Over the last several years, the Macdonald Center has sponsored several fall interfaith art exhibitions. The goal of these programs is to showcase various is to use art as a vehicle for interreligious conversation and dialogue.
October 15 - November 22, 2024 - 4th Interreligious art exhibition, "The Holy City." Artist Brian Whelan will exhibit his 9 x 12 piece in the HIU chapel. An opening reception and lecture will take place on Tuesday, 15 October at 7 pm EDT.
“Although I have been to many holy cities around the world, these paintings do not depict any holy city that actually exists,” said Whelan of his work. “This is my aspirational vision of what a holy city looks like. Each of the canvases contain churches, mosques and synagogues, painted in bright playful and colorful forms. An abstracted, disarming image of cultural unity: living together in peace, acceptance, and in harmony: a haven for the soul. The buildings rest in each other’s shadow, supported and uplifted by the buttress of each other’s faith. In this holy city, hospitality would be offered to all.”
3 October – November 14, 2023 – Islamic Art and Inspiration
- A collection of art by Aida Mansoor that serves as a source that inspired it and how this has become a way of self-care and reflection.
24 October 24 – November 18, 2022 - Abraham’s Gifts Panel and art exhibition
- Abraham’s Gifts is a 20-frame carved leather book, by artist Harvey Paris, that illustrates the teachings of Abraham and his impact on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
October 5 – November 16, 2021 - ABRAHAM: “Out of One, Many”
- The exhibition features the art of three celebrated Middle Eastern contemporary visual artists from the faith traditions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, Sinan Hussein, Qais al-Sindy, and Shai Azoulay, each created five paintings that interpret Abraham’s life, serving as a guide toward creating cultures of peace, harmony, justice and healing – all as descendants of a shared heritage.
A project of the CARAVAN, and Co-sponsored with The Mandell Jewish Community Center, The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, and the JP Wesbster Library, First Church