Looking Back on Art Is...Awakening

Through movement of the body, sound and image, and memory, Ifrah Mansour, Essma Imady and Leila Awadallah each took us on a journey of their particular stories. Their stories were different than the ones we were told about people who have roots in Somalia, Syria and Palestine. They were stories of the displaced, of people who want to belong but also need to remember. They were difficult stories, eager to be listened to and validated. Leila, Essma and Ifrah were up to the challenge in engaging that audience. As the night wore on, each performer intensified, moving across the stage from extreme left to extreme right and from dramatic, dynamic gestures to infinite stillness.

I am honored and delighted that TPT chose me to select artists from my community. To be recognized as an established Twin Cities artist is new to me and just makes me so gratified. It was an exciting journey to find those blossoming three artists who electrified my world for a whole year. Oh, and I think I did a good job!

– Hend al-Mansour, Curating Artist for TPT’s ART IS…Awakening

See more stories from our multi-media series Art Is…