Gina Malek part of the group show “Before We Were Banned” in response to the Muslim Ban 1.0

Before We Were Banned is a group art show in response to the Muslim Ban 1.0, opening on Friday January 26 at 6pm at ArtHelix in Bushwick, NY. The show focuses on artists residing and working in the US, but with familial lineage/ heritage/ roots to the 7 countries on the Muslim Ban 1.0 list – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

Before We Were Banned seeks to examine the complex nature of identities assumed as immigrants in US [from those countries] long before/after the ban was announced in an effort to reveal honest representations of those affected and also to heal the community. Questions posed to artists included, ‘What does home mean in a place that actively opposes your existence? And What does home mean when visiting (or are not legally able to) your home country?’ These themes are explored through mediums like multimedia installations, video art, photography, printmaking, collage and painting. Select merchandise, books and publications from the diaspora will also be showcased during the show. The event is hosted by SHIM at ArtHelix and is curated and organized by Brooklyn-based Iranian-original duo, Kiana Pirouz and Mahya Soltani.
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Exhibiting Artists:
Mays Albeik
Layali Alsadah
Asiya Alsharabi
Farhad Bahram
[with Tom Lundberg]
Carmen Daneshmandi
Ibi Ibrahim
[with Hosam Omran]
Rhonda Khalifeh
Soraya Majd
Gina Malek
Ifrah Mansour
Tandis Shoushtary
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Also exhibiting:

Araweelo Abroad
Fully Booked
Taravat Talepasand
Yassin Alsalman AKA Narcy (formerly The Narcicyst)

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Opening:
January 26, 2018
6 – 9 PM

Exhibition:
January 26, 6 – 9 PM
January 27, 12 – 6 PM
January 28, 12 – 6 PM

ArtHelix
289 Meserole Street
Brooklyn, NY 11206
United States

Group Show “People I love who are far away” co-curated by our beloved Gina Malek

for all the people who are in New York around the february 1th. At the E.Tay Gallery

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Our exhibition focuses on artists whose practices have been touched in some way by migration. The works embrace issues that intersect with immigration including human rights, international politics, absence, colonialism and identity– revealing the capacity of art to speak to the strength and resilience of the immigrant community. There will also be a special performance by Victoria Udondian that interrogates the nature of borders, immigration, and privilege by simulating and recontextualizing the frustrating experience of obtaining a visa at a customs office.

Curated by Christina Papanicolaou and the YPLC’s Gina Malek, the exhibition features work from artists who are DACA recipients, undocumented, and have roots in New York, Nigeria, Vietnam, Mexico, and everywhere in between. People I Love Who Are Far Away  is a celebration of the eclectic, diverse and powerful immigrant community we all form together.