FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Dan Muller 207-772-0680
info [at] peaceactionme [dot] org Phil Weyenberg
207-934-0279
pweyenberg [at] gwi [dot] net
October 2, 2007—An art exhibit of portraits inspired by photos taken throughout Iraq and the Middle East before and during the war will be exhibited during the month of October at 644 Congress in Portland, at the Meg Perry Center.

“My intention in doing this series of paintings was to make the war in Iraq more personal to myself and others. I wanted to show some of the real people affected by and involved in the war, stated Phil Weyenberg, artist and creator of the “Human Iraq” series. “In the U.S., we are often prevented from seeing graphic and personal images of the war, not only of the 400,000-800,000 Iraqi dead and 4,000 American dead but also of all the 27 million Iraqis and others in bordering countries. In the end, these are people with lives common to all human beings, but they are caught up in forces much bigger than themselves.”

The works were done with acrylic paint on foam core, much in the style of mural paintings or poster art. All were done from photographs, some taken by Peace Action Maine Director Dan Muller and friends who traveled to Iraq many times. Other photographs were found on the Internet. All were painted in December of 2006 or in 2007.

There will be an Open House for First Friday Art Walk: October 5th 2007, 5:00-8:00 PM. The exhibit will continue to be shown throughout the month and will work to highlight the true cost of war. For more information, please contact 207-772-0680 or visit www.peaceactionme.org.

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