An online petition to reinstate artist Samia Halaby's exhibtion at Indiana University has been signed by more than 11,000 people. Photo: Ayyam Gallery
An online petition to reinstate artist Samia Halaby's exhibtion at Indiana University has been signed by more than 11,000 people. Photo: Ayyam Gallery
An online petition to reinstate artist Samia Halaby's exhibtion at Indiana University has been signed by more than 11,000 people. Photo: Ayyam Gallery
An online petition to reinstate artist Samia Halaby's exhibtion at Indiana University has been signed by more than 11,000 people. Photo: Ayyam Gallery

Palestinian artist Samia Halaby’s retrospective cancelled by Indiana University


Maan Jalal
  • English
  • Arabic

Palestinian artist, scholar and activist Samia Halaby’s first US retrospective has been cancelled.

Due to open on February 10 at Indiana University's Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, the exhibition, titled Samia Halaby: Centers of Energy, had been in the works for more than three years.

A petition to reinstate the retrospective, curated by Elliot Josephine Leila Reichert, has since been launched.

As reported in The New York Times, Halaby received a call from David Brenneman, the director of the museum, in December, informing her that employees have expressed concerns about her social media posts in regards to the Israel-Gaza war.

Halaby has continuously posted her support for the Palestinian cause, particularly focusing on child victims of the violence.

Halaby then received a note from Brenneman, officially cancelling the show.

“I write to formally notify you that the Eskenazi Museum of Art will not host its planned exhibition of your work,” The New York Times quotes the letter as saying.

Halaby, is one of the leading Arab abstract painters and an influential scholar of Palestinian art. Although she has lived in the US since 1951, Halaby has been recognised for her pioneering work in the the field of contemporary abstraction as an Arab artist.

Samia Halaby in her studio in New York. Photo: Ayyam Gallery
Samia Halaby in her studio in New York. Photo: Ayyam Gallery

She studied at Indiana University, achieving a masters in fine art from the institution in 1963, and in 1969, she joined the IU tenured faculty.

Throughout her career, Halaby has also been very vocal about her Palestinian heritage.

As part of her cancelled show, more than 30 works, including drawings, prints and paintings created throughout her career were going to be showcased – from her time as a student at IU and Michigan State University to her tenure as the first woman professor at the Yale School of Art.

With Madison Gordon, a board member of Halaby’s foundation, the artist has launched an online petition to reverse the university’s decision and reinstate the planned exhibition next month.

According to the petition, Halaby "privately appealed the decision to IU President Pamela Whitten", however chose to go public after "receiving no response" in the hope that public support will see the exhibition reinstated.

“In the absence of any response from the administration, it is apparent that the University is cancelling the show to distance itself from the cause of Palestinian freedom,” the petition text reads.

“For 50 years, Samia has been an outspoken and principled activist for the dignity, freedom, and self-determination of the Palestinian people.”

The petition currently has more than 11,000 signatures with the goal of reaching 12,800.

“Clearly the intent is to suppress Palestinian voices at this very time,” Halaby said to the publication Hyperallergic.

“If that were not their intention why not accept my offer to meet with them and clear matters? Why did they not speak up during the three long years of preparation?”

Halaby recently had her first retrospective in the Middle East entitled Lasting Impressions: Samia Halaby, which ran at the Sharjah Art Museum from September 20 until January 7, showcasing 180 works from across the artist’s career.

The National has contacted Halaby and Reichert for comment.

While you're here
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It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
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Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent   

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Iran has sent five planeloads of food to Qatar, which is suffering shortages amid a regional blockade.

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Greenheart Organic Farms 

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Modibodi  

Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.

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The Good Karma Co

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Bubble Bro 

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Coethical 

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Eggs & Soldiers

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www.eggsnsoldiers.com

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Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228

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Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania ​​​​​​​
Verdict: 4 Stars

6 UNDERGROUND

Director: Michael Bay

Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco

2.5 / 5 stars

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On sale: now 

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School counsellors on mental well-being

Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.

Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.

Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.

“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.

“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.

“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.

“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”

Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.

The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.

At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.

“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.

“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.

"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”

Updated: January 14, 2024, 9:48 AM