ATB’s “Home Within” Combines Music and Art to Tell Stories of Syrian Conflict

With the vibrant intermingling of flute, drum and fiddle in the background, students drew quick strokes and smeared lines with the palms of hands, creating original art under the watchful eyes of Syrian-Armenian visual artist Kevork Mourad.

The drawing technique — set to music and emotion — was the subject of a student workshop that Mourad and his creative partner, Kinan Azmeh, brought to the intermediate and fundamentals of drawing classes at the Millard Sculpture Studio last Tuesday afternoon. It was also the basis of a special Arts Transcending Borders (ATB) performance at Seelos Theatre later that night night titled “Home Within,” an hour-long audio‐visual performance that featured live illustration by Mourad and solo clarinet over prerecorded tracks performed by Azmeh.

“We invite people to reflect and to relate from a human perspective what is going on back home,” said Azmeh, a Syrian clarinetist, composer and member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble.

The artists document specific moments in Syria’s recent history and reach into their emotional content in a semi-abstract way.

“It doesn’t mean that the version we are offering can summarize the Syrian story,” said Azmeh. “Hopefully it will trigger curiosity in everyone’s mind and motivate them to ask more questions — like to be more curious about art coming from Syria. We are opening a little window and hopefully it will lead people to discover more art.”

During their residency from April 3 to 5, the artists engaged extensively with the Holy Cross community. In addition to hosting the student workshop, they attended numerous classes where they discussed the philosophy behind their work. They also participated in a Q&A with students following the screening of “The Music of Strangers,” a documentary that features both Azmeh and Mourad and follows the Silk Road Ensemble as they perform across the world, bringing people together with music.

ATB also sponsored the artists’ visit to Ascentria Client Center, which serves Worcester’s low income, refugee and immigrant community, as well as Burncoat High School, where they performed for students and hosted a workshop.

“Home Within” is an opportunity to help people understand the Syrian revolution and the ongoing violence, said Azmeh and Mourad.

“At the heart of it, we want to present art — our personal art, in the hopes that people will ask more questions,” added Azmeh.  “We invite people to reflect and to relate from a human perspective what is going on back home.”

Yunfan Chen ’20 attended both the workshop and performance.

“Their performance makes their audience feel emotionally connected,” she said. “I feel more obligated to know about the refugee issues. How can we help them to create a better future? Also, I enjoy watching the drawings and seeing how it works together with the music. It is a more effective way to bring attention to the refugee issue.”

The workshop pushed Abby Kostecki ’19 out of her artistic comfort zone. “I usually work in pen, so (Mourad’s) technique was particularly challenging for me, as it is not based on permanence. That is definitely something I struggled with a lot,” she said.

The workshop also gave Kostecki new insight for the performance that evening.

“I found that very helpful when watching his actual performance,” she said. “I definitely have a greater appreciation for his craft.”