Dreams & Nightmares is a memorial exhibit to Iraqis who have lost their lives in the war and occupation. With photographs, names and personal stories (in English), it conveys the unseen side of the war in Iraq — the tragedy being experienced by everyday Iraqis. The exhibit, consisting of photos depicting both the realities of life and death in Iraq, will pay tribute to the more than 600,000 Iraqis who have been killed in the US-led war and occupation.

By providing a visual connection to our Iraqi sisters and brothers and graphically portraying the human cost of the war, the exhibit seeks to overcome apathy about the war--one of the major challenges facing the antiwar movement. As part of the exhibit, visitors are invited to sign a petition to Congress seeking to stop funding for the war, close all US military bases in Iraq, bring the troops home, and rebuild war-torn Iraq –and hurricane-ravaged communities in the US.

In terms of Crosscutting Themes, Dreams & Nightmares provides an internationalist perspective by showing the cost of US aggression to Iraqi people, and not just the cost to US soldiers most often referred to in the mainstream media and Congress. It also presents a vision of a more peaceful Iraq--part of the more peaceful world which possible.

The Dreams & Nightmares exhibit consists of 32 panels mounted on both sides of 16 metal frames, arranged in a 30’ circle with 4 openings, through which visitors are invited to enter. The 16 panels facing out represent the dreams of a peaceful Iraq, with colorful images of Iraqi women and men, young and old, parents and children, smiling and laughing. The 16 panels facing in represent the nightmares of war in Iraq, with black and white images of Iraqis grieving for their loved ones, stories of those who have been killed, and descriptions of the trauma Iraq is going through, along with the names and ages of hundreds of Iraqis who have lost their lives in the war. The exhibit also comes with approximately 2500 pairs of civilian shoes, each tagged with the name and age of an Iraqi civilian who has been killed in the war. The exhibit was created by AFSC and September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows.

The exhibit would ideally be displayed in a large outdoor location (at least 2500 sq ft, or 50' x 50') for the duration of the Forum.