“The Sands of Time”: Sculptures and Ceramics of Khalil Bendib

By Elaine Pasquini

Algerian-American artist Khalil Bendib’s exhibit “The Sands of Time” was held at the Mussi Artworks Foundry and Gallery in Berkeley April 21 through May 5. The gallery’s opening reception on April 21 provided Bay Area residents an opportunity to meet the multi-talented artist and view his exquisite bronze and ceramic pieces. Many of his small bronze sculptures, of men praying or sitting in the souq (Middle Eastern marketplace) and a jolly character wearing a tarbush (fez or hat), reflect Bendib’s North African-Muslim heritage. One particularly impressive piece depicts the 7th century Jewish Berber warrior Dihya al-Kahina, still a national heroine in Algeria today.

In addition to sculpting, Bendib is an accomplished cartoonist, who sold his first cartoon to an Algerian newspaper at age 15. His political cartoons appear regularly in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (see “The World Views the Middle East,” p. 42 of this issue).

Born in Paris, Bendib, the son of a radiologist, grew up in his native Algeria. The talented teenager rejected a medical profession, however, to pursue his childhood interests of drawing, painting and sculpting at the Beaux-Arts school of fine arts in Algiers. In 1973 he transferred to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where, among other courses, he studied Japanese literature, earning a doctorate in comparative literature.

Many publications will not carry Bendib’s Middle East-related political cartoons because of their criticism of U.S. foreign policy. One of his sculptures has been controversial as well, and the object of a hate crime. In 1994 Bendib created a life-size sculpture of Palestinian-American activist and former regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Alex Odeh, who in 1985 was killed by a pipe bomb at ADC’s Santa Ana office (see the June 1994 issue of the Washington Report, p. 68). The statue, which was placed at the Santa Ana Civic Center in 1994 as a memorial to Odeh, was twice vandalized. The first incident occurred on Oct. 11, 1996, the 11th anniversary of Odeh’s assassination. On Feb. 6, 1997, the statue was again defaced by gallons of red paint.

A less disputatious Bendib outdoor sculpture, a 9-foot bronze cougar, is displayed at Summit Ridge Park in Diamond Bar, California, one of the projects of the Diamond Bar Art Development Non-Profit Organization.

Khalid Bendib will next exhibit his works at San Francisco’s Alliance Française, 1345 Bush St. (at Polk), Sept. 1 to 15. His works may also be viewed on his Web site, <www.studiobendib.com>.

Arab Cultural Center Burns Mortgage at Annual Banquet

More than 300 people crowded into the Patio Español Spanish Cultural Center on April 22 for the Arab Cultural Center of San Francisco’s annual banquet. In contrast to the 27 previous dinners, this year’s banquet, was for the purpose of “burning the mortgage” on ACC’s property located at 2 Plaza Avenue. And, at evening’s end, that is exactly what occurred. Consul of Egypt Afaf El-Mazariky, Honorary Consul of Jordan and Mrs. Kamel Ayoub, Consul of Yemen Mansoor Ismael, Father Labib Kobti and Father George Jweinat were among the celebrants at this special occasion.

Opening the program, ACC Vice President Ben Mohamed thanked the many individuals, organizations, and companies that contributed to this year’s banquet.

Manal Elkarra, education program coordinator of the ACC Service Network, which provides vital services to new immigrants and members of the Arab community, updated the audience on the Network’s recent activities. This summer will see the publication of the community needs assessment study, an ongoing project since the Network’s inception in 1999. Computer classes, English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes, Arabic translation services, and housing assistance are just a few of the services the Network provides. Ms. Elkarra thanked San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown (who was unable to attend) and his office for their ongoing support and major financial assistance.

ACC President Salem Mufarreh led a moment of silence for the 476 victims of the ongoing al-Aqsa intifada before proceeding to summarize three decades of ACC accomplishments. Former president and current board member Alice Nashashibi was honored for her continuing commitment to the ACC and her leadership on behalf of the Arab community.

Honorary Consul of Jordan Kamel Ayoub presented a $1,000 Kamel Ayoub Annual Scholarship to Noura Erekat of the University of California at Berkeley. ACC President Mufarreh presented a $1,000 Raffoul Assily Memorial Scholarship to Tamara Zawaideh of the University of San Francisco and the ACC $1,000 Scholarship Award to Amer Jamil Abu-nie of City College of San Francisco.

Professor Ayad al-Qazzaz of California State University at Sacramento addressed the audience on the accomplishments of the Arab-American community in general. He cited the growth in the number of Arab Americans in government positions across the country; increased recognition of Arab Americans by government, including the White House and State Department; and the expanded awareness of human rights violations and discrimination against Arab-Americans. Two failures he noted were the continuing one-sidedness of U.S. foreign policy and the stereotyping of Arab-Americans by Hollywood and the media.

