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Guest curated by Amal Azzam and Nayfa Naji, the exhibition Wherever Home Is will focus on the feeling of belonging and being at home. Azzam and Naji have been collaborating since 2019 as Fanana Banana; Fanana means ‘artist’ in Arabic, and Banana, as Naji says, “just gave it a goofy twist.” Fanana Banana uses art and community events to raise awareness of the issues faced by American Muslim and MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) communities, and to reflect on how first and second-generation immigrants and their families cope with the challenges of finding a home in a new land and bridging communities while maintaining their cultural identity. Their projects investigate how having “an identity within an identity” affects mental health, body image, and political outlook, and the emotional toll exacted by facing racial, ethnic, and religious prejudice. Azzam and Naji themselves are Palestinian Americans from Milwaukee.
Organized through a statewide open call, Wherever Home Is will draw artists from farther afield than their previous exhibitions, which have been focused on Milwaukee artists. We anticipate that it will encompass artwork in all media, from traditional forms like calligraphy to mixed-media sculpture, video, and painting. Bookmark this page for information about gallery talks and public programs that will create opportunities for deeper engagement.
To learn more about the open call, visit @fananamke on Instagram. Additional funding provided by Dane Arts.
