Jeddah Photography and Exhibition Workshop

A unique photography and exhibition workshop is coming up this month in Jeddah led by internationally acclaimed photographer and producer Richard Wilding.

 

The 6 session workshop will include day and night photography sessions in Al Balad, the vibrant centre of old Jeddah. Participants will be led through the process of selecting and editing their photographs, and the procedures for organising, printing and presenting an exhibition.

Click here to register.

Fee: £ 450 or SR 2,225

Who should participate?

Participants should be aged 18+ and almost fluent in spoken English.

Participants should have a professional or semi professional SLR and a good understanding of the principles of photography.

Participants should have a Mac or PC laptop with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Bridge software.

Programme

Tuesday 14th November / 5 – 8pm

Course introduction

Richard Wilding shows his work and previous exhibitions

Technical and creative brief

Preparation of equipment

Thursday 16th November / 5.30- 8.30pm

Night photography in Al Balad

Saturday 18th November / 10am – 1pm

Editing of images from night photography

2.30 – 5.30pm

Daylight photography in Al Balad

Tuesday 21st November / 5 – 8pm

Editing of images from daylight photography

Thursday 23rd November / 5 – 8pm

Group discussion on exhibition theme and title

Selection of images for exhibition

Saturday 25th November / 10am – 1pm

Preparation of final images for printing

2.30 – 5.30pm

Printing of images commences at printers

Wednesday 29th November

Exhibition opening for participants and their friends and family

 

Richard Wilding

Richard Wilding is a London based photographer and producer working internationally with museums, charities and NGOs. He specialises in the documentation of archaeology, costume and cultural identity in the Middle East. He is a trustee of The Mansoojat Foundation, a charity formed to preserve and document the traditional costumes and heritage of Saudi Arabia.

Richard Wilding’s photography has been exhibited in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, University of Exeter, UK and the Houses of Parliament, London. He has also organised and designed exhibitions and publications in Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the UK.

 

Karachi Biennale 2017

Right here in the city of Jeddah, we witnessed an art scene grow to fruition, and become a powerful part of the city’s mainstream culture. In the public arena, art has always been a part of daily life, thanks to the monumental sculptures strewn across the city. It isn’t always easy to bring art into the public realm, in regions rife with cultural and logistical challenges, but that hardship is what gives the art and the city its soul.

In another coastal city many miles east of Jeddah, where many of our international readers are from, an art biennale is bringing art back into the public arena. The venues for the Biennale are historic buildings, part of the city’s rich heritage, which get a new lease of life by being the axis of engagement for this city-wide event. The Karachi Biennale starts on the 22nd October and continues till the 5th November. We share with you the event highlights, and some striking images of the principal venues, as well as a public art project, Reel On Hai (The film is on), the likes of which we think every city in the world could use.

Karachi biennale theme: Witness 

“To witness something can be an involuntary act but to be a witness by choice alludes to participation and responsibility. Art, as a testament of its time, has always held significance, particularly in times when memory is heavily contested. Kundera, with his words ‘The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memories against forgetting’, puts the onus of creating testimonies for collective memory on eye witnesses and documenters.

The artists and art critics of our times are witness to a world brutalized by aggression and anxiety.  Their testimonies, be they personal or political, create a visual space of defiance.”

Detailed e-vite and full-day public programs to be posted on the Biennale’s website after the 15th October, 2017.

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Art Workshop For Adults, Teens and Children

Get your creative juices flowing with these upcoming art classes for kids, teenagers and adults. Learn the art of oils and acrylics and give your talent a professional touch.

Includes the following styles

• Oil Painting.
• Portrait making.
• Pencil sketching.
• Abstract modern art.
• Contemporary art.
• Impressionism.
• Arabic & English calligraphy.
• 3D Sketching.

All supplies will be provided.

Date: 25th March 2017.

Time: 4-6pm

Duration: 2 days a week, for 2 months

Location: Al Rehab, Arbaeen road

Cost: Children: SR 650, Adults SR 1150

 

Register on the number in the flyer above. Check Instagram for the latest updates.

Experience a Turkish Bazaar!

Amazing opportunity to soak up some Turkish culture and food this Friday, 9th December 2016.

 

Medd – The Café by The Sea

Recently coffee lovers gathered for an informative event at Medd Cafe on the Northern Corniche to rediscover Arab roots in coffee culture and find out about the specific brewing methods available at Medd.

Medd Cafe is an artisanal, third-wave coffee house and the get-together was organised by Arabian Jewel.  Our very own Samreen Ahmed was lucky enough to attend the event and send us this report exclusively for Jeddah Blog.

