WS Chronicle

North Carolina Museum of Art, Winston-Salem (formerly SECCA) is proud to present ”Tell Me if the Lovers Are Losers,” an exhibition of paintings and drawings by John Brooks, and ”THERE,” an exhibition of textile-based works by Jordan Nassar, on view Oct. 17 through Dec. 29 in the Potter Gallery at NCMA Winston-Salem. The exhibitions are organized by the North Carolina Museum of Art and curated by Jared Ledesma, curator of 20th century art and contemporary art. A dual opening reception with the artists will be held Thursday, Oct. 17, from 6-8 p.m.

“These exhibitions celebrate two dynamic artists, John Brooks and Jordan Nassar, who bridge the gap between tradition and contemporary experience,” said curator Jared Ledesma. “John Brooks’ first museum show marks a pivotal moment in his career, exploring queer identity and community. 

“Jordan Nassar, with 10 new works alongside a monumental piece, presents an elegant synthesis of Palestinian craft, culture, and concept that speaks to the present moment. Together, their work reshapes artistic traditions to create something entirely their own. Devoting the Pottery Gallery to these two exhibitions is exciting, each highlighting the unique vision of these phenomenal artists.”

In his work, Jordan Nassar (b. 1985) intricately weaves cultural narratives, personal heritage, and the art of Middle Eastern embroidery. Nasser was born in New York City to a Palestinian father and a Polish American mother, and his ethnicity profoundly shapes his art. Drawn to tatreez, a traditional Palestinian embroidery, he uses this craft to explore the complex interplay between ritual and diasporic life.

In recent years, Nassar has created distinctive embroidered designs with the participation of craftswomen in the West Bank. This process, uniting makers across regions but connected by heritage, embodies the concept of diaspora. Nassar’s geometric compositions feature traditional patterns, and embedded within them are his impressions of landscapes in imaginative colors. When various embroidered panels are combined, their imagery – which contrasts but also seamlessly blends – reads as a cohesive whole, mirroring elements of hybrid identity.

This exhibition takes its title from a poem by Lebanese American poet and artist Etel Adnan, who explores themes of isolation and marginality in her prose. Featured is Nassar’s large-scale Shade of the Cypress, alongside a selection of new work. While Shade of the Cypress was created with craftswomen in Bethlehem, Hebron, and Ramallah, Nassar’s latest embroideries were produced solely by him in his New York City studio due to current events in Palestine. Despite these challenges, and perhaps especially at this critical juncture, Nassar’s work invites us to reflect on hybrid and diverse landscapes that, through varied perspectives, color combinations, and orientations, encourage meditation on homeland and the formation of selfhood.

For questions and inquiries, please contact Philip Pledger, NCMA Winston-Salem director of marketing, at ppledger@ncartmuseum.org.