"The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don't go back to sleep". Jalāl ad-Dīn Rūmī.
New Dawn is an ekphrastic artwork in which I am trying to relate to the current circumstances by describing its essence and form in a vivid visual manner. It is descriptive rhetorical form of art telling a story of reality in a virtual, yet spiritual way. The sentiment of the artwork that shows the rising dawn around the globe, yet the uniting element of 'The Mask,' continues to dominate the fearful hope in the eyes. Using the 'Cactus' as The Mask reveals pain, but also survival and patience, which prevails on colorful grounds and horizons. A "New Dawn" shall rise!
Manal Deeb is an Palestinian American visual artist out of the Washington D.C. area. Manal had many solo and group exhibits in Washington DC, New York City, Dallas, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Fairfax & Lorton in Virginia/USA, London, Paris, Cairo/Egypt, Doha/Qatar, Rome and Malaga/Spain. Her artwork is a reflection of her original identity as an Arab female and the challenges in living in the US and raising three daughters.
Manal has contributed artwork for the causes of Arab females, women rights in general, and the Palestinian cause. She is a residing artist at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia, USA. Her artwork has recently been selected as one of the curated 2016 Directors’ Collection at the Center.
Manal's work presents many identities that are indistinguishable. Each identity has the same apparent memories and perceives identical surroundings, while believing, with evidence, to be representing the real self and the actual memories. Manal studied studio arts at UIC, Chicago, and Psychology of Art at GMU, Fairfax, VA. Her studies of fine arts and psychology have provided her with the ability to work on her artwork as a self-therapy tool while presenting projects with vital messages reflecting women rights for living a productive and enlightened life.