Medd Cafe and Roastery.

Upon entering the place, the aroma of coffee instantly lifted my spirits. I couldn’t help but notice the lovely desserts and pretzel sandwiches they had on display. I made a mental note to try these after the talk. Immediately, we were given a tour around the café that left everyone completely mesmerised with the ambience. The beautiful paintings by local artists that adorn the walls of Medd Cafe are a visual treat (some of them are for sale) and we were told that the coffee tables there were actually stained with coffee.

Medd’s in-house roaster.

Our host for the day, the co-owner of Medd Cafe, Salem guided us to the in-house roastery. During the presentation we were told how the raw organic green coffee beans imported from Kenya and Indonesia are roasted for an hour in the roastery and then stored for three days for the gases to cool down before it can be brewed and served to the customers. They only serve classic coffee flavours like Espresso, Americana, Macchiato and Cappucino because syrups and other flavourings overwhelm the actual taste of coffee.

Medd’s Matcha Tea

After the presentation we all sat down to try the coffee Salem had to offer us. The first variety which was Kenyan had a rich authentic coffee flavour to it. Next we tried the Ethiopian Stone blend which was a milder version of Kenyan. It is said to be brewed at 76 degrees for the right flavours to emerge. Next up we tried the Yemeni blend which we all loved because of its citrusy and berry-like taste. If you’re not a big coffee person, definitely go for the Yemeni blend. Some of us tried the Cold Brew coffee whilst others went for the Matcha Tea. Matcha is basically fine powder of green tea that is the healthiest version of tea or coffee. It is full of antioxidants and contains high amounts of calcium and magnesium. It was an interesting flavour, with mild grassy undertones.

Cold brewing.

While we sipped on our coffee, Salem gave us an insight on the arab roots into coffee culture. It was quite interesting to know that coffee was initially used by the sufis to stay awake all night for dhikr. Other conversations also kicked in and the guests bonded over some good coffee.

The relaxed and artistic ambience at Medd Cafe, with the coffee-stained tables in full view.

Medd Cafe is a cozy place for genuine coffee and was quite full of students and working men and women throughout the day. It opens at 7:30 am and closes at 10 pm for a very healthy reason. With a smile, Salem declared that he was trying to promote healthy habits and does not want people to drink coffee beyond 10 pm.

Coffee paraphernalia on sale and artfully decorated coffee cups by customers on display.

They also sell coffee mugs and if you’re in an artistic mood, decorate a coffee cup and they’ll display it in-store!

If you are looking for great coffee with a sea view and a traditional Hijazi feel then Medd Cafe is your next place to check out. We’d love to hear what you think about the café so be sure to leave a comment and let us know!

There’s More to Nespresso Coffee Capsules Than You Think!

After enjoying a delicious cup of coffee how many of us do actually think of recycling the empty Nespresso capsules as pieces of fashion, home decor or stationery? This quirky idea struck Dalia Ghorab, who always had a hard time throwing away the beautiful empty capsules, and hence she decided to give them a new lease of life as bookmarks, jewellery and even home decor accessories.

We at Jeddah Blog fell in love with Dalia’s creativity and couldn’t wait to bring her work to our readers. Jeddah Blog writer Samreen Ahmed promptly got in touch with Dalia to find out more.

Earrings made from recycled Nespresso cups.

Dalia introduces herself as an architect who worked in Egypt but quit her job to move to Jeddah with her family eight years ago. She always loved arts and started making handmade accessories in 2012 before she began recycling Nespresso capsules. “I am kind of a hoarder,” says Dalia. “I started saving the capsules not sure of what I’d do with them. Then I started googling and found out that they were collected and recycled worldwide but not in Saudi Arabia.” Dalia contacted the Nespresso team in Jeddah who also confirmed that they do not recycle the capsules, so Dalia came up with her own plan of action and began designing recycled products made from Nespresso empty capsules.

All the accessories she makes are hand-made and it is difficult to imagine that they were once nothing but empty capsules. There is a variety of things you can find in Dalia’s collection but the goth ballerina pendant deserves a special mention.

Goth Ballerina Pendant with Black Turquoise Stone.

As a passionate art lover and a mother she wanted her children Adam, 14 and Laila, 12 to do something worthwhile and thus encouraged them to join her in this mini project which is also an initiative to save the environment since the capsules are made of aluminium. It is amazing to see how creatively Dalia has transformed plain aluminium pods into rings, earrings, pendants and trinkets and she suggests that the capsules can be used in various art projects in schools to reinforce the importance of recycling in children. Even Dalia’s 4 year old and 2 year old toddler play with the clean emptied cups learning colour recognition, sequencing and counting. It seems the possibilities are endless.

