Creating a spice war rug at the Museum of Contemporary Art, November 2007.

I made my 7th spice war rug, Baluchi Drixa, for the Mapping the Self exhibition at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art.  It was on display until March, 2008, when I made some prints and swept it up.  Not too worse for wear, there were only a few footprints and little messes in the pattern.  I'll have photos of the prints soon, and you can click here to see pictures of other war rugs I've made. 

The Consuming War exhibition at the Hyde Park Art Center ran through January 20, 2008.  CW featured the work of 14 artists --   Lynda Barry, Mary Brogger, Wafaa Bilal, Adam Brooks, Burtonwood & Holmes, Michael Hernandez de Luna, Fred Holland, Harold Mendez, Michael Rakowitz, Ellen Rothenberg, Edra Soto, Dolores Wilber, and Paula White. Ranging from steel carpets and inflatable bombs to postage stamps and cooking classes, their work is thoughtful, sharp and inspiring.  Click here for some photos of the show and the opening.

We've gotten some great press on Consuming War.  Here are some links for highlights:

Spencer Dew for Chicago Artists News
Joanna HInkel for Chicago Artists News "Most Important Exhibition of 2007"
Carrie Ruckel for CAN-TV 
Alan Artner for the Chicago Tribune
Hello Beautiful for James Janega's talk
Chicago Reader
Time Out Chicago
New City
Chicago Weekly

CW will also include several interesting events that will give you a chance to participate -- including talks by Chicago Tribune journalist James Janega about reporting from Iraq;  Geraldine Gorman, a nurse with the international aid group Emergency, and a special conversation with Dr. Donny George Youkhanna, the former head of the Iraq Museum in Baghdad.  And, at the opening, plan to join us for a memorial concert by Michael Zerang and Jim Baker, in remembrance of their friend Malachi Ritscher, who immolated himself in protest of the war, here in Chicago last November.  (Read more about Consuming War here)

 During a recent trip to New York City, I ran into an old friend, Hatti Figge, who was with Aaron Hughes, an artist and founder of Iraq Veteran's Against the War, and a young boy named Mohammed.  Read her beautiful and moving description of their day in the city here.