Real Art Ways Opens Multidisciplinary Project
" Faith"

Opening Reception Saturday, October 8, 6-9PM

Hartford, CT: September 29, 2005 - Real Art Ways will open a gallery exhibition entitled Faith on Saturday, October 8, 2005, 6- 9pm. The exhibition will include painting, drawing, video, photography and documentary works that engage the territory between theology and religion. The exhibit is the core of a multi-disciplinary project that will also include film, music and panel discussions, all addressing the political, cultural and social questions surrounding the place of religion in contemporary society.

The exhibit is curated by James Hyde and includes work by Mat Collishaw, Rachel Harrison, Nari Ward, Nancy Haynes, Patty Chang, Archie Rand, Josiah McElheny, Walid Ra'ad (The Atlas Group), Shirazeh Houshiary, Arlene Shechet, Sabeen Raja and Christopher Lucas.

Some of the works include specific religious imagery, others develop their themes more abstractly, and yet still others grow from personal experience. Whether the context or content is Buddhist, Christian, Muslim or Jewish – each artist hopes to engage the viewer and create an opportunity for dialogue.

The film portion of Faith, presented in cooperation with the Hartford Seminary, begins on Sunday, October 9, and will run on Sundays at 3pm through January 29, 2006. There will be informal discussions following every film.

Films include:

October 9  Why Has the Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? -A moving and beautiful story of the three ages of man, embodied in a dying Zen master, a young monk and a boy from a remote town in Korea.

October 23  Fearless - Peter Wier directs a story of life after near-death with Rosie Perez and Jeff Bridges.

November 6  Trembling Before G-D  -A documentary about the struggle for identity among Orthodox Jewish gay men and lesbians.

November 20  Shadowlands  -Adapted from the stage play, Richard Attenborough directs Anthony Hopkins as C.S. Lewis in a story of loss and redemption.

December 4  Black Robe  -A Jesuit missionary in Quebec in the 17th century experiences the trancendency of entering into a world in which he has no control and little knowledge.

January 8  The Wind Will Carry Us  -Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami brings us an allegorical film set in Kurdish Iran.