Dancing Princess Pendant with Pink Garnet.

Schools in general must take up more such art projects that help in bringing out the creativity in children while creating a civic sense in them from a young age. Nespresso capsules particularly make up a huge amount of waste every month and it is high time this waste is put to good use. For the purpose of promoting this idea Dalia, Adam and Laila hosted a stall at the spring fair in British International School of Jeddah.

Spanish Torero Pendant with genuine pearls.

Dalia believes that not only children, but grown ups too must get involved in collecting and recycling Nespresso capsules and find new ways to reuse them. Dalia’s ideas and collection are becoming popular with Jeddawis and she tells us that within just a week her Facebook page attracted a lot of fans and followers. The innovative team is doing their bit, but they are looking for more support and promotion of their idea to make the concept of recycling Nespresso capsules popular in the country. “It would be lovely if someone can help in holding exhibitions, contests or anything of that sort to promote the idea. We are trying to raise awareness to save the environment with a creative and artistic approach”, voices Dalia.

So if you are a coffee lover and are a part of the huge crowd who throws away coffee capsules, take a peek at Dalia’s work and join hands in saving up the capsules and crafting out beautiful masterpieces which otherwise would harm the environment when discarded in bulk.

Check our the Nespresso Capsules Recycling KSA Facebook Page for more Nespresso creations, set up and moderated by Dalia’s son Adam Abouzeid and their Instagram account moderated by her daughter Laila Abouzeid.

Samreen Ahmed runs a blog called Love.Hope.Dream. Click through to discover her musings.

 

 

1001 Nights Persian Rug Educational Tour

Welcome back after a hot and humid summer! If you are new to the Kingdom, or simply settling back in after the holidays, make sure you visit the blog regularly and bookmark us for lots of local activities, workshops and tours.

Join this free guided tour in English shedding light on history, making and craftsmanship of Persian rugs. Learn how to identify an antique rug, quality and how to select the perfect rug for your space, care and the story behind the rug. Our exquisite spokesperson comes from a family with generational history in the art of trading rugs.

Date: September 3rd, 2015.

Time: 9:30am to 11:30am

Venue: Hindawiya District-Bukhari Street

Cost-None

For further details and registration, visit the event page on Facebook.

Arabic Courses for Non-Arabic Speakers at the Jeddah Cultural Exchange Center

The Jeddah Cultural Exchange Center introduces a new method towards learning the Arabic language. Specially designed courses are given with the sole purpose of equipping the learner with the basics of everyday scenarios hence enabling you to set out and interact with the local people.

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For more information on this upcoming course, send an email to inquiry@jcec.com.sa

Did You Miss Maisah Sobaihi’s One Woman Show?

Award winning Maisah Sobaihi returns once again to entertain us with her play Head Over Heels in Saudi Arabia at the Effat University. If you missed this talented lady’s past performances, then this is your chance to watch this exhilarating, fun and heart-warming play.

Click here to purchase tickets which will be on sale from the 15th of February. You can choose either the English or Arabic performance (details are below). If you’re still a little unsure then read our review of Head Over Heels here.

I, for one, will be looking forward to Maisah’s performance. If you decide to go, drop us a line and let us know your thoughts.

Apply Now: Young Saudi Artists 2015

 

Athr Gallery is calling out to young Saudi-based artists between the age of 15 and 30. Follow the link below for details on how to apply. Applications will be assessed by a panel of judges.

 

OBJECTIVE & THEME Athr Gallery is proud to announce its 4th edition of YSA — a biannual call-out for talented young Saudi-based artists. The call-out is open to both Saudi nationals and residents living in Saudi that are between the age of 15 and 30.  Athr is searching for up-and-coming local artists who work across a range of styles and mediums. The Athr team and a group of influential judges will carefully select the winning artworks. The selected works will be presented in a highly-sought out group exhibition in April, 2015. This year’s exhibition is centered on: 60% How do we critically examine the “culture of the youth” in Saudi? According to statistics, we, the youth, make up more than 60% of Saudi’s total population. To many, the youth culture is perceived as a public issue: an image that is constantly perpetuated on society. There have been numerous studies that address our state: a preoccupation that has even included examining how satisfied we are with our lives.  The “issue” is an exhausted topic, but why? We are at a defining tipping point between the old generation and the new. Our perception and outlook of society, and the direction it’s heading towards, differs from theirs in more ways than one. Technology and modern-day communication are prominent factors that have molded us into who we are today; it’s made us both disconnected and connected to our society and the world at large.  We are subjects of an indefinite limbo status. 60% will be a re-introduction to the youth; a time capsule that will capture our pulse. APPLY NOW! ATHR-YSA.SUBMITTABLE.COM DEADLINE: 15 FEB 2015

Arabian Jewel Master Class in Documentary Film-making

Aspiring film-makers take note! Arabian Jewel is organising a documentary film-making class for community members with a keen sense of film-making.

