AUD Students and Faculty to showcase art in "Emergence" exhibition, at Manhattan's Tenri Cultural Institute

Dubai,  June 23, 2009 - As part of its energetic efforts to offer students the best educational experience and professional opportunities, and to position the American University in Dubai (AUD) internationally as one of the few institutions offering such strong opportunities for exhibition, in both local and international arenas, AUD's Visual Communication Department will be participating this summer in an art exhibition curated by renowned art writer and curator, Koan Jeff Baysa. "Emergence" is taking place from June 24 to July 13, at the Tenri Cultural Institute, New York, with an opening reception on July 3, and will tackle various Dubai related topics ranging from pearl-diving, urban life in the city, and the role of tradition in women's personal lives, to the construction boom of the region, and the emergence of powerful art as opposed to censorship.

On the significance of participating in this event, AUD Assistant Professor of Visual Communication Michael Bray shares:

"Exhibiting work in New York is a great feeling.  To be able to have exposure to one of the hearts of the global art scene engenders a real sense of achievement.  In addition, for students from AUD to have their work seen and exhibited at the Tenri Cultural Institute in Manhattan indicates the quality of our students and their works, as well as being an amazing opportunity for them".

From the student side, Mona Ayyash, AUD 2009 Visual Communications graduate, enthusiastically says:

"I was so excited when I was asked to participate in this exhibition. I'm so proud to show artwork alongside my former professors, and to have the chance to exhibit artwork in New York. I'm glad to be a part of the community of young artists from Dubai showing work internationally."

The theme was dubbed "Emergence" in recognition of students blossoming into artists in their own right and emerging from their instructors' influence. In addition, there has been an increasing interest in Middle-Eastern arts, whereas the region, and specifically Dubai, has emerged into the international art market, as evidenced by Art Dubai, Christies and Sotheby's auctions, and the opening of numerous galleries in the city. In that context, professors were asked to select current students or recent graduates whom they had influenced -visually, conceptually, technically, on matters of subject, or any combination of the four- during their studies. AUD faculty members Roberto Lopardo, Michael Bray, Sarah Lahti, Julia Townsend and Kenneth Curtis, and AUD students and graduates Al Moutasim Al Maskery, Aisha Arif, Mona Ayyash, Cima Azzam, Hind Iskander and Amani Masrie will present their art alongside artists from the University of Sharjah and Zayed University. This melting pot of nationalities will allow the participants to engage, through this student/mentor show, in an interesting artistic dialogue that will examine the processes of art-making, art-teaching, and personal relationships within the realm of academic Fine Art studies in the UAE.  

-Ends-

About AUD:
The American University in Dubai is a private, non-sectarian institution of higher learning founded in 1995; it serves UAE nationals and international students who seek world-class career-oriented education. It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges (COC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award Bachelor's and Master's degrees.

AUD is officially licensed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates. The Ministry has accredited the university's programs in Business Administration (both undergraduate and graduate), Communication and Information Studies, Engineering, Information Technology, Interior Design and Visual Communication.

The Bachelor of Science programs in Civil, Electrical, and Computer Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

AUD holds an Agent's License issued by the District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission (Washington, DC, USA). AUD is approved to operate by the State of Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC).  www.aud.edu.

About Koan Jeff Baysa:
Koan Jeff Baysa is a member of AICA, the Association of International Art Critics. He is a contributing writer for the online publications Flavorpill and Ctrl+P Journal of Contemporary Art, has written for Art Asia Pacific, is the Pacific editor for d'Art International (Toronto) and is a contributing writer and editor for contemporary culture periodicals, aRUde and The Royal. He is also a member of the KDU, a global network of talent.

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Rim Ibrahim,
Marketing Communications Coordinator,
Tel (04 3183139),
Fax (04 3998899),
Email: ribrahim@aud.edu

Ms. Tanya Kassab,
Marketing Communications Officer,
Tel (04 3183139),
Fax (04 3998899),
Email: tkassab@aud.edu

© Press Release 2009