A new virtual exhibition, entitled “Turath” (heritage in Arabic), sheds light on the narratives of the early Arab American community and pays homage to their accomplished but little-known artistry, from painting to performance.

 

Through the five sections of the exhibit, “Turath” includes writers, artists, and musicians who flourished through their craft but did not receive the same recognition as their popular contemporaries — intellectuals Ameen Rihani and Kahlil Gibran, who were members of New York’s The Pen League, known in Arabic as Al-Rabita Al-Qalamiyya.

 

Here, we present a selection of Arab cultural figures who made a name for themselves in America and are featured in “Turath.”

 

The novelist

 

The artist

 

The performer

 

The musician