Through art, Lexington can help Lebanon rebuild after horrific explosion
On Aug. 4, the third largest explosion in history tore through Beirut, Lebanon. Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed, many killed and many more injured. In addition to the devastation of this event, the Lebanese people are facing great economic and political instabilities, all while fighting a global pandemic.
“I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t sit with the images floating through my mind of limbs scattering all over the place and all the blood and horrific screams I heard echoing through my ears,” said Lexington artist Hala Fakhoury. “I called my grandfather, and, thankfully, the only damage was shattered windows in his salon. The same happened with my grandmother’s house. Jeddo Abed told me that he was used to things like this because of the Civil War. I thought ‘what if the bomb had been closer? What if the windows that had shattered were just a couple of feet closer to where he usually sits in the living room?’ “
Unfortunately, what Hala’s family experienced is not a rare tale. Thousands of families are trying to repair and rebuild their homes; thousands are injured and hundreds dead. Lebanese all around the globe have found themselves calling and texting Beirut, just to make sure their families are alive. Lexington is no different, and with a sizable Lebanese community, ambitions to make an impact are strong.
“What I – a Lebanese American living halfway across the world – feel, is not even a fraction of what my family, friends, and fellow Lebanese feel. I have watched videos of glass shattering, people bleeding, of smoke diffusing through the sky,” said Lex for Leb founder Dealla Samadi. “I haven’t felt the shards through my skin, coughed as the smoke filled my lungs, had to run and hide, search for my loved ones, or bury anybody I knew and loved.”
Lex for Leb is an initiative to provide aid to the Lebanese people through art. Founded and run by three Lexington natives, Dealla Samadi, Hala Fakhoury and Maria Owen, the project has received more than 50 art donations from Kentucky-based artists including Elizabeth Foley, Georgia Henkel, Liz Swanson, Benjamin DiMaiao and Lawrence Schabell. Bidding starts between $15 and $200 depending on the artwork, and 100% of proceeds go to the Lebanese Red Cross, Sanabel Nour and the Dafa Campaign, organizations dedicated to delivering food, water, and medical care to the heart of the disaster. The auction begins this Saturday, Sept. 12. You can visit the auction here: https://www.32auctions.com/lexforleb
We want to remind the people of Lexington that they can make a global impact. Through purchasing artworks from local artists, they can help families across the globe to rebuild their homes. If you’ve been wanting to donate, this is an amazing way to do it. And if you simply need some new artwork for your home or office – well this is a great way to find that, too.
Maria Owen is the press officer Lex for Leb.
This story was originally published September 10, 2020 at 12:01 PM.