Dear friends, supporters, and community members,
We're happy you have been part of our work at Refugee Eye this year.
As we, the world's citizens, are increasingly more connected, so are the issues we care about. Refugee Eye came to be when two more refugees—Jehad and I—were estranged from the environment where we were born. This might be the result of ongoing global havoc, but we also see it as a moment of creation.
This means wherever calamity erupts; there will always be an artistic response. We see our mission as redirecting refugees' content to the public and attempting to bridge between dual worlds.
It’s been a pleasure to bring Refugee Eye’s concept into an existing gallery space through the Valencia street window provided by McSweeney’s and The Hawkins Project.
Since our March 2022 opening, we've managed to have five art shows, feature over 20 visual artists from around the world, host several public education and community events, raise funds for displaced Ukrainian refugees, share and support the refugee perspective with hundreds of visitors, and create a space for compassion and understanding.
We were pleased to kick start our gallery by featuring excerpts from artist Jehad al-Saftawi’s book My Gaza: A City in Photographs, followed by four more shows; More Powerful Than Bullets: Twelve Ukrainian Visual Artists, Rihla -رحلة by Lara Aburamadan, Mirage, by two Syrian photographers, and Liminal, five visual artists worldwide.
Our first year is about to end, and as a new year begins, our goal is to hold five annual exhibitions with accompanying programming. We need to raise $15,000 to receive a matching gift from The Hawkins Project.
Your donation will help feature refugee visual artists worldwide, print and frame their artwork, organize cultural events and talks at our gallery, and cover our running costs.
We operate modestly and count on community donations to showcase refugee artists' work.
As we look ahead, we'll need your help to continue. Will you please consider donating to support the nonprofit work of Refugee Eye?
Please, donate HERE!
Our visual storytelling hub is possible because of supporters like yours. We thank you so much for considering a gift and being part of Refugee Eye's community and friends.
Warm regards,
Lara Aburamadan, Jehad al-Saftawi
Co-founders of Refugee Eye
-P.S. A donation in any amount will help us make a difference.
For questions, contact: info@refugeeeye.org
Location: Refugee Eye Gallery,
849 Valencia St, San Francisco,
CA 94110