The first-ever, highly interactive documentary genre master class in Jeddah, KSA is to be led by world renowned film directors producing award winning films and a combined 70 years of film making and directing experience.

The directors have worked with BBC, Nat Geo and Channel 4 and Discovery channels; they have held multiple photo exhibitions and workshops across the world, travelled over 60 countries, acted in foreign films and worked with notable individuals globally.

“The directors are well-known experts in this field”, says Arabian Jewel, “and we genuinely feel we will be able to empower talented individuals in our communities”.

The organisers are also involved in providing footage for a documentary film in New Zealand; the  New Zealand producer will take excellent work from the master class student to include in her documentary which will be aired on prime time in New Zealand channels.

Target audience

Amateur film-makers, students, professionals, photographers, directors and anyone with a zeal for documentary film-making.

Dates

26-28 Jan, 2015 (subject to slight changes ahead)

Timings

3-4 hours a day.

Location

To be announced shortly.

How Do I Register?

Follow this link to register.

By the end of the course, you’ll be proficient in:

– A brief history of the documentary genre

– Genre and style

– Audio-visual language: Image & Sound

– Music in documentary

– Structure & narrative

The course will include:

– Q & A session with the students

– Research and writing

– Pre-production (selecting the location, budget & production schedule, checking the equipment),

– Equipment: camera & lenses, sound, lighting, grip,

– Production (call sheet, coordination with the film crew),

– Setting up and filming an interview (eye-line & framing the subject)

– Post Production: editing, voice over & music recording

Practical Work

– Practical exercise
– Editing the footage
– Screening of students work and discussion
– Screening of two of our documentaries (one medium production and one mega production)

How do I Register?

Step 1:

Register here.

Step 2:

Pay through this Discount link (please create a paypal account).

What is the Age Limit?

Children aged 10 upwards should be able to understand the content and practical work if intensely passionate about the topic. However, the content language is not specifically drawn up for children. But it is certainly ideal for 16-19 year olds.
We have special discount for mom-daughter/son and father – daughter/son duo.

Apart from the Master Class, directors will continue to act as mentors and provide feedback on student’s work via Arabian Jewel.

Artisans of Love: Hidden Jewel Tour Series

Arabian Jewel is organising an exclusive visit to Saudi Arabia’s most exclusive interior designer. The pictures below speak for themselves.

Guided tour
A treasure cove for art and design enthusiasts. Displaying art, interior design, exclusive fabrics, unique furniture and an unmatchable ambiance. Find out from the artist himself what inspires his work, how to integrate stylish interiors and find your personal decor style in your space.

Hidden Jewel Speaks
“My inspiration is driven from the hidden soul and beauty that relies in all my surroundings. The warmth of desert sand dunes, the calmness of the sea, the rigidness of stones and musical rhythms of nature… Anything that triggers the senses, and challenges the thought.”

Date: 12 November at 10:45–12:30

Unique Opportunity
Meet with the artist
Ask questions
Shop for unique interiors
Discover beauty in the heart of Jeddah

Register your interest on this event page.

First 6 to RSVP will be granted tour pass
LIMITED audience: 10 participants max
RSVP: By November 7th
All confirmed attendees will be privately emailed map and directions

Upcoming Exhibitions at Athr

Athr Gallery will be showcasing three solo artists, Faisal Almalki, Sara Abdu and Ramy Alqthami in the beginning of November. Read on for details.

LONE CANYON Faisal Almalki Solo Show Opening: Sunday, 2nd of November, 2014 03 November, 2014 – 10 January, 2015 Space 01, 5th Floor, Athr Gallery Faisal Almalki’s upcoming show titled Lone Canyon explores that tiny space between a woman and her veil as the artist encourages the public to see things the way she does.

