Iraqi Refugee Artists, an exhibit of over three dozen paintings will be on exhibit at Bluffton University April 15 to May 3.

The exhibit features the work of a dozen Iraqi artists who were trained in Baghdad and had active professional careers until the violence following the 2003 invasion forced them to flee.

The paintings will be on exhibit at the Sauder Visual Arts Center daily from 1 to 3 p.m. and will be on sale by silent auction with final bids on Sunday, May 3, at noon.

An exhibit opening is from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 15. It will include comments by Mel Lehman, director of Common Humanity, the organization that brings the exhibit to Bluffton.

Common Humanity is a non-profit organization based in New York City, which seeks to build understanding, respect and friendship with the Arab and Muslim world.  

“We believe that the road to peace in the Middle East lies in recognizing the humanity of people on all sides of the conflict we’re in.  Instead of sending more guns to the Middle East, we should be sending compassion and humanitarian relief supplies,” said Lehman.

Lehman has worked in international humanitarian issues for several decades, inducing two decades at the National Council of Churches. He has traveled extensively in the Middle East and has published a number of articles about his experience.