Black Walnut Gallery

Tolerance of Belief

Black Walnut Gallery is proud to be
hosting Tolerance of Belief during the
months of July and August, a group art
exhibit featuring ten acclaimed Arab,
Muslim, and Jewish artists from around
the world, including Lybia, Israel,
Lebanon, France, Egypt, and the United
States who are committed to making a
stand for peace and understanding in
the Middle East by displaying their
artwork side-by-side.

Tolerance of Belief April 1 - June 7, 2008 Mendelson Gallery 3480 N. Lakeshore Dr. Chicago
Official Statement

Though the political solution in Israel and Palestine is multifaceted and complex, steeped with
daunting historical and religious context, Tolerance of Belief asserts that amidst the terrorist
attacks, sanctioned military offenses, and potential truces, it is necessary for peace-minded
people from all sides of the conflict to stand up and declare that all humans are God’s children
and every single human soul, however defined, whether it be Muslim, Jew, Christian, Buddhist,
Hindu, etc, is sacred. Violence from either side of the conflict only perpetuates and deepens
the divide.

Tolerance of Belief is the acknowledgment that, though such a small region, the significance of
the situation in the Middle East cannot be underestimated. The daily events there affect the
entire globe more dramatically than any other region in the world. This art exhibition aims to
remind us that the heart of the Middle Eastern solution - and any reconciliation whether global
or individual - is tolerance and respect from both sides of the conflict. And, ultimately, although
no political agreement is ever perfect or any reconciliation pact flawless, the peaceful
coexistence with people of other faiths and beliefs is one of the highest aspirations that a single
human or an entire nation can strive towards.
-Robert Wayner, Curator, Black Walnut Gallery

The Robert Wayner / Black Walnut Gallery is
the new addition to the Fulton Market Gallery
District and will be hosting a new group art
exhibition for the month of August. This event
will feature visual artists Erika Björnson, Jason
Prather, Dave Watkins, Judith Joseph,
Jacqueline Roig and Sharon Parmet. The
exhibit will run between August 1-31th. All
artwork on display in this exhibit is modern in
nature including acrylic painting, pen drawing
and mixed media. The modern furniture
designs, sculpture and paintings of gallery
owner and curator Robert Wayner will also be
featured during the duration of this show.

The Opening Artist Reception for this group
exhibition will take place on Friday, August 8,
2008 from 6pm – 9pm at Robert
Wayner/Black Walnut Gallery.