Celebrating Women's History Month by celebrating the GREAT Palestinian-American ARTIST Emily Jacir

Emily Jacir: Artist

Journalists wishing to interview Emily Jacir can contact the IMEU at 714-368-0300 or info@imeu.net.


Emily Jacir’s “Where We Come From” Acquired by an Editorial SFMOMA

James David Morgan wrote this post at 1:55 pm on January 27th, 2009.

Emily Jacir’s Where We Come From (2001-03), asked Palestinians around the world: “If I could do something for you, anywhere in Palestine, what would it be?”

Provisions Library explains:

Holding an American passport, Jacir was permitted to carry out many of the simple requests that Palestinian residents are restricted from doing such as paying a phone bill, having dinner with relatives, or eating fruit from a certain orchard.

The result is a heart wrenching pairing of text and photos documenting her missions, viewable online here. Jacir succeeded in capturing the effects of a massive and violent geopolitical conflict within a conceptual framework, and her specificity and attention to scale render the work visceral, rather than heady.

Following their 2008 acquisition of the work, the SFMOMA recently added additional wall text to the installation. Modern Art Notes reports that the text alerts viewers that the museum is distributing “an FAQ about [Jacir], the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and what the museum’s acquisition of the work might say about the museum itself.” The text reads:

SFMOMA is committed to exhibiting and acquiring works by local, national and international artists that represent a diversity of viewpoints and positions. Works of art can engender valuable discussion about a range of topics including those that are difficult and contested, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Additional information about Emily Jacir’s Where We Come From, including a list of frequently asked questions, is available at the information desk in the Haas Atrium.

The FAQ and the primary wall text are available online, though, interestingly, are not connected to the online showing mentioned above.

Made in Palestine

Untitled, Emily Jacir and Anton Sinkewich, selected books on or about Palestine or by Palestinian authors, 2003, dimensions vary

Memorial to 418 Palestinian Villages Which Were Destroyed, Depopulated and Occupied by Israel in 1948, Refugee tent and embroidery thread, 138" x 115" x 96", 2001

Emily Jacir
Born 1970.
Education. Whitney Independent Study Program, NYC
MFA, Memphis College of Art, Memphis, TN
BA, Art, University of Dallas, Irving, TX
Lives in Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine and New York, NY, USA.