From The Casper Star Tribune, November 1, 2005

Syrian artist finds inspiration in America

By DUSTIN BLEIZEFFER
Star-Tribune staff writer

GILLETTE -- At first, George Sabra could only imagine what it looked like to be inside the storm -- circular chaos. Then he went to work, sculpting his vision.

The result was three separate pieces, all swirling blades of stainless steel and bronze inlaid with granite -- the upheaval of earth into the heavens.

Sabra felt especially saddened that something as horrible as Hurricane Katrina should happen to the United States. It was unfair.

"I see America differently than you see America. I see America like God for the Earth for this time," Sabra said.

Sabra is a Syrian Christian who has been living with his American wife, Tracy Sabra, in Spearfish, S.D., for the past nine months. With the help of a South Dakota congressman, Sabra hopes to gain U.S. citizenship. The couple frequently visits Gillette, where Tracy's family lives.

Though he speaks broken English in a soft voice, Sabra's artistic message is clearly and boldly carved in the busts of Martin Luther King Jr. and George W. Bush. He sees America as the world's champion of freedom -- a stark contrast to most Syrians' view of the United States today.

Just last week thousands of Syrians marched in the streets of Sabra's hometown of Damascus in a show of patriotism and protest against the United Nations' suggestion that Syrian intelligence officials might have been involved in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Some of the Syrian protesters carried signs that read, "Down, down America," in a show of continued resentment toward the United States' role in Middle East politics.

Sabra explained that he and his Christian family and friends are a small minority in the mostly Muslim Syria. While many Syrians resent the United States, Sabra said there are others like himself who believe that the U.S.-led war in Iraq has compelled dictatorial politicians in the Middle East to shrink back and give their people more freedom.

Sabra said he has witnessed the change for himself in Syria.

"The life before George W. Bush is different than the life after George W. Bush," Sabra said. "This touched me. After George Bush they (Syrian government officials) start to give the people a little peace and a little space."

Message of love

It was a truly "Spinal Tap" moment that brought Tracy and George together. Tracy's soft-rock band in Arizona wanted a pair of cupid sculptures to place on either side of the stage with dry ice, so Tracy began searching on the Internet.

She found the work of George Sabra -- already a well-known Syrian artist who had been commissioned by the Vatican to create a sculpture for the Pope. Tracy and George began a dialogue. Then Tracy traveled to Damascus, bringing with her a song that George would turn into a cinematic statement about the deep Christian roots of his hometown.

"I Believe In Love," which Tracy wrote and sang, struck a cord with Sabra's reverence for Damascus' historical role in Christianity.

"So I merged Aramaic language with her song," Sabra said. "I want to show American people that Syrian people are not bad. I want to show something very natural from the street."

Filled with Christian symbolism, the video is an ode both to Damascus and Sabra's new wife, Tracy. Sabra said he was overwhelmed that Tracy had brought him the song at the same time the United States was invading Iraq.

"There was love and war at the same time," Sabra said. "This meant a lot to me, so I wanted to answer what this meant to me."

Sabra still maintains an art studio in Damascus. As he looks to the future, he hopes to gain U.S. citizenship and continue exploring all forms of art. Sabra said he looks forward to visiting his friends and family in Syria, and he doesn't fear any problems upon his return.

"Because America built something good in Iraq, it has built something good for Syria," Sabra said.

Reporter Dustin Bleizeffer can be reached at (307) 682-3388 or dustin.bleizeffer@casperstartribune.net.

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