Neighbors: Voices & Portraits of Muslims in the Valley
Interviews by Jenny Bender
Portraits by Amanda Herman
Exhibit Opening Nov 11 4:30-6:30PM, as part of Arts Night Out Northampton
Northampton City Hall Gallery
Second Floor – City Hall
210 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Exhibit Runs from November 11 – December 2
Gallery Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Writer Jenny Bender and artist Amanda Herman have been interviewing and photographing Muslims in the Valley in order to learn about our Muslim neighbors. The project arose in response to the alarming rise of Islamophobia and the mistrust and misinformation many non-Muslims have about the religion and those who practice it.
Over a period of six months, Bender and Herman met with a wide range of families and individuals from many parts of the world – those aged 7- 70, from refugees to recently converted, to those born and raised in the USA. Participants were asked to speak about four main topics: what their religion means to them, the role of women in Islam, what their experience has been as a Muslim in today’s tense political environment and what they believe non-Muslims should know about Islam.
The exhibit features a series of 16 portraits of those interviewed, accompanied by edited, first-person statements from the interviews.
Please join us at an opening reception for the public during Northampton’s Arts Night Out on Nov 11 from 4:30-6:30PM.
The exhibit features a series of 16 portraits of those interviewed, accompanied by edited, first-person statements from the interviews.
Please join us at an opening reception for the public during Northampton’s Arts Night Out on Nov 11 from 4:30-6:30PM.