This weekend I talked and shared food with four Palestinian families who live near the wall that snakes in and around Jerusalem. Because of the wall two of the four families have been forced to close their businesses, two have been forced to move from their homes, and one of the families fears losing their Jerusalem IDs. I will write more, later, about the wall and how it is affecting people. And how it felt to see it for the first time.

I did not record anyone in these past two days. I was meeting friends of friends and I wanted to be in their company without recording equipment. Also, I am discovering how different it is to wear headphones and hold a microphone than to paint someone’s portrait while hearing them tell their stories. I will be going to Hebron tomorrow and meeting with folks who expect to be recorded. And I will also be bringing watercolor paper and paints and hope there will be time for painting.

This is a picture of an old overpass that forms part of the the wall around the small town of Jaba. For some time the only entrance and exit to Jaba was this tunnel, blocked by the IOF as a form of collective punishment. The sign in blue says “Jaba Welcomes You.”

I bought a plate of hummus for dinner, however when I came to the table Meiko offered me some octopus. It was my first time eating octopus and I loved it.

There are a lot of interesting and generous folks here at the Faisal. Pictured with Meiko is Mordechai Vanunu. Many of you will have heard of him. He is a former Israeli nuclear technician who leaked to the press that Israel had secretly developed an extensive nuclear program. He was subsequently kidnapped in Italy by the Mossad (the Israeli spy agency) and then imprisoned for 18 years. 11 of these in solitary confinement. He was released in 2004 under strict restrictions, like not being able to leave Israel.

ellenogrady.com/multimedia/soundsfromfaisalbalcony2.mp3

Writing from the Faisal Hostel in Jerusalem, just near Damascus Gate of the Old City.

Tom and Claude took me out to dinner before my flight and then to the airport. I slept a good part of the 12 hours on the flight from Atlanta to Tel Aviv. None of the airport taxis were going to East Jerusalem, so I got dropped off at a bus stop in West Jerusalem and after waiting a half hour took a taxi from the second cab that stopped by. The first said he wouldn’t drive into the East side and the second dropped me off a block from the hostel because he was afraid to go any closer. I got a bed at the hostel then went downstairs to buy hummus from one of my favorite hummus/falafel restaurants in Jerusalem. I don’t know what it is, however you cannot find hummus in the US that comes close to the hummus here. I enjoyed talking to the guy behind the counter. My Arabic is coming back ok.

Now, I’m feeling tired, which is good because it’s almost 11pm, a normal time to go to bed.

So. Good night from here.

Ellen.

It has been months since I have posted anything, so writing this feels a little like putting a message under a rock. However, I am heading back to the Middle East and figure I should get back into the habit of writing blogs.

For four weeks, I will be conducting interviews in both Palestine and Israel. The interviews will revolve around the subject of home and belonging. In addition to gathering stories, I will take photographs of the interviewees inside and outside their homes, some of these will include the surrounding landscapes and streetscapes. Upon my return, I will create an audio documentary and a series of paintings that I plan to present together in venues throughout the US.

With Dave’s help I will be updating this website before I go and will be able to download audio clips while I am there.

If all goes well, Charlie will be joining a wagon trip while I’m gone, riding across the midwest with a couple cowboys.

More to come. Ellen

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Multicultural Resource Center
Exhibition: January 7 – March 2, 2007

maf.dept.uncg.edu/mrc/

Artist Reception on Wednesday, February 7, from 5 pm to 6:15 pm.

Exhibition at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Multicultural Resource Center
January 7 – March 2, 2007

maf.dept.uncg.edu/mrc/

Artist Reception on Wednesday, February 7, 2007, from 5 pm to 6:15 pm.

Pacifica Radio Interview (KPFK)

October 12, 3:30 pm (PST)
www.kpfk.org

Mixed Media in the Triangle (Group Exhibition)
Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission
100 Library Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

www.chapelhillarts.org/programs_exhibitions_curr.php

Curated by Luna Lee Ray

September 17 – November 20

Reception October 1, 2:30 – 4pm

The Jerusalem Fund Gallery
2425-35 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
Tel. 202 338 1958
www.thejerusalemfund.org/index.php

Opening reception from 6:30 – 8:30pm