ACC board member Hanan Rasheed, Middle East Consultant for the Wheelchair Foundation, spoke of the services performed by the foundation and of its urgent need for funds to provide wheelchairs to children in Palestine, many of whom were victims of the ongoing intifada. Rasheed noted that the foundation—the largest humanitarian organization providing wheelchairs worldwide—has distributed more than 27,000 wheelchairs during the past year, including more than 800 in Gaza City. Still, at least 1,900 more wheelchairs are currently needed. Rasheed urged the audience to contribute to this worthwhile project, as, she said, $50,000 is needed to distribute the wheelchairs by September. The foundation’s Web site is <www.wheelchairfoundation.org>. For additional information or to make a donation call (925) 736-8026.

The evening’s activities included an exhibit of photographs of the al-Aqsa intifada by Laila Jammal, and musical entertainment by Georges Lammam & Ensemble, the ASWAT Arabic Choir, and vocalist Nader Zaki.

Middle East Conflict Viewed Through Children’s Eyes

Bay Area filmgoers viewed a powerful new documentary on the Middle East at this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival. “Promises” is a human portrait of the Middle East conflict as expressed by Palestinian and Israeli youngsters ages 9 through 13 who live within miles of each other in Jerusalem, Beit El Jewish settlement and Dheisheh Palestinian Refugee Camp. The film, winner of a Golden Gate Award for a Bay Area documentary and Audience Award for best film at the 2001 Rotterdam Film Festival, was produced and directed by Berkeley-based filmmakers B.Z. Goldberg and Justine Shapiro and co-directed and edited by Carlos Bolado. Its screenings on April 22 and 23 at the AMC Kabuki Theatre were sold out. Audiences will have another chance to view the film on July 22 at the Castro Theatre as part of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival and nationwide on PBS television this fall.

Berkeley Students Demand U.C. Divestment from Israel

Once again, students at the University of California at Berkeley are protesting their school’s relationship with an apartheid country. In the 1980s, the country was South Africa. Today, the country is Israel.

Some 300 students rallied April 24 on the Berkeley campus demanding the administration sever all financial ties with Israel. Some 11 percent, or $6 billion, of U.C.’s endowment is invested in companies doing business—directly or through subsidiaries—with Israel. The students are demanding divestment because of Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territories, human rights abuses against Palestinians as well as its own Arab citizens, creation of Jewish-only settlements and bypass roads on occupied land, and housing and land ownership laws discriminating against non-Jews. The students believe their school is contributing to these abuses through its financial ties to Israel.

U.C. students were successful in their 1980s campaign, as the school’s Board of Regents ultimately bowed to pressure and divested from then-apartheid South Africa. Today’s activists hope to repeat that success in their current campaign of divestment from Israel.

On April 12, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) sent a letter to the U.C. Regents requesting divestment. The Regents’ failure to respond to the request prompted the April 24 demonstration, which was organized by the SJP, International Action Center and American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

At day’s end, the police issued citations to 32 demonstrators for blocking the entrance to Wheeler Hall, a university building housing classrooms. The building had been briefly occupied by the protesters, who flew a banner re-naming the building “Mohammed Al-Durra Hall” in honor of 12-year old Palestinian Mohammed al-Durra, who was fatally shot by Israeli soldiers in Gaza on Sept. 30, 2000, as his father tried in vain to shield him.

San Francisco Bishop Tackles Religiously Motivated Violence

Episcopal Bishop of California William E. Swing, founder of the United Religious Initiative (URI), spoke at the San Francisco Commonwealth Club on April 25.

Just as the United Nations was created to bring countries together to work for common goals, Bishop Swing explained his belief that a “universe of religions” would be effective in creating “a level playing field to bring peace among religions.” With this goal in mind, he founded the URI in 1996. The bishop immediately realized that, in order for the group to succeed, it would have to be a grassroots project, include both men and women, and be all-inclusive, encompassing all religions and even indigenous and spiritual movements. “Unless all religions are united and find a common voice,” Swing said, “there will be no resolution to global problems,” such as a soaring population growth and a deteriorating environment. The hardworking bishop has committed his life to being a catalyst to unite religions.

Bishop Swing, who travels extensively on behalf of URI, noted that, compounding the problems between diverse religions, “There are problems inside religions.” He proceeded to describe scenes of religious violence he witnessed on a recent trip: in India he saw Christian sects fighting one another, and, in neighboring Pakistan, violence between Sunni and Shi’i Muslims.

Regarding the violence between Palestinians and Israelis, the bishop said, the URI currently has five “cooperation circles” in the Middle East. He was encouraged because the groups have seen positive and constructive dialogue between Jewish Israelis and Christian and Muslim Palestinians. “There must be dialogue to have peace,” he stressed.

In response to an audience query, the unassuming religious activist urged the audience to “meet people of other religions in order to promote peace and religious tolerance.”

Elaine Pasquini is a free-lance journalist based in Ignacio, CA.