JOHN HALAKA Professor of Visual Art OCCUPATION: Visual Artist working and teaching in the fields of Painting, Drawing, and Documentary Filmmaking EDUCATION: 1983 | M.F.A. in Painting and Drawing, University of Houston, Houston, Texas DOCUMENTARY FILMS [COMPLETED]: WOUNDS OF THE HEART: AN ARTIST AND HER NATION Born and raised in the village of Tarsheha in the Galilee, Rana Bishara is a Palestinian visual artist whose practice includes sculpture, installation and performance art. As a Palestinian citizen of Israel, she has directly experienced the feelings of belonging and claims of ownership that irrevocably separate, yet permanently connect Arabs and Jews in their struggle for a land that is called Palestine by one group and Israel by the other. Rana’s artwork functions simultaneously as an elegy to the Palestinian Nakba (the Great Disaster that began in 1948), an unmasking of the brutality of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and a critique of the biased Western media’s depiction of the Palestinians’ struggle against their occupiers. The objects employed in Rana’s artwork perform as surrogates for the body and spirit of Palestine and its people. Her work, in both its physical and conceptual manifestations is an expression of the inseparable blending of the personal and political experiences that define the identity of every Palestinian. THE PRESENCE OF ABSENCE IN THE RUINS OF KAFR BIR’IM Shot on location in the ruins and cemetery of Kafr Bir’im, a Palestinian village located in the Northern Galilee, the film introduces the viewer to Mr. Ibrahim Essa, an elderly poet who survived the ethnic cleansing of his village in 1948. Through his narrative and poetry, Ibrahim Essa recounts his experiences as a youth in the village, the hardships of a life in exile and the intense emotional, physical and historical connections to the land that he shares with the 5,000,000 Palestinians who currently live in the Palestinian diaspora. Mr. Essa employs an ancient oral tradition of poetry that, in style, is similar to what is now referred to as “Spoken Word Poetry.” This improvisational oral tradition has been around for centuries in Northern Palestine and continues to be used by farmers and villagers to express the community’s intimate relationship to the land; a yearning for past times; and their cultural, psychological and physical attachment to the ancient and modern ruins that exist throughout that region. DOCUMENTARY FILMS [IN PROGRESS]: FORGOTTEN SURVIVORS: MEMORIES OF A FADING GENERATION A POET'S EYE: THE PHOTOGRAPHIC WORK OF RULA HALAWANI DESIRE AND RESISTANCE IN CONTEMPORARY PALESTINIAN ART THE AESTHETICS OF RESISTANCE IN PALESTINIAN FOLKLORIC DANCE VIDEO ARCHIVES: FORGOTTEN SURVIVORS: ARCHIVE OF INTERVIEWS I CONDUCTED WITH ARCHIVE OF INTERVIEWS I CONDUCTED WITH PALESTINIAN ARTISTS SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS OF PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS: 2011 | LANDSCAPES OF DESIRE 2000 | WHISPERS & ECHOES: RECENT PAINTINGS BY JOHN HALAKA
2011 | BREACHING THE WALL 2010 | AN IDEA CALLED TOMORROW 2007 | PIECE PROCESS IV: AFTER LEBANON 2002 | THIRD ANNUAL DRAWING EXHIBITION 2001 | VISUAL ARTS FACULTY EXHIBITION 2000 | VISUAL ARTS FACULTY EXHIBITION 1999 | VISUAL ARTS FACULTY EXHIBITION 1998 | VISUAL ARTS FACULTY EXHIBITION 1997 | VISUAL ARTS FACULTY EXHIBITION 1996 | BEYOND THE LINE: DRAWINGS BY JOHN HALAKA, NILLY GILL, & CHRIS LEE 1996 | GROUP SHOW 1996 | SOMETHING OLD/SOMETHING NEW: VISUAL ARTS FACULTY EXHIBITION 1995 | DRAWING FROM STRENGTH: TWENTY-SIX ARTISTS MAKE THEIR MARK 1995 | FACULTY EXHIBITION 1994 | THE WILLIAM A. GRAHAM COLLECTION 1994 | FACULTY EXHIBITION 1994 | CITY, ROOM, GARDEN 1993 | CITY, ROOM, GARDEN 1993 | FACULTY EXHIBITION 1992 | FACULTY EXHIBITION 1991 | THE WAR SHOW: HOUSTON VOICES 1990 | ORDINARY OBJECT AS EXTRAORDINARY SUBJECT 1990 | FACULTY EXHIBITION 1990 | ART 1990 1989 | ELEVEN ARTISTS FROM THE SUMMER/WHITE STUDIOS 1988 | FIVE HOUSTON ARTISTS 1988 | HOUSTON 88 1988 | HOUSE PAINTINGS 1988 | TEXAS ART CELEBRATION 88 1988 | EAST END SHOW 1987 | EIGHT FROM HOUSTON 1987 | INVITATIONAL SHOW 1987 | GROUP SHOW OF GALLERY ARTISTS 1987 | GROUP SHOW 1987 | EAST END SHOW 1986 | TEXAS ANNUAL 1986 1985 | THEN & NOW, 50 YEARS OF UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON ART 1984 | COMPETITION 84 1984 | EAST END SHOW 1984 | JOHN HALAKA & DONALD LeBLANC: PAINTINGS 1983 | AMARILLO COMPETITION 1983 | FIVE EMERGING ARTISTS 1983 | ELEVEN IN A ROW 1983 | THE UNTITLED SHOW 1983 | M.F.A. EXHIBITION 1983 1982 | SIX FROM HOUSTON 1981 | FACULTY EXHIBITION
