Marysville artist and her Everett critic find answers

Published 11:02 pm Thursday, March 13, 2008

EVERETT — Doaa al Maly, a 19-year-old Iraqi college student, sat on the edge of an overstuffed couch in her north Everett home.

Joan Cates, a 74-year-old artist who has lived most of her life in Marysville, sank back into the cushions of another couch, facing the student. Her hands shook slightly as she brought a cup of syrupy Middle Eastern tea to her lips.

The artist had never before been in an Iraqi family’s home.

The college student knew her own position all too well.

Since al Maly and her family came to Everett as refugees from Iraq 14 years ago, she has had initiated countless discussions about her U.S. citizenship, her religion, her appearance.

Al Maly invited Cates to the home she shares with her parents and siblings for tea and conversation last month, after al Maly saw a painting by Cates on display in the Russell Day Gallery at Everett Community College. The painting was a picture of a Muslim woman, holding a Quran in one hand and a machine gun in the other.

In a handwritten statement, Cates said she created the piece after she read a news account of a female Palestinian suicide bomber.

“Why was her anger so deep that she deprived her children of a mother and herself of a life?” Cates wrote. “I began a painting to search for an answer.”

When al Maly saw the painting, she wanted answers, too.

Why would someone take an opportunity to talk about Muslim women and show them in the worst possible light? Did the artist know that Everett Community College has many Muslim students?

On Thursday, there were some answers.

Al Maly and Cates shared their mutual admiration for one another: al Maly for Cates’ artistic ability, and Cates for al Maly’s courage.

Soon, they decided, there may be another painting, this time of al Maly and other women like her, who care for their families and have dreams of college degrees.

Women of peace.

Reporter Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422 or kkapralos@heraldnet.com.