DOWNTOWN: Exhibition | Home + Discordance = US | September 15 – October 14

Solas Nua, in collaboration with New York University, Washington, DC, is pleased to present Home + Discordance = US, an exhibition that explores the idea of the US as a place of “home”. Typically the word home conjures up an image of warmth, welcome and a place of safety. However, for some that image does not fully hold true; some are less welcome than others, some are less equal and some are less safe.

Abaya with Safety Pin, Helen Zughaib, gouache on watercolor paper

The exploration of the Irish immigrant experience of defending home, leaving home and making new homes is one frequently addressed in Solas Nua’s programming. This experience is not singular to the Irish but is universal and one that is shared by all communities in the US be they immigrant or indigenous.

The Revolution Evolves, Ann Lewis, digital image on vinyl

In order to explore this theme of Home + Discordance = US an exciting group of DC-based artists have been invited to participate in the exhibition. They represent a broad cross-cultural perspective on the exhibition concept, African-American, American, Brazilian, Colombian, Ethiopian-American, Native American, Mexican-American, Irish, Lebanese and Japanese.

Curated by: Jackie Hoysted, Solas Nua

Dream Home, Akemi Maegawa, stoneware, wood, fake moss

Artists: Holly Bass, Hoesy Corona, Heloisa Escudero, Erin Devine, John Brendan Guinan, Jackie Hoysted, Ann Lewis, Tsedaye Makonnen, Akemi Maegawa, Carolina Mayorga, Sheldon Scott, René Treviño, Anna Tsouhlarakis and Helen Zughaib

NYU Washington DC, 1307 L St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Exhibition Dates: September 15 – October 14, 2017

Hours: Monday - Sunday 10am-9pm

Opening Reception and Performances: Friday, September 15, 6-8 pm including live artist performances by Heloisa Escudero and Tsedaye Makonnen, story-telling by Sheldon Scott and call-and-response poetry by Holly Bass.

Additional Programming:

Sunday, September 24, 2-4:30 pm, Film: screening of Emerald City, which explores the lives of immigrant Irish construction workers in New York City, followed by a question-and-answer session via Skype with Director Colin Broderick.

Tuesday, October 10, 6:30-8:30 pm, Culture Mix: What is Home, A conversation among a diverse group of Washingtonians about 'Home' - leaving, returning, becoming and settling. The conversation will be highlighted and illustrated by poetry readings and live music.

All events are free to the public.

About Solas Nua
Solas Nua, ‘new light’ in Irish, is the only organization in the United States dedicated exclusively to contemporary Irish arts. Based in Washington, D.C., our mission is to bring the best new Irish artistic talent to America. For over a decade we have brought audiences an exciting mix of modern Irish theatre, music, dance, visual arts, film, and literary events including the annual Capital Irish Film Festival and Irish Book Day.

Visit the Solas Nua website at  www.solasnua.org