NEW YORK, NY.- During a time of increasing stereotypes and media hype, and in the midst of the ever-widening divide that exists between the Middle East and West, and the ever-growing misconceptions and apprehensions, CARAVAN’s The Bridge, an East-West travelling art exhibition premiered in the US at St. Paul’s Chapel near Ground Zero. Showcasing the work of 47 premier contemporary visual artists from 15 countries, The Bridge is an unparalleled gathering of Arab, Jewish and Persian artists focusing on what they hold in common through their cultures and creeds: Christian, Muslim and Jewish.

Trinity Church Wall Street’s St. Paul’s Chapel, bordering Ground Zero, is the oldest surviving church building in Manhattan and is known for welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. Due to its role since 9/11 as a place of reconciliation, it is a fitting host for The Bridge exhibition to debut in North America. Running through February 28, The Bridge serves as a common starting point on which to build, towards seeing the development of a world that inherently respects and honours cultural and religious diversity, living and working together in harmony. Through the work of 47 visionary contemporary artists, The Bridge aims to provide a link not only within communities, but between communities.

The Bridge is being exhibited at venues throughout the world. It opened on February 2, 2015 with a month-long exhibition in Paris to commemorate World Interfaith Harmony Week and was subsequently shown in Cairo, at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Trafalgar Square in London, and Metz Cathedral in Metz, France. Following its exhibition in New York City at St. Paul’s Chapel it will be displayed throughout the United States (i.e. Chicago’s Rockefeller Chapel, Spokane’s St. John’s Cathedral, Portland’s Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and throughout Wyoming).

CARAVAN, which originated out of Cairo, Egypt, is an international peacebuilding arts NGO that focuses on building bridges through the arts between the creeds and cultures of the Middle East and West. CARAVAN’s experience has shown that the arts can serve as one of the most effective mediums to enhance understanding, bring about respect, enable sharing, and deepen friendship between those of different faiths and cultures. The Bridge is co-curated by CARAVAN Founder/President, Rev Canon Paul-Gordon Chandler and noted artists, Lilianne Milgrom and Dr. Reda Abdel Rahman. Past exhibitions include AMEN: A Prayer for the World which was on display in Cairo, Washington DC’s National Cathedral and New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine in 2014 and in 2013, In Peace and with Compassion, featured 50 life-size painted fiberglass donkeys on display in Cairo and at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral.