The Sun Will Shine In A Free Palestine
An apartheid wall exhibition created at Cornell University, drawing inspiration from South African anti-apartheid protests while advocating for Palestinian liberation. This collaborative artwork serves as both educational tool and symbol of solidarity.
Creation Timeline
From community planning to gallery exhibition: the journey of resistance art
Community Planning
Students gathered to plan the apartheid wall exhibition, registering it officially with Cornell University for the Arts Quad.
Partnerships & Material Acquisition
Collaborated with professors, faculty, ewish Voice for Peace, Ithaca Mural Arts, and gallery studios to secure funding and acquire mural materials.
Apartheid Wall Construction
Led by Maya Murry, the apartheid wall nears completion with volunteer artists from different colleges and areas at Cornell.
Indigenous Land Acknowledgment
Partnered with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy to place official "Land Back" acknowledgment and Gayogo̱hó:nǫ sign.
Community Fundraising
Raised over $13,000 in donations and proceeds, with all funds going entirely to various local and international charities.
"Mama I'm Fine" Poem
Featured poem by Maya Mirie (Murry) displayed on the mural, with imagery dedicated to Wadea Al-Fayoume, 6-year-old victim of anti-Palestinian violence.
Arabic Love & War Poem
Featured "In Arabic, the word for war is similar to love" by Palestinian artist Sara Abou Rashed.
The Partition
The mural's design reflects Palestinian geography: the first half (3 orange panels) represents Gaza, while the second half depicts the West Bank. Both the Palestinian and Haudenosaunee Confederacy flags were raised for the duration of the exhibition.
Archival Storage
The apartheid wall is carefully dismantled and stored in Cornell campus archives for preservation and future educational use.
Gallery Exhibition
The apartheid wall returns for its first gallery exhibition in Ithaca, featuring the panel reading "In A Free" as the centerpiece.
Diacritics: A Review of Contemporary Criticism
The apartheid wall receives its first official peer-reviewed academic publication in the acclaimed journal by the Johns Hopkins University Press.
Community Impact
This apartheid wall exhibition represents the power of collaborative resistance art and intersectional solidarity. By drawing connections between South African anti-apartheid struggles, Palestinian liberation, and Indigenous sovereignty, the project created new frameworks for understanding oppression and resistance.
The work's journey from campus activism to archival preservation to gallery exhibition demonstrates how protest art can evolve into lasting cultural and educational resources. All funds raised supported refugee relief efforts, embodying the principle that art should serve community needs beyond aesthetic appreciation.