Under the Same Sky: Birds in Art and Myth Traveling Exhibition

FAIN: GE-271479-20

Sabiha Al Khemir Foundation, Inc. (New York City, NY 10024-5128)
Sabiha Al Khemir (Project Director: January 2020 to present)

Development of a traveling exhibition of artworks from multiple traditions and periods featuring birds.

The Sabiha Al Khemir Foundation (SAKF) requests a $75,000 planning grant from the NEH to support the development of a traveling exhibition that prompts dialogue about the presence of birds in cultural narratives across time and place—Under the Same Sky: Birds in Art and Myth. This exhibition will focus on the intersections between birds and humanity—what birds mean to us on an emotional and spiritual level, and how we express those connections through art and literature. It will feature approximately 100 works from U.S. museum collections combined with narrative video, multi-sensory immersive experiences. Works will be organized into thematic areas that bring to light the key human associations attributed to birds and their essential characteristics - their color, songs, diversity, and unique abilities - that have inspired humankind for generations as expressed in art and myth. The exhibition will include a catalog and educational programs and guides.