Arab American Artist to Paint Mural in Memory of 9/11
As part of the Dr. Martin Luther King Day service summit, Arab-American visual artist Nabil Mousa will create a mural titled “Judgement Day 911” as a reflection of feelings and thoughts left from the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City.
Mousa, a native of Syria, moved to the United States in 1978 as a 12-year-old. His works reference Middle Eastern themes with contemporary design aspects. His art reflects his sentiments towards racial injustice and civil rights and is saturated with political and educational messages.
On Monday Jan. 16, Mousa will be constructing the mural at Studio #16 located inside the Mattress Factory Lofts at 300 Martin Luther King Jr. SE.
The mural, which will be comprised of nine wood panels, will measure 10 ft x 50 ft upon completion. The mural will be composed of various religious symbols, imagery of the World Trade Center’s twin towers and a collage of excerpts from the Qur’an, the Bible, and the Torah.
Mousa has invited anyone willing to participate to join him in painting the mural from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The general public is welcome to post memorabilia, news articles, clothing, photographs, and/or handwritten messages expressing thoughts and feelings about the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Mousa believes, “By sharing our stories, our feelings, our beliefs—and by reading the stories, feelings, and beliefs of others—it is my hope we can foster a better understanding of our diverse cultures and promote a genuine healing.”
His hope is that the collaboration with the public will facilitate a healthy discourse to help eradicate racism and discrimination that has resulted from the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Once the mural is finished there are plans to exhibit the project in Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dear Born, MI, New York and Chicago. After finishing this nationwide tour, the mural with be permanently installed in Atlanta.
This awesome opportunity to contribute to such a meaningful work of art does not come around too often, regardless of artistic skills, anyone interested is greatly encouraged to participate.
Henry Samuels
Creative Loafing