural, will join us to facilitate the design workshop. The mural will eventually be painted on the Labor Temple in downtown Olympia at the corner of State and Capitol.

Come to our studio space this Sunday to collaborate with other artists on the design. We are located in the alley behind the Royal Lounge, 311 N Capitol Way, second door to the left. For further information, contact mural@rachelcorriefoundation.org.

Hope to see you there!

The Olympia-Rafah Mural Project is an official recognition by the people of Olympia, Washington, of the Sister City relationship that exists with the city of Rafah, Palestine. Through the creation of this collaborative public mural, we will express our desire for Palestinian self-determination, which is rooted in honoring the common struggles for global justice faced by marginalized people everywhere. By upholding human rights for all, we seek to break down barriers to understanding, increase visibility for Palestinian people, encourage imagination, embrace the hope and courage of Rachel Corrie, and bring people together in one voice for change.

Dr. Susan Greene is a multidisciplinary artist/activist, educator, and clinical psychologist who directs the learning center at the San Francisco Art Institute. She has twenty years of experience with collaborative community-based mural projects, including many in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Greene is one of four Jewish-American female artists who formed Break the Silence Mural Project in 1989. Break the Silence artists have traveled to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip numerous times to facilitate community mural projects, conduct arts workshops, and create sculpture in refugee camps in Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Beit Hanoun and Rafah. Upon returning they have presented their work and reflections to high school, university, and community audiences across the United States.

Dr. Greene contacted the Rachel Corrie Foundation in 2004 about facilitating a mural in Rafah at the Rachel Corrie Children and Youth Cultural Center. Her current vision includes creating another “sister mural” in Rafah thematically linked to the Olympia mural. Several community meetings were held to gauge interest and support for this project. Participants at those meetings were enthusiastic about the possibilities for the mural and how it could increase understanding of ways in which we are connected to the people of Rafah, and to dispel myths and misconceptions about Palestinians.