Amman — Forty male and female artists, along with a number of Arab artists residing in Jordan, took part in an art symposium held at a park in Jerash, transforming the venue over the course of a full day into an open-air art space. They produced a collection of paintings and visual artworks, exchanged experiences and expertise, and concluded the gathering with an exhibition of the works produced and a ceremony honoring the participants.
اضافة اعلان
The gathering was organized on the initiative of visual artist Muntaha Abu Ghazaleh, president of the Lamsa wa Lawn Association for Culture and Arts, with the support of the Jerash Directorate of Culture and under the sponsorship and follow-up of Jerash Culture Director Dr. Aqla Al-Qadri. The event brought artists together for live work, dialogue and the exchange of artistic perspectives.
Abu Ghazaleh said the gathering aimed to bring visual artists together in one space for dialogue, artistic work and the exchange of experiences. She noted that the participation of artists reflected the diversity of artistic experiences and styles, while allowing them to produce new works within a single day.
She added that holding the gathering at the park amid Jerash’s scenic natural surroundings provided a suitable environment for artistic work and interaction among the participants. She noted that concluding the event with an exhibition of the completed works, along with the presence of a number of poets, added a cultural dimension to the experience.
Abu Ghazaleh praised the support of the Jerash Directorate of Culture and the follow-up by Jerash Culture Director Dr. Aqla Al-Qadri, stressing the importance of continued cooperation between cultural institutions and art gatherings in organizing events that allow artists to connect, exchange experiences and present their work to the public.
Visual artist Ilham Al-Mahasees, a member of the administrative board of the Lamsa wa Lawn Association for Culture and Arts, said this year’s symposium was different in its content, seeking to create an integrated artistic environment that contributes to advancing artists’ artistic thinking and practice while providing space for experimentation, dialogue and the exchange of experiences among participants.
She said the diversity of the participating artistic experiences added value to the gathering and opened the way for artists to interact and exchange perspectives, benefiting both the conceptual and practical aspects of visual art and enhancing artists’ ability to develop their skills and artistic vision.
Throughout the day, the park was transformed into an open art workshop, where artists worked on their pieces while engaging in discussions about artistic experiences and styles, painting techniques, the use of color and subject matter.
Artist Mohammad Al-Dughlais said the gathering provided an opportunity to meet artists from different backgrounds and work together in one space, noting that direct discussion and the exchange of experiences add genuine value to any artistic gathering.
He added that working in front of others allows artists to observe different styles while also giving the public an opportunity to follow the artistic process from its beginning rather than simply viewing the completed painting.
Visual artist Tareq Abdel Hadi said such events help strengthen cooperation and familiarity among artists while creating opportunities for closer interaction with the community. He stressed that these gatherings give artists a genuine opportunity to enter a state of reflection and inspiration that forms an important foundation for developing their creative experiences.
He said working in such an atmosphere gives artists space to reflect and remain open to the place and to others, helping them generate new ideas and transform them into artworks that carry the distinctive character of the experience and the spirit of the place.
Artist Mona Al-Salahat said the gathering provided space for communication among artists and the exchange of experiences, stressing that working in the atmosphere of Jerash gives artists an opportunity to interact with the place and draw inspiration from its elements in their work.
She added that the importance of such gatherings lies in bringing artists together in one space and opening the way for artistic dialogue, while also giving the public an opportunity to come closer to the artist’s experience and follow the process of producing the artwork.
Visual artist Ghassan Al-Ayasra, who is interested in recycling art, considered his participation in the symposium an opportunity to present this form of art to the public and transform discarded materials into artworks with aesthetic value and new ideas.
Al-Ayasra said recycling art gives artists broad opportunities for experimentation and innovation, noting that artistically repurposing available materials connects creativity with environmental protection and demonstrates the artist’s ability to transform simple elements into works of art.
He added that open art gatherings allow the public to discover different artistic styles, including recycling art, which involves reinterpreting everyday materials and giving them a new function and meaning through visual art.
The gathering concluded with the attendance of a number of poets and an art exhibition featuring the paintings and works produced by the artists throughout the day, offering a visual representation of the artistic experience shared by the participants.
The event concluded with the participating artists being honored and presented with certificates documenting their participation in the gathering. The completed works reflected a diversity of styles and subjects, with artists drawing on the natural and visual details of Jerash in developing their works.
The gathering is part of a series of events that provide visual artists with opportunities to meet, work together and exchange experiences, strengthen the presence of art in open spaces, and give the public a direct opportunity to observe artists as they create their work.
Resource: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Ahmad Al-Shawabkeh
