Special to the Reporter
Amer Zahr appeared at a social gathering at Mercer Island’s SZ Gallery on Oct. 11 prior to his performance of “The Truth” at Town Hall Seattle.
Zahr is a Palestinian Arab American comedian, speaker, writer, academic and adjunct professor at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He draws on his experiences growing up as a child of Palestinian refugees, performing and lecturing on topics like politics, society, culture, identity, Palestine, Islam and more.
The gallery is currently presenting “Control Anatomy,” an exhibit curated in collaboration with the Zawyeh Gallery in Ramallah, Palestine. This solo exhibition by Palestinian artist Mahmoud Alhaj explores colonial violence and the architectural mechanisms of domination and control over Palestinian geography witnessed by Gaza-born Alhaj. The exhibit will run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays (weekends by appointment) through Dec. 31 at SZ Gallery (2441 76th Ave. SE).
Alhaj discussed what he’s trying to achieve through the pieces on display: “In my work, I am trying to convey the intricate layers of violence, survival, and memory, especially in a place as deeply impacted as Gaza. Through these pieces, I want the viewer to experience the emotional and physical scars that are left behind, not just on people but on the landscape itself. It’s about bringing to light the subtle forms of erasure how places disappear, how histories are rewritten, and how trauma is carried in silence. I want my art to open a conversation, not only about the horrors of conflict but also about resilience, how people manage to preserve fragments of their identity, their humanity, amidst destruction. Each piece is a way of resisting this erasure, a testament to the lived experience of those who endure in the shadows of violence,” he said, in part.
On growing from the experience in life and art, Alhaj added: “Living through the realities of occupation and displacement has shaped my understanding of loss, but it also deepened my connection to storytelling. My artistic journey has grown from focusing on the visible to exploring what’s left unsaid the gaps in history, the forgotten voices. Every experience has been a lesson in patience, turning pain into a means of expression, and this growth continues to shape both my personal and professional identity.”
Suzanne Zahr, a Palestinian-Lebanese-American architect and owner of SZ Gallery, is providing an outpost for Palestinian voices in the United States, and the first to represent Alhaj in the the Pacific Northwest for the Zawyeh Gallery.
“I continue to feature Palestinian artists to amplify their distinct and diverse voices, putting their humanity on display through an artist’s lens. It’s important that I showcase the Palestinian experience authentically, in order to dispel dangerous stereotypes and dehumanizing propaganda. My hope is for viewers to not only take refuge in the beauty, resilience and strength of the work, but to also offer prompts for empathetic and meaningful conversations about the art and culture of Palestine,” Suzanne said.
Suzanne invites the community to view this unique collection in the spirit of empathy and curiosity, drawing their own artful interpretations.
