70th annual Nakba Day commemoration

Nakba Day, May 15th, 2011

I heard gunshots on Nakba Day, May 15th, 2011 in Beirut, Lebanon as I participated in the border demonstrations that took place between Lebanon and Israel.  While walking with a lot of people toward the border, I imagined the Nakba Day of 1948 when 700,000 Palestinian refugees were driven out of their hometown and crossed the border, after the Palestinian territory was occupied and Israel was founded. There was a sinister atmosphere caused by the tension that something serious might happen. On that day, young Palestinians were shot and killed by Israeli soldiers. I heard that those Israeli soldiers were surprised at the sound of Lebanese soldiers shooting toward the sky to stop Palestinians from approaching the border, and started shooting. On the way back, I noticed and can't forget that, people were weeping inside the bus.

New York City, May 16, 2018

The tragedy of Nakba continues even now after 70 years. It will not end unless the Palestinians regain their dignity as human beings. The Jews who experienced the Holocaust should understand what human dignity is and how important it is. In New York City, on May 16th, 2018, the day after the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day, the organizations of "Jews Say No! "and "Jewish Voice for Peace - NYC " hosted and invited Jewish communities to come together in order to support Palestinians' freedom, dignity, and right to return home. Despite the rain and the urgent rally, a lot of people participated. I felt hope for the future in our mourning for those who were killed in Gaza. Most of the people at this rally were Jews who listened to the speakers very seriously. Everyone repeated together the speaker's' words to make our voices and hearts united for Palestinians. 

On May 17th, 2018, I went to see the movie "Killing Gaza” by Max Blumenthal and Dan Cohen screened at "Revolution Books" in Harlem the next day. The situation in Gaza, as seen in the movie, was much worse than I imagined. Through this movie, I felt that it is very difficult to release from and heal from trauma and brainwashing but I was deeply impressed by and was able to trust the resilience and vitality of human beings. In the last scene, the young Palestinians expressed themselves very powerfully through dance, painting, and poetry. I believe the best way of expressing their lives is the key to overcoming this situation. I am thinking about my project "In search for the meaning of our lives" that I left behind by recalling the exhibitions and workshops at a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon 7 years ago. I hear the sound of knocking at my door.

Demonstration opposite US military base on Jeju Island in Korea 

Arts to End Violence

Thursday May 24 - Thursday, June 7. 

Gallery is OPEN on Tues. Weds. and Thurs.  

Contact: mcwilliamse@crownheights.org 

Opening Reception: Thursday, May 24, 6:30-8:30 PM

Closing  Reception:  Thursday, June 7,  6:30-8:30 PM

Ron Taylor Gallery: 1160 St Johns Place, Brooklyn NY 11213 
Hosted by Crown Heights Meditation Centre 

My work is about the US military base on Jeju Island in Korea. The United States has more than 1,000 military bases in about 150 countries. It is the top military force in the world and it has  the largest number of soldiers. The US military base has been constructing facilities on Jeju island in Korea for years. There is a tragic history of massacres of Koreans on this island. Due to the intervention of the United States and the Soviet Union, Korea was divided by the 38th parallel into two states, north and south, despite being one nation.

These photographs are taken from the demonstrations against the US military base on Jeju Island in Korea. After a peace festival which Korean and Japanese people carried out on Jeju Island in Korea, the participants appealed for solidarity with people opposed to construction of US military bases in Okinawa, Japan. Construction of the US military base has destroyed nature, and has negatively impacted residents’ lives in many ways. 

my key

Brooklyn Art Book Fair

Robert Blackburn Printshop Monitors

May 25, Friday, 6-9PM

May 26, Saturday, 12-6PM

Free & open to all

McCarren Park Play Center

776 Lorimer Street, Williamsburg, Brookly, NY11222 

More info: www.bkabf.info 

I will present an artist book "your key" and original etching plates, and sale small prints entitled "my key” on May 25.

“Everybody is born with a key for finding purpose in their life.” Based on my concept, I collected discarded keys to make 365 etching plates of different keys and backgrounds. These 365 key plates imply our birthdays and daily lives. The white embossed key prints are expressions of invisible keys in our mind. When we notice the presence of our key, our true life begins. 

Printmaking Workshops for seniors

May 17 - Thursday,  1-3PM - Collagraph

May 24 - Thursday,  1-3PM - Collagraph

May 31 - Thursday,  1-3PM - Drypoint   

Jun 7 -    Thursday,  1-3PM - Chine-collé

JASA CLUB 76

120 West 76th Street, 

NYC 10023

This series of artist-led workshops, organized in conjunction with the EFA Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop introduces contemporary, easy approaches to printmaking.

I will volunteer for June 7th.

Discover Your Collagraph

June 23,Saturday, and 24, Sunday
10:30AM - 2:30PM
The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts 
Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop
http://www.rbpmw-efanyc.org/classes-registration/collograph
323 West 39th Street 2nd Floor NY NY 10018  
646-416-6226  rbpmw@efanyc.org