Over the last 24 hours, $300 million has been poured into the Iraq war. But the actual cost of the conflict can’t be measured in money alone. Besides the thousands of casualties on both sides, hundreds of Iraqi artists and intellectuals have been forced into exile. The exhibit “Iraqi Artists in Exile” is a first-ever look at new work by more than a dozen of Iraq’s most talented contemporary artists who are now working outside of their homeland. “There’s no doubt about it, they’re Iraq’s major artists today, even though they aren’t living there,” says James Harithas, director of The Station Museum of Contemporary Art (winner of this year’s Best of Houston® award for Best Art Space). “Even though a lot them lost all of their work, they just went out and got started again. They didn’t quit, they didn’t give up.” 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Through February 1. 1502 Alabama. For information, call 713-529-6900 or visit www.stationmuseum.com. Free.

Wednesdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Starts: Nov. 1. Continues through Feb. 1, 2008

This article appears in Nov 13-19, 2008.