Rehab Nazzal is a Palestinian-born multidisciplinary artist based in Bethlehem and Montreal. Her work examines the effects of settler colonial violence on people, land and non-human life in Palestine. Nazzal blends experimental, conceptual and documentary strategies in her photography, film, sound and installation works. Her process relies heavily on field research, critical thinking and collaboration with communities.
Nazzal’s community organizing work includes collaboration with various art collectives, activist groups and galleries in Toronto, London, ON, Vancouver, Bethlehem and Ottawa. She is currently an assistant professor at Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, Palestine and has previously taught at Simon Fraser University, Western University, Dar Al-Kalima University, and Ottawa School of Art. She holds a PhD in Art and Visual Culture from the University of Western Ontario, an MFA from Toronto Metropolitan University, a BFA from the University of Ottawa and a BA (Economics) from Damascus University.
Driving in Palestine takes place on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. In our solidarity with Palestine, it’s important to look to the lands that we are working from, and the impacts of settler colonialism across these contexts. Both the Israeli and Canadian states are shamefully linked as occupying settler-colonial forces that actively and historically remove Indigenous peoples from their homelands. Indigenous sovereignty in Palestine and on Turtle Island is deeply intertwined and these struggles must be supported on all fronts.
The exhibition is located in the Downtown Eastside. Driving in Palestine organizers are committed to being in good relationship with the residents of the DTES. When using the space, please prioritize the safety of people who reside in the neighbourhood. If you’re a guest in the DTES, we ask that you reflect on the impact that colonialism, racism, ableism, anti-drug use and anti-houseless people rhetoric has on the residents of this neighbourhood.
We recognize the impact of the toxic drug supply and the war on drugs on members of our communities. While the exhibition site is not meant to be a supervised consumption site, we know that drug use may happen in our space. Safer snorting, injection and smoking kits are available in the space, as well as a needle disposal unit and naloxone kits. Booklets and infographics on drug destigmatization, safer drug use, and STI’s are also available for anyone to take. Please check out this map for nearby supervised consumption sites, overdose prevention sites, and drug testing services. Some organizers are trained in narcan use, but for your safety, we recommend that you use at one of these sites as they are better prepared to respond to medical emergencies. If that’s not an option for you and you would still like to use in this space, please don’t use alone in the bathroom.
Many in our communities are at risk of experiencing police and institutional violence. We are committed to abolition and de-escalation and ask that all exhibition visitors and participants do their best to keep themselves and other community members safe. We would like to keep the police out of the space and the neighbourhood. In case of an emergency during an event, please reach out to an organizer. We will assess how best to respond to the situation at hand. If we are required to call 911 for a medical emergency, we will work to ensure that police are not sent. If for any reason police enter the exhibition space, please give space for organizers to engage with officers and avoid escalation. If police are present in the space, please make sure to document the interaction.
We are hosted by Vines Den, a space primarily by and for people who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, disabled, neurodivergent, mad, queer, Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, and hold other marginalized identities. This is a space for people to feel held and respected, and where difficult conversations can be held when harm is done. We are committed to navigating conflict in a way that seeks accountability and repair. However if an individual or group of people are not willing to learn and move from conflict, we may ask that they no longer participate in programming. While we remain open to conversations and feedback from our communities, we reserve the right to establish boundaries that maintain our health and well-being.
Please use the space with care. We ask that you help us maintain the space and the things in it in good condition.
This exhibition is being organized by a large team of artists, professors, and cultural workers, activists, and volunteers. If you wish to ask any questions or need to recieve more information about the show, please contact us at via our email or on Instagram
Special thanks to
Our presenters: SAW GALLERY, VINES ART SOCIETY,
Our funders: CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS, CITY OF OTTAWA, OTTAWA COUNCIL OF THE ARTS
Our partners: ACCESS GALLERY, APARTHEID FREE COMMUNITIES, BURNABY ART GALLERY, CENTRE A, CENTRE FOR COMPARATIVE MUSLIM STUDIES, FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA COLLECTIVE, LABOUR FOR PALESTINE, PARENTS FOR PALESTINE, UNIT PITT, WEAVING OUR WORLDS