Jerusalem Project: An Artistic Pilgrimage

Andy Norquist Start Date: Dec 20, 2024 - End Date: Jun 19, 2025
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Volunteer Trip
  • Jerusalem, Israel
  • Hebron
  • Nazareth, Israel
  • Bethlehem
  • Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

My Travel Story

by: Andy Norquist Start Date: Dec 20, 2024 - End Date: Jun 19, 2025
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Volunteer Trip
Greetings Friends!

I am reaching out to invite you to be part of an important journey I am planning—a week-long solidarity trip to Israel and Palestine this coming June. This trip is an opportunity to witness firsthand the realities faced by these communities during a very difficult time and to stand in support of their resilience. While there, I plan to document the experience through photography, capturing moments that speak to the human spirit amidst adversity. These photographs will serve as the foundation for an artistic project, culminating in a limited-edition print run of a drawing inspired by the images and stories I gather during the trip.

My brother Ben will be my guide for this trip. Ben did his PhD work on higher education as an expression of steadfastness in the occupied Palestinian territories, and continues his work helping Americans understand the situation and to stand for justice and peace in the Middle East. He works for the Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East and his heart is to see all people of the land to have security, dignity, and freedom. Having learned from Ben for the last couple of years about this conflict, I share his deep concern for the people who live there and the families that have been torn apart by the violence and loss of innocent life. Our itinerary is flexible but currently includes sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Hebron and Jaffa.

After the trip in June, I anticipate getting to work right away on the project with a projected completion by late July or early August. The themes will likely be related to my interest in nature, history and people's personal experiences in diverse contexts.

The proceeds from the sales of these prints will fund my trip. Proceeds that exceed my expenses will be donated to the Dar Al Kalima University of Art and Culture in Bethlehem to aid in their efforts to educate young palestinian men and women in the arts. Your support will not only make this trip possible but will also amplify its impact, allowing art to serve as both a witness and a tool for change. Together, we can bridge communities and extend solidarity through creativity and action.

Conditions in the West Bank are changing daily. We are keeping our eye on what is happening. We will make every effort to reschedule the trip if we can't make it in June. In the unlikely event that we have to cancel the trip altogether, all funds will be donated to Dar al-Kalima University.

Your generosity will make all the difference! Whether you can help by donating or by spreading the word, I deeply appreciate your help in making this vision a reality. Thank you for considering joining me in this endeavor!


Additional:
For more information about Dar Al Kalima University of Art and Culture see this video.
For more information about the Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East see their website.
To see examples of my work, please see my website.
Thank you to Lauren and Chad Bowditch for creating the beautiful video above!
  • Jerusalem, Israel
  • Hebron
  • Nazareth, Israel
  • Bethlehem
  • Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

Updates

6

  • Fully Funded—And An Invitation To Give Beyond

    I’m incredibly grateful to share that the trip is now fully funded! Thanks to your generosity, I’ll be able to make this artistic pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine with the resources I need to travel, meet with artists and cultural leaders, and create work in response to the people and places I encounter.

    That said, some of you have asked if it’s still possible to give—and the answer is yes. Any funds received beyond my travel and project expenses will be donated directly to Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem. This institution is doing remarkable work supporting young Palestinian artists and cultivating creativity and resilience in a region where both are deeply needed.

    Those who contribute will still receive a limited edition print of one of the pieces I create in response to the trip. It’s one way I can share a tangible part of the journey with you and extend the impact of your generosity even further.

    Thank you again for being part of this. I’m humbled and hopeful—and so looking forward to sharing more soon.

    With gratitude,
    Andrew Gunnar Norquist
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  • Preparing For The Journey

    I wanted to take a moment to share a quick update as plans for my artistic pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine continue to take shape. Thanks to your incredible generosity and encouragement, the path ahead is becoming clearer. We’ve been in touch with several individuals and organizations on the ground, including Bethlehem Bible College and Dar al-Kalima University. We are beginning to schedule visits and conversations that I believe will be deeply meaningful.

    As the itinerary solidifies, I find myself reflecting more and more on what it means to approach this journey as both an artist and a listener. My hope is not just to observe, but to truly engage—with people, with stories, with landscapes, and with the spiritual heritage of the region. I'm beginning to gather materials for journaling and sketching, and also reading and praying through themes that may shape the work to come.

    I’ll continue to post updates here as the departure date approaches and as the journey unfolds. After the trip, I look forward to sharing reflections, drawings, and stories that grow out of the experience. Thank you again for walking with me in this.

    —Andrew
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