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©2007 Tom Block
Shalom/Salaam: The Untold Story of a Mystical Entanglement is an interdisciplinary project predicated on the belief that contemporary art, at its best, can move outside of the narrow confines of the art world, approaching the general public through genuinely creative thought and a gentle activism.
Specifically, my Shalom/Salaam Project highlights the strong Sufi influence on the development of Jewish mysticism, following this unfamiliar tale from 11 th century Spain and Egypt, through the Kabbalah and into the Baal Shem Tov’s Hasidism in the 18th century. I believe that the popularization of this positive story can help facilitate the peace dialogue between Jews and Arabs, becoming part of the healing process of that fractured relationship.
Based in my own original research about Jewish and Muslim mystics that studied together, read each other’s texts and openly borrowed ideas from the other religion’s mystical masters, Shalom/Salaam is a unique mixture of art, writing, scholarship and activism. Through a series of art shows, written pieces, forums and other activities, the Shalom/Salaam project introduces this tale of spiritual entanglement to a diverse audience.
Read more about Shalom/Salaam, and see more images in the series, on the artist’s website.
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Tom Block utilizes the visual arts, writing projects and scholarship to explore the interaction between the spiritual life of humanity and our sometimes-sad shared reality. At the very best, he hopes that his art will have an activist influence, causing viewers to question their own personal roles in making the world a better place to live. He has worked in conjunction with Amnesty International, International Peace Research Association, Peace and Justice Studies Association, Irish Centre for Human Rights, UNESCO Center for Peace, Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition and other activist organizations. He has published numerous academic articles tracing the influence of Sufism on the development of Jewish mysticism during medieval times, as well as exhibiting his art and discussing his ideas at such institutions as Emory University, George Washington University, Ohio State University, Michigan State University, Franklin and Marshall College, Eastern Carolina University, Hood College, University of Calgary, Manhattan College and Antioch College. His work is in collections at the Irish Centre for Human Rights; Contemporary Art Museum of Montecatini, Italy; Portland (OR) Community College; George Washington University; Georgetown University Hospital; HNTB Architecture, and the Summit Art School. Mr. Block has been awarded monetary grants and other support from the Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation (NY), Sugarman Foundation (CA), Nelson Talbott Foundation (MD), Puffin Foundation (NJ), New York Foundation for the Arts (NY), Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (MD) and Amnesty International.
