"Whirling Al Ard" by Doris Bittar

Interdisciplinary artist Doris Bittar views pattern as cultural DNA. She translates pattern and design into lattices where shared historical legacies are mapped to facilitate difficult conversations. Bittar exhibits internationally, and collaborates with artists, musicians, and poets to intersect image, language, and sound. Bittar has national and international honors and awards with art housed in several museums in the United States and abroad. She received her MFA from the University of California, San Diego, and teaches at California State University, San Marcos. She is a core member of Arab Amp, Gulf Labor, Public Address, and Feminist Image Group (FIG). Bittar created Teach & Learn Literacy (TaLL), an English as a second language program for refugees. She is the San Diego chapter president of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Additionally, Bittar authored over 40 essays, and reviews on traditional and contemporary Arabic calligraphy, art, film, poetry within the intersections between identity, history and socio-politics.