January 10, 2011

 

Contacts:

Grace Frankforter, Northcutt Steele Gallery, 657-2324
Dan Carter, University Relations, 657-2269

 

Reception and lecture set for Friday, Jan. 14

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — The spring 2011 semester at Montana State University Billings will be ushered in with plenty of snow and a dash of Arab-America art.

 

a sample of the artist's workThe MSU Billings Northcutt Steele Gallery opens the semester with an installation by Arab American artist Hend Al-Mansour.  Arriving in Billings this week, Hend will be creating an installation titled “Fatimah in America III,” which will open on Jan. 14. With this multi-roomed installment, Hend uses art to portray the lives of five women who have come from the Middle East to begin new lives in America. She will also give a presentation on her work.

 

“Fatimah in America III” opens with a public presentation by the artist on Friday Jan. 14 at 4 p.m. at Room 205 of the Liberal Arts Building, followed by a public reception and refreshments at the Northcutt Steele Gallery from 5-7 p.m. “Fatimah in America III” will be on view from Jan. 14 to Feb. 11.

 

Hend was born and raised in Saudi Arabia and graduated from the University of Cairo, Egypt in 1980. She practiced medicine in Saudi Arabia until she came to the United States in 1997 to escape what she saw as the Saudi oppression of women.

 

Hend never had formal training as an artist in Saudi Arabia, but coming to the United States she was able to realize her dream of becoming an artist, achieving an M.F.A from the Minnesota College of Art and Design in 2002. She sees her art as a way to promote social change, justice and freedom of expression. She combines the influence of Islamic traditions and a rebellion towards some of its practices to promote social change, justice and freedom of expression.

 

The Northcutt Steele Gallery is on the first floor of the LA building at MSU Billings. The gallery is open from 8-4 p.m. Monday through Friday when classes are in session. All events are open to the public and free of charge.

 

To learn more about Hend and her art, visit www.hendalmansour.com/. To find out more about the show, contact Grace Frankforter at 657-2324.

 

PHOTO ABOVE: “Feminine T” is a sample of the art done by Hend Al-Mansour