In this solo exhibition, VisArts’ 2022 Bresler Resident Alison Kysia showcases three works in progress that express her love of art, Islam, and activism. 99 Clay Vessels: The Muslim Women Storytelling Project, is a sculpture representing the 99 names of God in Islam, which inspired the online multimedia project at 99clayvessels.com. Take A Good Look In the Mirror is a series of Pentagon-shaped handmade clay tiles framing a mirror, each tile a puzzle piece to a story about the Global War on Terror from the perspective of those most impacted. A Vessel to Hold Your Truth is a series of clay vessels she is sculpting in anticipation of a performance about the life of Muslim scholar, poet, and martyr Mansur Hallaj, who has a lot to say about truth and justice.

About the VisArts 2022 Bresler Resident
I am a multimedia artist whose favorite medium is clay because it reminds us of our shared origins. I am a self-taught potter who creates functional and conceptual vessels to nourish relationships, inspire reflection on the purpose and meaning of our lives, and connect us to our humanity. I was an educator for over 20 years committed to learning for liberation. I created the Challenge Islamophobia Project, where I wrote lesson plans and shared them with teachers throughout the country. For the past three years, I have been fundraising for activists fighting the criminalization of many communities to justify the wars, including Muslims, Black Muslims, Black immigrants, Arabs, Sikhs, Middle Easterners and South Asians. Current projects include 99 Clay Vessels: The Muslim Women Storytelling Project, a collaborative multimedia art, storytelling, and healing project created by & centering the stories of Muslim women.

Learn more at https://www.786arts.com/about