In the 1970s, under the moniker The Atlas Group, Lebanese-American artist Walid Raad began to chronicle the civil wars in his Middle Eastern motherland. The now influential and world-renowned political artist collected photographs, video, recordings and writings about the wars in Lebanon from 1975 to 1990. "The Dead Weight of a Quarrel Hangs: Selections from The Atlas Group Archive" contains a set of 100 pictures photojournalists took of engines from bombed-out cars, negatives of photos Raad took in 1982 of land, air and sea attacks on West Beruit, and two video installations. One video features the tale of the only Arab man to be held with Americans during the 1980s Lebanon hostage crisis. The other video, titled I only wish that I could weep, was taken by an intelligence officer stationed at the line that divided East and West Beirut. Instead of watching his target - you know, the war - he taped the sun setting in West Beirut, something he'd never seen as he was forced to grow up in the East. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. Through November 23. Glassell School of Art, 5101 Montrose. For information, call 713-639-7700 or visit www.mfah.org. Free.
Sept. 12-Nov. 23, 2008