March 2011 | “Artists Intervene in the Realities of War”. Presentation on panel discussion as part of DIWAN 2011. Conference organized by Arab-American National Museum and presented at the City University of New York graduate Center. Oct 2010 | Discussion of my drawings from the series “Landscapes of Desire” at the University of San Diego. The lecture was presented in conjunction with my exhibition at USD. Jan 2010 | Discussion of my drawings from the series “Landscapes of Desire” at the California African-American Museum. Sept 2009 | Screening and discussion of my film “Wounds of the Heart: An Artist and Her Nation.” Part of the conference July 2009 | Screening and discussion of my film “Wounds of the Heart: An Artist and Her Nation.” Al Hoash Gallery for April 2009 | “Post-Colonialism in Palestine & Post-Zionism in Israel”. Presentation at the conference April 2009 | Presentation at the Jerusalem Fund Gallery. Discussion of with curator Robyn Smith regarding my work. Jan 2009 | "Walls of Desire and Denial in Israel/Palestine & U.S./Mexico” Presentation as part of a panel discussion held in conjunction with the exhibit “Deportation Nation.” Centro Cultural De La Raza. San Diego. Oct 2008 | “From Childhood Through Martyrdom. Reflections on life and Death in Palestine.” Presented at Professor Bahar Davary’s “Comparative Ethics” class for the Peace and Justice Masters Program. University of San Diego. Oct 2008 | Screening and discussion of my film “The Presence of Absence in the Ruins of Kafr Bir’im.” July 2008 | Participated in a panel discussion organized in conjunction with the exhibition “Enacting Emancipation.” May 2008 | “The Artist as Witness.” Presentation as part of an artist panel in conjunction with the exhibition“60 YEARS”. April 2008 | “The Role of the Artist in Politically Stressed Communities.” Presentation to students and faculty at April 2008 | “The Artist as Public Servant. ”Presentation at the 10th Continuums of Service Conference. Portland Oregon April 2008 | Screening and discussion of my film “The Presence of Absence in the Ruins of Kafr Bir’im.” Alwan for the Arts. April 2008 | Screening and discussion of my film “The Presence of Absence in the Ruins of Kafr Bir’im.” Ethical Culture April 2008 | “Guerilla Filmmaking”. Screening of my film “The Presence of Absence in the Ruins of Kafr Bir’im” and discussion Feb 2008 | Screening and discussion of my film “The Presence of Absence in the Ruins of Kafr Bir’im.” Al-Awda: Palestinian Right of Return Center. Carlsbad, CA May 2007 | “Creative Strategies of Resistance.” Lecture presented at the “Al-Awda, Palestinian Right of Return” April 2007 | Presented two lectures at a conference entitled “DIWAN” held at the ArabAmerican National Museum. The first paper was titled “Outsiders on the Inside” and the second paper was “From Dialogue to Action.” July 2006 | Developed and presented a weeklong drawing workshop on Mapping and Identity to Palestinian artists. Al-Hoash Gallery of Palestinian Art. Jerusalem. July 2006 | Presented a lecture entitled ‘Desire and Resistance” in which I discussed the evolution of my creative work. Al-Hoash Gallery of Palestinian Art. Jerusalem. March 2006 | Participated in a Panel Discussion organized in conjunction with the exhibit “Made In Palestine.” Dec 2005 | California Institute for the Arts. Lecture on my work and the murals I worked on in Palestine during the Sept 2005 | Public Talk given at Gavilan College in conjunction with the exhibit “Piece Process 3”. Aug 2005 | Public Talk at the Alternative Information Center, discussing the