Tomorrow marks the anniversary of a day that changed the lives of people all over the world. It also marks the beginning of the sixth annual 11 Days of Global Unity, a promotion of peace, justice, sustainability and transformation held Friday to Sept. 21.

On Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaida terrorists launched a series of attacks on the United States, killing thousands of Americans and resulting in the U.S. Global War on Terrorism. Nine years later, anger continues to divide the nation as hate crimes persist against middle-eastern-looking American citizens.

“Peace, justice and environmental stewardship are ongoing,” said Heather Withers, chairwoman of Ames’ 11 Days of Global Unity. “[11 Days is] really to inspire and to inform people and involve them in doing something themselves toward making this a better world.”

The celebration was launched in 2004 by We, The World, a group dedicated to global interdependance, and consists of 700 events held in more than 60 countries.

Ames began participating in 11 Days in 2008. This year, there are 24 events scheduled for the Ames area, including poetry readings, films and meditation services.

One of the opening events for 11 Days is an artist’s reception for Iraqi artist Amer al-Obaidi at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Al-Obaidi is the former general director of fine arts in Iraq and director of the National Museum of Modern Art in Baghdad, which was looted during the war. After losing his son to a roadside bomb, al-Obaidi and his family fled to Syria in 2007.

With help from the Refugee Cooperative of Lutheran Services in Iowa/Catholic Charities, they arrived in Des Moines in 2008.

“He says how much he likes Des Moines because the people are so friendly in Iowa,” said Greta Anderson, social justice chairwoman of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. “But in terms of artwork, you don’t have people dropping thousands of dollars like they would elsewhere.”

Anderson met al-Obaidi at a fundraiser in Des Moines two years ago.

“I think we were the first people to buy his artwork when he came,” said Anderson.

Anderson said the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship was designed for use as a gallery to exhibit artists chosen by the church’s art exhibit committee.

“As soon as I met him and saw his work, it was my hope that we could bring him to Ames,” Anderson said.

Al-Obaidi’s exhibit, entitled “Caravan of Exile,” has been on display at the fellowship since Aug. 30 and will remain until Oct. 8. Anderson said it was coincidence that the artist’s reception happened to coincide with Sept. 11, but she considers it a good way to celebrate the unity of different cultures.

“The terrorist attack [of 9/11] was used as an excuse to unleash chaos in Amer’s country,” Anderson said. “We are turning it around and using it as an opportunity to celebrate Amer’s artwork which is deeply rooted in his culture.”

Anderson describes al-Obaidi’s paintings as “color-drenched” and said they often contain references to legends, myths and lore. His work can be found in nearly every major museum in the Middle East and tend to include exquisite depictions of birds, horses and people.

“At first I was looking for a lot of themes of destruction, because I thought through the eyes of an American who wasn’t happy about the war,” Anderson said. “I was surprised to see that many of his paintings are about … the redemptive power of the imagination. They’re about dreams.”

Although al-Obaidi’s paintings reflect his culture, Anderson said they are relevant to all cultures because they express humanity.

“Amer is not a practicing Muslim,” Anderson said. “He would say, ‘Sunni? Shi’a? Who cares?’ … obviously there are some people who care, but if this day should be commemorated in any way, it should be something that brings us together.”

Anderson said the fellowship hopes people of all origins and orientations come together to see al-Obaidi’s exhibit.

“The people who went down with the airplanes were Christians, Muslims, secular humanists and you name it,” Anderson said. “And I imagine Christians, Muslims, secular humanists and you name it will attend the reception.”

Al-Obaidi’s paintings are for sale at the fellowship’s gallery, with prices ranging from $250 to $3,000, a major drop from the $40,000 for which they once sold in Iraq. The reception will not only feature his artwork but also Iraqi food and dancing.

Withers and the 11 Days committee hope to see a continued increase in participation in promoting peace, justice and sustainability in Ames.

“We realize these events are going on all year,” Withers said. “It’s just a way of highlighting them and celebrating what’s going on in the community.”

This message resounds within the many deep textures and colors of al-Obaidi’s paint strokes.

“It’s about community and family,” Anderson said,” not about creed and the things that divide us.”