The Moore Collection: Franklin T. Moore Photographs (1892–1902)- Book

AUB and Ras Beirut in 150 Years of Photographs began as a photographic exhibition organized by AUB's Neighborhood Initiative and Jafet Library in celebration of the university's 150th anniversary. The images, capturing so many of the changing faces of the university and its neighborhood, were drawn from a wide range of sources including both private and public collections, and various institutional archives. Two years on, this book represents an extended appreciation of the connections and the relationship between the American University of Beirut and its community over the past 150 years. ​The photographs reflect a diverse mix of people and place, focusing on views of Ras Beirut running along the sea-front from Raouche to Jal-al-Bahr and along the Corniche to Manara and 'Ayn al-Mreisseh. It also follows Bliss and Hamra streets, and includes views of the American University of Beirut campus as it has evolved through the years. The book's preface outlines the process through which the photographs are arranged as well as the book's evolution from the original exhibit. AUB and Ras Beirut in 150 Years of Photographs represents a beautiful documentation of the changing face of the neighborhood and its evolution over time.

The first book of its kind in Lebanon, Mute Movements, documents the emergence of a performance art scene in Lebanon. The book illustrates the collective work of students and artists under the direction of Cornelia Krafft, former assistant professor at AUB. Captured in high-quality photographs and narrated through the performers' own words, Mute Movements invites the reader to embark on an inspirational journey through modern-day Lebanon as seen through the eyes of these young artists striving to confront their internal and external challenges on the personal, national, and regional levels. Their “mute" performances, situated in provocative locations, demanded attention and triggered debate. Played out in unorthodox settings – abandoned buildings, war ruins, along the sea-shore, in city streets and run-down cinemas – these performances required almost as much of the spectators as of the players with their fundamental questioning of issues of collective relevance: social responsibility, personal and regional identity, cultural heritage, censorship, conflict, freedom, and repression. Across the pages of the book, each performance unfolds in documentary-like fashion. The underlying theme, the evolution of performance art in Lebanon across five fertile years of artistic endeavor, lays the groundwork for years to come. While the focus is Lebanon and its youth, the bigger picture is a work in progress which is applicable far beyond the borders of one small country, making Mute Movements a valuable as well as highly enjoyable reference work. ​The overall minimalistic aesthetic and design of the book envelopes an extraordinary sample of strong artistic encouragement through contemporary education in the fields of performance, set design, and visual arts; the result is a document of international importance.

This book showcases the work of twenty featured artists from the first group exhibition of contemporary ceramists in Lebanon, and thus is the first of its kind. Innovation in fine arts at AUB goes back at least to 1929, when the University hosted first solo exhibition in Lebanon with the work of Lebanese artist Mustafa Farroukh. ​This is a publication of the Project Steering Committee for an Arts Center at AUB.