murals painted in Gaza. Jerusalem, Palestine. Aug 2005 | Lecture about the evolution of my artwork presented at the Union of Palestinian Artists’ Gallery. Ramallah, Palestine. May 2005 | Lecture given at the symposium “Exploring New Forms and Meanings: The Intersection of Audience, Ideas and Art.” The symposium was organized in conjunction with the exhibit “In / Visible: Contemporary Art by Arab American Artists.” Arab American national Museum. Dearborn, Michigan. April 2005 | Lecture given at the University of San Francisco in conjunction with the opening of the exhibit “Made In Palestine” at SOMARTS. San Francisco, California. April 2005 | Public talk given to the “Future Leaders of America Rockefeller Fellows” in conjunction with the opening of the exhibit “Made in Palestine.” Sept 2002 | Lecture given at the Taylor Library Gallery in conjunction with my exhibit “Relics: Meditations on Decay and Renewal.” Oct 2001 | Lecture given to the Nevada City Artists and Writers Association. Grass Valley, California. Nov 2000 | Lecture Given at Founders Gallery in conjunction with my exhibit “Whispers & Echoes.” University of San Diego, San Diego, California. April 1994 | "LIVING WITH DIGNITY/DYING WITH DIGNITY: GAYS AND LESBIANS IN SAN DIEGO SPEAK ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY." A panel discussion I organized and chaired. Sept-Nov 1993 | "THE HOPES AND FEARS OF PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS." A multi-disciplinary symposium I organized that included lectures, panel discussions, a community forum, poetry readings, an art exhibit, and a film series. The events explored the prospects and prerequisites for the peaceful co-existence of Palestinians and Israelis. March 1993 | "CRITICAL PROBLEMS/CREATIVE SOLUTIONS: PRESERVING THE HUMAN AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT." A multi-disciplinary conference I co-organized that consisted of lectures, panel discussions, musical performance and an interactive art installation. The events explored the environmental crisis from various perspectives. March 1993 | "ART AND ECOLOGY / ART AS ECOLOGY." A panel discussion I organized and chaired. March-May 1991 | "THE WAR SHOW: HOUSTON VOICES." A multi-disciplinary conference I co-organized, that featured Houston based scholars, artists and writers, and included an art exhibit, a series of panel discussions and a series of readings, focusing on the
2007-2008 | University of San Diego University Professor. Highest teachin/research award bestowed annually 1994-1997 | Coordinator of Visual Arts Program, University of San Diego 1990-1991 | The Glassell School of Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas; Instructor, Department of Painting & Drawing 1983-1991 | The School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston, Texas; Instructor, Department of Visual Arts Nov 1990 | East Texas State University, Commerce, Texas; Visiting Artist, Department of Art 1988-1990 | North Harris County College, East Campus; Instructor, Department of Visual Arts 1986-1990 | The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Department of Art History and Education; Coordinator of workshops for "Evening for Educators" program. 1986-1990 | The University of Houston, Department of Fine Arts; Teaching Fellow
2007-2008 | Awarded a University of San Diego project based UNIVERSITY PROFESSORSHIP 2007-2009 | University of San Diego Internationalization of the Curriculum Travel grants 2010-1997 & 1996-1993 | UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO FACULTY RESEARCH GRANTS AND MINI-GRANTS 1993 | CALIFORNIA COUNCIL FOR THE HUMANITIES, THE PRICE FAMILY FUND; I was awarded the two grants listed to organize a multi-disciplinary symposium entitled "The Hopes and Fears of Palestinians and Israelis" 1992 | IRVINE FOUNDATION, FACULTY AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT GRANT; Awarded to carry out a video 1991 | NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE ARTS; Teacher of "ARTS 91" award 1990 | NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE ARTS; Teacher of "ARTS 90" award 1986 | DALLAS MUSEUM ARTIST GRANT 1977 | JANE GUGGENHEIM WINSLOW FELLOWSHIP
