When gallery visitors view “Diatribes” this fall at the USM AREA Gallery, they will be able to share their own reactions to both the artwork and that historic military attack. Part of the USM Art Gallery’s “Opposing Gestures” exhibition, “Diatribes” is a digital artwork created by Sama Alshaibi and Joseph Farbrook in response to the U.S.-led invasion.

Visitors will be invited to share their own responses through a public Community Response Wall, according to exhibit organizers.

Alshaibi and Farbrook recorded videos of their personal reactions to the invasion and created “Diatribes,” which utilizes a four-channel television screen to showcase four videos: interviews with Alshaibi, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen of Iraqi and Palestinian descent, and Farbrook, who was born in America and is of German and Jewish descent, as well as footage of protest demonstrations and mainstream media coverage.

“Opposing Gestures,” also featuring a sampling of Alshaibi and Farbrook’s recent works, is on display on the USM Portland campus and Gorham campus from Sept. 23-Dec. 10, 2014. It includes time-based sculptures, photography, rotoscoped animations and interactive video projections. While political components ebb and flow throughout the theme of the exhibition, it also takes on broader subjects and existential questions, all depicted through individual human expression.

Selected responses will be posted on a wall at the AREA Gallery, Portland campus and also will be posted online at www.usm.maine.edu/gallery. The response wall is designed to foster a safe space for community reflection and dialogue.

Caitlin Puchalski, gallery intern and USM senior art major concentrating in digital art and painting, helped to develop the concept of the response wall, and she will maintain the AREA Gallery wall as well as the online version.

Welcome submissions include constructive responses, such as insights and personal stories, as well as analysis and debate. All responses will be subject to review.

Submission Requirements

? Email submission to response.gallery@gmail.com

? Written: No longer than 150 typed words.

? Visual: Send a JPG or TIF file of at least 300 dpi. It will be printed in black ink on clear, self-laminating, letter-sized paper.

? Include: your name, class, school and/or affiliation.

For questions, call 207-780-5008.

The details of the exhibition are:

? “Opposing Gestures,” Sept. 23-Dec. 10, 2014; Noon–4 p.m., Tuesday–Sunday, Art Gallery, USM Gorham campus, 37 College Ave., Gorham, and 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday-Friday, AREA Gallery, Woodbury Campus Center, USM Portland campus, 35 Bedford St., Portland. Admission to each gallery is free. For more information, go to www.usm.maine.edu/gallery.