[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/journey_of_peace.jpg” caption=”Journey of Peace illustration by Yar Taraky.”]Stories and illustrations depicting life in Afghanistan will be on display at the McMaster Museum of Art this week. The exhibit is being held in conjunction with a Peace Through Health Conference taking place on campus.

The exhibit features watercolour illustrations by artist and Afghanistan native Yar Taraky. The illustrations are from a series of 16 children's books that are used in Afghan schools to help children deal with the effects of war. Called Journey of Peace, the books were co-authored by McMaster's Joanna Santa Barbara, an instructor in the Centre for Peace Studies, and Graeme MacQueen, a former religious studies professor. The exhibit will be on display at the museum May 3-8.

Taraky is a graduate of the Uzbekistan Fine Arts Academy. His work has appeared in numerous solo and group exhibitions for more than 20 years. Currently he is working on a series about Afghan music and art. He is highly active in the Hamilton arts community, and is executive director of the Immigrant Culture and Arts Association here. His images remain strongly rooted in his homeland. Taraky has donated paintings to the Afghan National Gallery in Kabul and is assisting the development of the Kabul Art School.

The exhibit is in conjunction with the McMaster Lancet Challenge Conference: Peace Through Health; Learning from Action May 6-8. The second annual conference is aimed at health and peace professionals, educators, students or journalists. It will facilitate ongoing communication about Peace Through Health initiatives, with the purpose of advancing knowledge, skills and clues in this area.

The McMaster Museum of Art is located on the campus of McMaster University at the corner of Sterling Street and University Avenue. Admission to the Museum is pay-what-you-can with a suggested donation of $2. Students, seniors and members are free. Museum Hours: Tues – Fri 11-5; Sunday 12-5. Phone: 905-525-9140 ext. 23081. Fax: 905-527-4548. E-mail: museum@mcmaster.ca. Web site: www.mcmaster.ca/museum.