It's that time of year! Time for the first Media Artist + Activist Residency (MAR) Information Session! Aisha Mershani @amershani (working in collaboration with @amistadlaw ) will be joining us for this virtual event March 4th!
Wonder what happens during an information session? It's simple! Learn about the application process from someone who applied successfully. ASK QUESTIONS! BE CURIOUS! Ask about collaborations, work samples, the residency process and more!
Join us for this event Wednesday, March 4th 5:30-6:30pm via zoom. Learn more about the MAR at leeway.org/mar. Sign up to attend at luma.com/leewayfoundation
We’re happy to host, before our movie screening on Thursday, the lecture of Dr. Aisha Mershani, a social justice photographer from the US. The lecture is entitled: ‘Documenting Palestine: 20-Year Archive of the Apartheid Wall’.
From 5PM, in the Cinema Room, BA.204, March 28th.
To give you a bit more context on her practice, from 2003-2022 Mershani focused her subject on Palestine/Israel and photographed nearly every aspect of life under occupation. These photographs cannot be seen in mainstream media, and have been in multiple publications, as well as many internet news sites over the years to further the awareness of what was occurring on the ground. She is also one of the artists in the reference book, “Encyclopedia of Arab American Artists”.
Aisha Mershani completed her Ph.D. degree (2015) from the UNESCO program in International Peace, Conflict, and Development Studies at the Universitat Jaume I in Castellón de la Plana, Spain. Mershani’s dissertation, entitled Palestinian Civil Resistance: A Case Study of the Popular Struggle Against the Wall from 2002-2013, focused on life in the Occupied West Bank since the establishment of the Israeli Apartheid Wall, and the Palestinian popular struggle to nonviolently remain on their lands.
Mershani was born in Las Vegas, Nevada to an American Jewish mother and a Moroccan Muslim father. Her work comes from a place of concern about the injustices occurring in the Middle East, and a commitment to expose these injustices and educate those outside of the region. The expression of everyday life is the primary objective of her documentary photographic work. Aisha Mershani is currently an Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Gettysburg College and combines her scholarly work with her media activism.
Mershani’s newest project was developed through collective efforts using her work spanning the last 20 years. This project is titled La La Lil Jidar: 20 Years Behind the Apartheid Wall was shown in Philadelphia, PA at InLiquid Art Gallery (Sept 14 - Nov 11, 2023) and then at Studio 34 Yoga Healing Arts from (December 1, 2023 – January 29, 2024).
Ciudad de México, ven a conocer más sobre “La La Lil Jidar”
لا لا للجدار
(significa “no no a la muralla”) — un archivo de fotografía y audio de los 20 años del Muro del Apartheid, y nuestro colectivo de artistas en Filadelfia por la solidaridad con Palestina. 🇵🇸
🗓️ 7 - 11 de Febrero
📍Av. Progreso 69, Col. Escandón (entrada por Calle Gral. Francisco Murguía)
🎙️Charla y presentación con tres personas del colectivo La La Lil Jidar — jueves 8/2 de 19:00 a 21:00. (@amershani , @mahamscience , y Nora Elmarzouky)
Último slide: Recepción de apertura de la exposición “Identity” con compás artistas — mié. 7/2 de 19:00 a 21:00. Curado de @askabrother .
#lalaliljidar #palestinalibre #mexicocity #cdmx #MexasConPalestina #semanadelarte #ceasefirenow
TOMORROW! Meet our collective and learn more about how this emergent collaboration developed.
La La Lil Jidar started at a photography archive of @amershani ’s 20 years in and out of the West Bank. Since Spring 2023, it has evolved into much more — a Palestinian and solidarity arts collective.
You’ll hear from:
@amershani@khaliduhhh@qaisassali@mahamscience@tracychahwan@yaqeen_yamani
Nora Elmarzouky
And other beloved humans who have joined our efforts along the way. 🙏🏽
Moderated by our cherished friend and fellow organizer, @anissaweinraub .
🎟️ RSVP at link in bio.
🍲 Dinner provided by @renatas_kitchen .
#nowalls
Join us for deeper look into the archive of La La Lil Jidar photography, by @amershani , “20 years Behind the Apartheid Wall,” in West Bank, Palestine.
Our collective member, Aisha Mershani, will unveil more on her life in Palestine, how she became a photographer by way of solidarity activism, and the relationships that were built on the frontlines of protesting the construction of the Wall.
This history helps to document the ongoing oppression enacted by the Israeli regime that pre-dates 10/7. It gives us further evidence of just how often non-violent resistance has been a core strategy for Palestinians across the land. And how often that has been met with disproportionate violence and subjugation.
Aisha will illuminate how her own Arab and Jewish identity inform her solidarity and define what has driven her to this work.
Join us. Gaza and the West Bank need us to stay witness to this genocide and fight for a free Palestine. Come, deepen your fervor by way of learning more about the people in these photos.
From West Philly to the West Bank. ✊🏽
🎟️ RSVP at link in bio.
🍲 Dinner provided by @renatas_kitchen
😷 Masking highly encouraged.
#apartheidwall #palestine #philadelphia #archive
Tickets going fast for this fundraiser for an exciting multimedia project bringing Palestine to Philadelphia. Project called La La Lil Jidar: 20 year s behind the apartheid wall in Palestine by @amershani Link in bio to buy tix.
Follow the project at @lalaliljidar
#philadelphia #photography #artsandactivism #palestine #multimedia #fundraiser
Buy tickets TODAY for the summer BBQ cookout @renatas_kitchen to support this multi-layered activist project that connects Philadelphia to Palestine! Photography of the Apartheid Wall is used simultaneously in both physical and digital spaces to educate and engage American audiences. This work intends to expand solidarity and action for justice in the city through multiple community collaborations.
LA LA LIL JIDAR is a collective effort @phillypalestinecoalition aimed at disrupting the mainstream narratives about Palestine. This fundraiser directly supports exhibition costs, outreach, website for resources, audio, and all photos, traveling, and more. Exhibit @inliquidart
Link in bio
Join tomorrow night (Wednesday) for a webinar on the US Mexico border wall, eminent domain and the connections to the Israeli Apartheid Wall. @noborderwall_ltx