Michele Lee. An Idea Called Tomorrow. Exhibition Catalogue. Californian African American Museum. 2010 Salwa Mikdadi. New Visions: Arab Contemporary Art in the 21st Century. Transworld Publishing. London. U.K. 2009. John Halaka. Outsiders on the Inside, published in the Australian journal Nebula, in an issue devoted to the Palestinian / Israeli conflict. http://www.nobleworld.biz/At. Sonia Nettnin. Film Review: The Presence of Absence in the Ruins of Kafr Bir’im. Znet. http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/16745. March 2008. Fayeq S. Oweis. Encyclopedia of Arab American Artists. 2007. Greenwood Publishing Company. Portsmith, New Hampshire. Nathan Gutman. Palestinian Artists Find Venezuelan Ally. The Jewish Daily Forward. June 6, 2007. http://www.forward.com/articles/10895/. Kathy Zarur. Looking at the Levant. Art in America. September 2006. James Kalm. Made In Palestine. The Brooklyn Rail. April 2006. http://www.brooklynrail.org/2006-04/artseen/made-in-palestine. Holland Cotter. Made in Palestine. The New York Times. March 24, 2006. Kevin J. Kelley. Looking Homeward: Made in Palestine. Seven Days. November 2, 2005. http://www.sevendaysvt.com/features/2005/looking_homeward/. Anne Galloway. Palestinian Artists Bring Plight of Their People to Montpellier. Times Argus. October 21, 2005 Diane Bell. Professor Paints Mural in Middle-East. San Diego Union Tribune. August 27, 2005. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/bell/20050827-9999-7m27bell.html. “Piece Process 3”. Exhibition Catalogue. Gavilan College. 2005. Kate McClellan. In/Visible: Contemporary Art by Arab American Artists. Bidoun, ICONS Issue 05. Ramsay Short. U.S. exhibition depicts realities of life for Arab-Americans. Daily Star. Beirut, Lebanon. October 13, 2005. Voices of the Middle East. Khalil Bendid, Host. KPFA-FM, Berkeley. Interview with Susan Greene and myself regarding the murals we painted in Palestine. September 6, 2005. Electronic Intifada. Israeli Army stops West Bank mural project, citing Gaza disengagement. August 31, 2005. http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article4152.shtml. Tina Sherwell. Paltel Virtual Gallery of Palestinian Art at Berzeit University. Video taped interview to be posted on the Virtual Gallery’s web site. August 2005. Birzeit, Palestine. http://virtualgallery.birzeit.edu/. Salwa Mikdadi. In/Visible: Contemporary Art by Arab American Artists. Exhibition Catalogue. Arab American National Museum. 2005. Maymanah Farhat. In/visible. Dar Al-Hayat. September 19, 2005. http://english.daralhayat.com/culture/09-2005/Article-20050919-6e6eff0a-c0a8-10ed-0026-faf27579aaab/story.html. Maymanah Farhat. In/Visible Art Exhibit Inaugurates Arab American National Museum. Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. August 2005. P. 50-51. http://www.wrmea.com/archives/August_2005/0508050.html. Universe in Universe. In/Visible: Contemporary Art by Arab American Artists. Onnesha Roychoudhuri. Made in Palestine. Mother Jones. http://www.motherjones.com/arts/feature/2005/05/palestinian_art.html. Dynamic Art Exhibit Reflects Palestinians' Struggle, Love for Their Homeland. The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. July 2005. Kenneth Baker. Palestinian Show Makes Art out of Grief. San Francisco Chronicle. April 19, 2005. Datebook, page E-2. Rob Eshelman. Made in Palestine. Electronic Intifada. Posted April 12, 2005. http://electronicIntifada.net/v2/article3754.shtm. Rob Eshelman. Made in Palestine. Counterpunch. April 8, 2005. http://www.counterpunch.org/eshelman04082005.html. The World This Weekend. Lorna Jackson, Host. Program consisting of interviews with artists and curators from the “Made In Palestine” exhibit at SOMARTS. Canadian Broadcast Company. CBC Radio One & Radio Two. Aired April 16, 2005. Robert Avila. History in the Waking. San Francisco Bay Guardian. April 13, 2005. Jonathan Curiel. Unknown face of Palestinian art. San Francisco Chronicle. April 3, 2005 P.C-3. Forum. Michael Krasny, Host. KQED-FM, San Francisco. Interview with Jim Harrithas, Samia Halaby, Susan Greene and myself. Broadcast live. April 12, 2005. Up Front. Sandip Roy, Host. KALW-FM, San Francisco. Interview with Susan Greene and myself regarding the “Made in Palestine” Exhibit at SOMARTS. Broadcast April 8, 2005. Robert Pincus. Matters of the Spirit. The San Diego Union Tribune. January 20, 2005. P. 40-41. Kelly Thomas. Worshiping at the Altar of Art. Beach & Bay Press. December 23, 2004. P.11. Station Museum. Made In Palestine. Exhibition Catalogue. Ineri Publishing. Houston, Texas. 