A Prayer for the World

The sixth CARAVAN 15-day Exhibition of Visual Art “Amen – A Prayer for the World” opened on June 17 at the Modern Art Museum– Al-Bab Gallery, at the Cairo Opera House. The exhibition, which was sponsored by SODIC, co-curated by CARAVAN founder Rev. Paul-Gordon Chandler and Egyptian artist Reda Abdel Rahman, was organized in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and ended on July 1. An intercultural and inter-religious arts initiative with the objective of bringing the Middle East and West together, this year’s CARAVAN invited 48 artists from different nationalities, cultures and monotheistic religions to work with 3D fiberglass statues in human form, decorating them through painting, sculpting and other forms of artistic expression. The opening was hosted by SODIC Chairman Dr. Hani Sarie Eldin and attended by a number of public and social figures, including Minister of Justice Adel Abdel Hamid and dignitaries Sheikh Ali Gomaa and Bishop Mouneer H. Anis, among others. The full collection will be exhibited in Washington D.C. at the world-renowned National Cathedral from August 30 until October 6, and then in New York City at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, from October 12 to November 16. A percentage of the proceeds from the sale and auction of the sculptures will be directed towards Tawasol NGO for building a school in Istabl Antar in Ezbet Khairallah, one of the initiatives SODIC supports as part of its CSR efforts.