ON A CARAVAN
The inaugural CARAVAN exhibition, held in Cairo, Egypt in January/February 2009, highlighted how the visual arts can serve as one of the most effective mediums of building bridges of friendship, respect and sharing between the creeds and cultures of the Middle East and the West.
18 contemporary artists from both Egypt and the West focused on what the Middle East and West, and Muslims and Christians, hold in common, with an emphasis on "building bridges" between the two. The artists drew inspiration from ideas such as peace, harmony, compassion, goodwill, forgiveness, love, understanding, reaching across and exploring the relationship(s) between East and West.
The exhibition was received enthusiastically and laid the foundation from which CARAVAN grew into the strategic peacebuilding arts initative that it is today, that encourages the creeds and cultures of the Middle East and West to journey together through the arts.
CURATOR
Paul G. Chandler

An author, art curator, social entrepreneur, and peacemaker, Paul G. Chandler has lived and worked extensively throughout the Middle East and North Africa in leadership roles within faith-based publishing, relief and development agencies and with the Anglican Communion. He has curated exhibitions in places like St. Paul’s Cathedral-London, Egypt’s Museum of Modern Art, Washington D.C.’s National Cathedral, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.
ARTISTIC FACILITATORS
ARTISTS
The 18 highly respected and recognized Middle Eastern and Western artists were invited to participate in the inaugural Caravan exhibition, and each produced two works; one based on the theme of "East and West Journeying Together" and another of the venue itself, the historic St John's Church.
Farid Fadel
Hany Rashed
Hisham El Zeiny
Isolde Kadry
Maher Ali
Mansour Ahmed
Mohamed Abla
Omar El Fayoumi
Randa Fakes LoGerfo
Reda Abdel Rahman
MIDDLE EASTERN ARTISTS
WESTERN ARTISTS
Anne du Boistesselin France
Connie Fiorelli Australia
Dorian Haqmoun Switzerland
Julie Oxenforth UK
Kimberly Odekirk USA
Lucy Westwood UK
Maria Maher USA
Roland Prime UK