2004. Kris Axtman. An Artistic “Road Map” to progress. The Christian Science Monitor. May 28, 2003. P. 2. Patricia Johnson. Stirring Exhibit…’Made in Palestine'. The Houston Chronicle. May 17, 2003. P 10D. Ileana Marcoulesco. Made in Palestine. ARTLIES. Summer 2003, P.78. Belinda C Hanley. Made in Palestine: A stirring Exhibit Closes in Houston and Hits the Road. The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. November 2003. Troy Schulze. Personae of Persecution. Houston Press. July 3-9, 2003. P.33. Kelly Klaasmeyer. Peace Through Art. ‘Made in Palestine Humanizes the Middle East Conflict'. The Houston Press. July 31, 2003. P 40. Delgado, Harithas, Kerschen. Made In Palestine. Exhibition Brochure. 2003. Ineri Foundation. Houston, Texas. ARTLIFE. The Original Limited Edition Monthly. Volume 23, Number 5. Ventura, California. Living Arts: Open Journal. Michael Woodson, Producer. KPFT Radio Station. Houston, Texas. Interview with Artists and Curators from the “Made In Palestine” exhibition. Broadcast May 18, 2003 on KPFT Radio, as well as numerous other Pacifica Radio stations and Pacifica affiliate stations. Mark Elliott-Lugo. San Diego Profiles: John Halaka. San Diego City Access Cable Television, Channel 24. Half- hour interview related to my exhibition “Relics: Meditations on Decay and Renewal.” The interview was broadcast during the month of October and November 2002. San Diego, CA. Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal. A Handshake Felt in San Diego. San Diego Union Tribune. October 7, 1993, p. B-15. Erin K. Quirk. USD Symposium to Discuss PLO - Israeli Peace Talks. Vista. September 23,1993, p.1,3. Vol. XXIII, No, III. Lisetta Levi. "War Show Contains Predictable and Provocative Work." The New Voice. Issue #550. May 10-16, 1991. John Halaka. The War Show: Houston Voices, Creates Forum For Debate. Union of Independent Artist Newsletter. Vol. 1 #8. March-April 1991, p. 1, 6. John Halaka. Haunting Images of War Linger. The War Show: Houston Voices, Shares Visions of Horror. Union of Independent Artists Newsletter. Vol.1 #9. May 1991, cover, p. 1, 5. John Halaka. Reflections on The War Show: Houston Voices and Read My Mind. Union of Independent Artists Newsletter. Vol.1 #10. June-July 1991, p. 1, 2. Susan Chadwick. Art of the Age, Galleries Boast a New Generation of Talent. The Houston Post. May 21, 1989, p. H-29. Susan Chadwick. John Halaka, Drawings, at Graham Gallery. The Houston Post. February 21, 1988. The East End Show. Exhibition Catalogue. 1988. Susan Chadwick. Texas Art Celebration 88, Group Show of Paintings. The Houston Post. April 10, 1988, p. 4F. Fran Kalmykov. The East End Show. Lawndale Inquirer. April 1987, p. 10. Ed Hill and Suzanne Bloom. Review. Art Forum. December 1986, p. 121. Susan Chadwick. Houston Art Season Shaping Up With Notable Shows. The Houston Post. September 21, 1986, p. 4H. Then, Now & Then...50 Years of U. of H. Art. Exhibition Catalogue. 1985, p. 29. The East End Show. Exhibition Catalogue. 1984, p. 14. "Domestic Crude." 1983. Drawings on the inside front and back covers. Jeff Bray. Five Emerging Artists. Montrose Voice. 1983. Patricia Johnson. Shows Display Work of Visual Art Competitors. The Houston Chronicle. October 20, 1983, p. 3 Sect. 5. Nancy Loftis. Art League Exhibits Three U.H.ers' Work. The Daily Cougar. October 27, 1983, p. 5, 7. Stacy Reed. Diversity Highlights Blaffer Art Exhibit. Montage. June 1, 1983, p. 1, 13.
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