RiverArts® Presents – An Artist Conversation with Yonkers-based Artist Haifa Bint-Kadi – Memory Palaces: Imagination and Reckoning in Mosaic. – Sunday, February 25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

February 12, 2024 

Contacts:         Gigi Lin, Marketing & Communications Manager; glin@riverarts.org  

Marie-Louise Miller, Producer & Artistic Director of Artist Conversations; mmiller@riverarts.org 

 

RiverArts® Presents – An Artist Conversation with Yonkers-based Artist Haifa Bint-Kadi – Memory Palaces: Imagination and Reckoning in Mosaic. – Sunday, February 25 

   

FEBRUARY 12, 2024 – YONKERS: RiverArts presents a conversation with artist Haifa Bint-Kadi as she unveils her new collection, Memory Palaces. Bint-Kadi received a grant from New York State Council of the Arts to create a series of 3-dimensional structures with mosaic elements representing the essence of home stemming from her deep connection to her own heritage to the Arab culture. Each palace is paired with an audio recording specific to its memories. A curated selection from this collection will be on display at Urban Studio Unbound during this Conversation, offering attendees a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Bint-Kadi’s cultural artistry. 

 
Date – Sunday, February 25 

Venue – Urban Studio Unbound; 66 Main Street, Yonkers, NY 

Time – 2:00PM – 3:30PM 

Tickets –$15 in advance, $20 at the door; tickets can be purchased at https://riverarts.wufoo.com/forms/memory-palaces-imagination-reckoning-in-mosaics/ 

 

Memory Palaces is inspired by Bint-Kadi’s childhood as a first generation Palestinian-Afro-Caribbean American and a daughter of refugees. Bint-Kadi’s work explores the feelings of nostalgia, grief, and yearning often felt by refugees and immigrants as they relocate in search of new homes. Each piece represents an evolution of memories drawn from the past into the present through the Bint-Kadi’s mosaic practice. Bint-Kadi shares, “My Memory Palaces employ mosaic from found objects to evoke the shared experience of nostalgia when thinking of ‘home’ not as a physical place, but as an experience that stirs emotions and bridges cultures and generations.” 

Bint-Kadi was named as the 2023 Advancing Equity Artist by ArtsWestchester, recognizing her work as a leader in social justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility through her artistic contributions. 

The RiverArts’ Artist Conversation is curated by Marie-Louis Miller, who states, “Home is more than place. We build ‘home’ with people, through food, music, dance and art. And we tell stories to pass ‘home’ down from one generation to the next. With love, precision and artistry, Bint-Kadi creates space for each of us to engage our own sense of home as we reflect on the personal homages set before us in her Memory Palaces.”  

 

About the Artist 

Haifa Bint-Kadi a first Generation Palestinian-Afro-Caribbean American, a daughter of refugees, a mother, and a grandmother. Haifa was trained in Italy as a classical mosaicist, but even in her early work, she was always drawn to the idea of public art as an index or marker of lived experience. She holds a B.A. and M.F.A. from Istituto d’Arte per il Mosaico in Ravenna, Italy, and has been creating public art mosaics since 1993. She serves as a full-time curator for the City of Yonkers library system, a certified teaching artist, and an adjunct professor at Suny Purchase, focusing on Arts for Social Justice. Haifa has created over 24 public art mosaics and steel sculptures across the state. Haifa’s studio practice revolves around family archives, translating them into paintings and mixed media-maps exploring her Afro-Caribbean and Arab roots. Recognized with numerous awards, grants, and accolades, including the Kennedy Center’s Steam Educator Award, Haifa believes art fosters healing, builds self-esteem and identity, and inspires wonder and exploration. 

 

About the Artist Conversation Series:   
RiverArts creates opportunities to amplify the artistic voice, bringing insight and delight to our community. We are proud to spotlight leading voices in art, music, poetry, dance, and theater. Under the direction of Marie Louise-Miller, our Artist Conversation series offers a chance to get up close and personal with artists. The Artist Conversation Series aims to shed light on the intricacies of creativity across all its artistic mediums from the fine artist to the performance artist. 

 

About RiverArts:  
RiverArts inspires Hudson River communities in lower Westchester County to come together through art. RiverArts’ year-round season of programming includes our two signature free, multi-village Tours – The RiverArts Music Tour and the RiverArts Studio Tour; an annual dance concert; a three-part Chamber Music concert series; a new music concert series, Channels, theater performances; and community events such as Drink & Draw, Salon Sundays Artist Conversations as well as a Music Education program and a multi-arts summer camp, SummerArts camp for kids of all ages.    

    

For over 60 years, RiverArts has been the catalyst that connects performers, musicians, and art-makers with Rivertowns audiences. We believe in the power of art to express, transform, and bring joy to our lives and our community.      

    

Please visit RiverArts on-line to read more about its mission, core values and programming calendar.   

    

https://www.riverarts.org