Every day, Saad Hindal likes to surround himself with the city that accepts him.
He turns out of his Merrimack Street home and makes his way to Concord’s downtown. He likes to switch up when he goes, to get a full perspective on the people and the places around him.
“Concord is very quiet,” he said, “so I try to see different people at different times.”
Once he’s there, he’s struck by how the downtown acts as the city’s epicenter; to him, “Concord is a circle,” and you come back to certain parts, over and over again.
But it’s also a place where he was able to find a new life after he was ruined financially in 2006 when forced to ransom his eldest son from kidnappers in the chaos after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s reign in Iraq. Concord remains the city where he and his family have woven a new life within eyeshot of the State House dome.
His paintings are often a love letter to the community – its people and places – and like many residents, he’ll be celebrating that love this weekend at the 12th annual Multicultural Festival, set to take place Sunday on the State House lawn.
The festival, which has recently taken place in the summer, was moved to September to coincide with National Welcoming Week, an annual series of events across the nation that bring together immigrants, refugees and native-born residents to celebrate diversity.
It’s events like the festival that Hindal, mostly speaking through his daughter Ashtar Hindal, says defines the city’s acceptance of him.
“We get to see people from different countries,” he said. “And we get to feel American; we don’t feel as much racism here.”
His acrylics of the city are complete worlds but often take different forms – shooting up from the roof of a Concord bus, afloat in the sky-blue paint as a boat. He paints in bright, grabbing colors, hues he said symbolize how he feels about the city.
There are some constants, however. He starts with “the important things,” the State House dome and the war memorial’s iconic arch. The clock tower that marks the entrance to Eagle Square is also usually present, as is the New Hampshire Savings Bank building.
Also present are the city’s feline residents. Hindal said he delights in spotting cats during his daily walks and makes a point of weaving them into his art. His own cat, Hantosh, is often beside him when he paints.
Many of his works were on display at the Concord Chamber this week leading up to Sunday’s festival.
Hindal’s story is just one of many visitors can learn about during the festival.
Attractions include an International Flag Parade with flags from nearly 50 countries representing the city’s diversity, several musical, dance and art performances, and local food and craft vendors.
The festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(Caitlin Andrews can be reached at 369-3309, candrews@monitor.com or on Twitter at @ActualCAndrews.)