DETROIT — The struggle for peace in Palestine is often seen at the forefront of the news both locally and internationally, but few in America have seen dehumanizing conditions on the ground for the natives due to the Israeli occupation, checkpoints and massive walls. 

“(We hope) this exhibition will bring the realities of this tragic conflict to the attention of our Jewish community as well as all metro Detroiters.”

In an effort to present a comprehensive picture of life for those in Gaza and the West Bank, a photographic exhibit titled “BEYOND THE WALL: Images of Israel-Palestine from Nakba to Ni’lin,” is expected to open on Saturday, Sept. 24 and will hold its official grand opening ceremony on Friday, Sept. 30 from 7:30-10 pm at the Swords Into Plowshares Peace Center & Gallery, located in Detroit’s Central United Methodist Church at 33 East Adams. The exhibition is being constructed as a collaborative effort between the Detroit chapters of the Jewish Voice for Peace, Friends of Sabeel-North America, the Michigan Peace Team and Michigan’s Palestine Cultural Office.

With a potential vote for UN statehood recognition making headlines as Palestine continues its struggle for independence, gallery organizers felt it would be an excellent chance to showcase an exhibit showing the reality of life in the occupied territories. 

“We thought it was really timely, something that people will be talking about and thinking about, we want people to have a deeper understanding of the narrative and the history of the people of Palestine that has been hidden from many,” said Barbara Barefield, a photographer, JVP member and organizer. 

Barefield said she was only given the Jewish narrative growing up but was able to broaden her horizons through the JVP organization. 

The first part of the exhibit was constructed by the Friends of Sabeel, an ecumenical Christian Palestinian theology center in East Jerusalem, for their 60th anniversary. It features historic photos from before the 1948 “Nakba” or catastrophe, that resulted in many hundreds of thousands of Palestinians made refugees due to the creation of Israel, all the way up to scenes from the past decade of suffering through humiliating, debilitating checkpoints, bombing campaigns and massive concrete separation walls. 

The other part was put together for display at the U.S. Social Forum last year when about 20,000 activists descended upon Detroit to strategize and network. 

Barefield said that the new, complete gallery, which also will include video presentations of Detroit-area Nakba survivors speaking about their experiences along with video art pieces curated by Israeli art scholar Noga Bernstein, will look impressive in the church’s large two-floor gallery. 

She hopes that the exhibit will inspire activists, especially in the Jewish community.

“(We hope) this exhibition will bring the realities of this tragic conflict to the attention of our Jewish community as well as all metro Detroiters. It’s of particular importance to us that it’s opening during the Jewish high holidays, a time for both individual and collective reflection and renewal of our commitment to justice.”