A three-week art symposium is underway at YV Art Museum on Quarry Road in Acton. This is the museum’s thirteenth annual “New Art Archaeology Symposium”, held this year August 4 to August 25. Participating artists David Adilman, Marin Murakoshi, Yin Peet and Dankha Zomaya are creating sculptures on a stone pile next to the YV studio and gallery. The stone pile now holds seventy-nine sculptures by 32 artists from 12 countries. At the completion of the symposium on August 25, the museum will hold an opening reception at 2 p.m. with an artists’ talk, to celebrate the accomplishment.
Adilman, Murakoshi, and Peet have been with the stone carving symposium for many years. This year, they welcomed Syrian artist Dankha Zomaya to join them for the first time. Zomaya was born and educated in Syria. Nurtured by ancient Syrian civilization soil, he strives to uphold its historical references in his work, to evoke the spirit of witnessed glorious heroes as well as intolerable assassins, invaders and conquerors. His sculpture at the stone pile this year is entitled, “Peace-Ashurbanipal” and speaks the wish from his heart of peace for Syria, for the Middle East, and for the World.
As the victim of the most recent wars in Syria, Zomaya came to the US intending a short visit in 2009. When the war broke out, his short visit turned into a permanent stay, his studio left behind in Syria. For a sculptor who normally does monumental metal, wood and stone work, being without a studio is like missing a limb in an artist’s life. However, with a resilient spirit and a base in Chicago, Zomaya is reestablishing his footing in the US. He holds a degree in fine arts from the University of Damascus. Before moving to Chicago, Zomaya taught at various schools and colleges for over twenty years. He has exhibited in Canada, the United States, Bulgaria, Sweden and the Middle East. His work is in the collection of the National Museum of Damascus, the Syrian Department of Culture and many galleries.
The symposium is supported by the Massachusetts Local Cultural Councils in Acton, Boxborough, Concord, Littleton, Groton and Westford; the Oasis Foundation; and Enterprise Bank and is open to the public every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer. Information about visiting is available at their website.