THE INTANGIBLE BONDS IN OUR EXISTENCE Sara Abdu Solo Show Opening: Sunday, 2nd of November, 2014 03 November, 2014 – 10 January, 2015 Space 03, RF Floor, Athr Gallery In her first solo show titled The Intangible Bonds In Our Existence, Sara realizes the bonds that exist between humans and their surroundings; bonds that link any human to their emotions, realities and dreams; bonds that play an integral role that shape and affect us. She realizes these bonds as a co-existent consciousness within our own existence.   AL BITRA Ramy Alqthami Video Screening Opening: Sunday, 2nd of November, 2014 03 November – 03 December, 2014 Space 05, 5th Floor, Athr Gallery Ramy Alqthami revisits ‘Al Bitra’- the concrete block which was given to his family at random by the leaders of his tribe in Taif that bordered his land; a numbered block that easily identified this land as his. In his simple video of its removal, he reexamines the ‘Bitra’ as a representation of an economical, sociopolitical phenomenon that has consumed the state of humans. He poses the removal of a tangible concrete object with the removal of a metaphorical notion of borders and identity.   PREVIEW OF ZIAD ANTAR’S EXPIRED SERIES  02 November – 03 December, 2014 Space 02, RF Floor, Athr Gallery Captions (top to bottom) – Faisal Almalki, Mirror, 2014 – Sara Abdu, A Sleepless Savior Within A Dream Part II, 2014 – Ramy Alqthami, Image still of Al Bitra, 2014 – Ziad Antar, Mecca I, 2012 Copyright © 2014 Athr Gallery.

The Language of Human Consciousness

An upcoming exhibition this month by the Athr Gallery in Jeddah will be delivering the largest exhibition in Saudi Arabia on arts inspired by the study of geometry.

Dates and Timings

Jul 10 – Oct 10, 2014

Saturday to Thursday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (Ramadan Time: 12 – 5 pm / 9.30 pm – 12 am)

Location

Athr Gallery

5th & RF Floors, Serafi Mega Mall, Tahlia St, Jeddah,

For thousands of years, the question of whether the basics of geometry came naturally to all humans or if they had to be taught; has been explored. According to Plato’s writings, Socrates attempted to determine how well an uneducated slave in a Greek household understood geometry, and eventually concluded that the slave’s soul ‘must have always possessed this knowledge’.

In the midst of startling havoc; humans by this very instinct seek to find order in this chaos, to reason with it; translating it to a language that is perhaps visual and universal is a common field of exploration for scientists and artists alike.

Athr Gallery will deliver a groundbreaking exhibition titled The Language of Human Consciousness in July 2014 and will include work by over 40 artists from around the world. Most of these artists will be exhibiting work for the first time in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East at large. To inaugurate the opening on July 10, Director of TATE Modern London, Chris Dercon will moderate a discussion with pioneering artists in the field.

Athr Gallery has established itself as a leading cultural institution, in which providing a platform for local Saudi artists is at its core. Through this exhibition – in which both local and international artists will be showcased side-by-side – the intended impact and potential benefits are twofold: establish an association between local Saudi artists and leading international artists, and provide an opportunity for the public to experience international culture through a local exhibition.

The Language of Human Consciousness takes geometry as a starting point, accepting its heritage as a symbol of purity, intelligence and perfection and bringing it towards a more contemporary interpretation as a language for exploring the atypical, the imperfect and the alternative. Works are brought together that seek to dissect segments of times, contexts and places and open them up to universal interpretation. The works, in the potency of the contradiction between their infinite possibilities as geometric compositions and the range of their references – social, political, art historical or other – are reduced to a neutral ground: to a human and conceivable form.

The exhibition will examine geometry in a comprehensive exhibition that showcases a multitude of applications in geometry. The dynamic exhibition will include sacred geometry as well as work that unconventionally utilizes geometry, an example of the latter would be the work of Sama Mara, who will present a series titled A Hidden Order, a culmination of several years of collaboration between composer Lee Westwood and artist Sama Mara; where they attempted to interpret music into a visual geometric form. To realise this ambitious exhibition, Athr Gallery has collaborated with over 20 leading galleries around the world – From Lisson Gallery in London to Galleria Continua in San Gimignano and The Third Line in Dubai.

Image and text courtesy of Athr Gallery

FREE Tour of Balad – Not to be Missed!

If you live in Jeddah, a historical tour of Balad is a must-do event. We had to do a double-take when we saw this excellent tour being offered completely FREE.

Date: 19th June, 2014

Time: 4:45 – 7pm. Tour starts at 5pm

Register on the Arabian Jewel Event Page to express interest. All ages welcome.