NEW YORK.- The Painting Center presents Through Our Eyes: Belfast Acitore Artizone, William Artt, Emma Connolly, Rita Duffy, Ray Duncan, Ruth McCullough, Jack Pakenham, Ima Pico, Adele Pound, Peter Richards, Gail Ritchie, Jennifer Trouton, and Claire Whitten, on view through September 30, 2006. Artist Exchange International presents Part I of a two part exhibition "Through Our Eyes: Belfast/New York" at The Painting Center. 13 artists from Belfast will show in the exhibition. In October, 14 artists from New York City exhibit Part II at the Metro Center in Belfast.

These exhibitions foster a dialogue between artists from NYC and Belfast. Both cities are international ports that have seen difficult times and face uncertain futures. “Through Our Eyes: Belfast/New York” promotes dialogue about world issues by presenting the work of these artists. The artists survey the world from their respective cities, offering multiple perspectives that provide a lens that views the world in full color.

These 13 artists from Belfast comprise some of Northern Ireland’s most prominent artists (Rita Duffy, Jack Pakenham, Peter Richards) as well as emerging and established names (Emma Connolly, William Artt, Adele Pound, Ray Duncan, Claire Whitten, Jennifer Trouton). Also included are international artists who have been living and working in Belfast for several years including Ima Pico (Spain) and Acitore Artizone (New Zealand). The exhibition curated by Gail Ritchie includes Digital work, selected by Ruth McCullough.

Collectively these artists represent a wealth of talent that has been recognized in a variety of awards from the Arts Council, the British Council, and Arts Council Ireland. Peter Richards was amongst the first group of Northern Irish artists showing at last years Venice Biennale. AEI began its work bringing artists together in the wake of the destruction of the World Trade Center. Because of its history of conflict and resolution Belfast is a powerful place to expand conversations begun in NYC. A unique element of this Exchange extends into the community with the public invited to a studio tour, panel and screening. The "Artist-to-Artist Studio Tour," is Sept. 10th, 11am - 4pm. Bill Brand, Katy Martin, Sandi Slone, Maura Sheehan, Ross Neher, Barbara Friedman, Michael Zwack, Edward Shalala, Jo Wood-Brown, Gwenn Thomas, Mimi Gross, April Vollmer will present work in their studios to promote discussion with the visiting Belfast artists.

September 12 is a screening panel at Pace University, One Pace Plaza. A presentation of the artists works in the context of the whole exchange project from 4 - 5pm, is followed by the panel "National Identity/Ethnic Identity: How Artists See Their Role in Culture" 5 - 7pm by the Institute for Irish American Studies.