Speeches

Remarks by Ambassador Jacobson at the Opening of the Joint Turkmen-American Exhibition Multicultural Landscapes"

Oct. 13, 2005

Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished diplomats and guests.

Thank you for joining us to open this joint exhibit of Turkmen and American art, “Multicultural Landscapes,” in honor of the 14 th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s independence.

This exhibit coincides with the visit of our Cultural Envoy, Mitchell Cope, an artist from Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Cope, the first painter to visit Turkmenistan as a U.S. Cultural Envoy, is visiting Turkmenistan for two weeks to meet Turkmen artists and work with them to create this exhibit.

The exhibit reflects the rich exchange of ideas that has occurred between Mr. Cope and Turkmen artists, art students and cultural contacts since his arrival in Turkmenistan October 7. Mr. Cope has been working with artists and art students in Ashgabat, and will soon travel to Mary and Dashoguz to learn about the art communities there.

Mr. Cope was trained as a painter, but works in many media, chiefly photography, film, paint, graphite, and printmaking.

His work brings together science, sociology, history, and art and expresses a fascination with how humans interact with their environment and with the emotional and sociological impact of a changing urban landscape.

We are grateful to the Ministry of Culture for their help in organizing this exhibit. The artwork you see in this hall today is proof of the expertise and vigor of Turkmenistan’s artists. I am confident that the cultural understanding forged between American and Turkmen artists during Mr. Cope’s program, and demonstrated in this exhibit, will strengthen the ties between the United States and Turkmenistan.

As you walk through the exhibit, I encourage you to speak with the artists displaying works in the exhibit, to gain a fuller understanding of their vision and their work. It’s now my pleasure to introduce Mr. Cope, who will discuss his work.

Thank you.