Graphic Exhebition(No)

NO…..
Palestinian artists decided to scream NO to femicide, NO to violence against women… Palestinian artists used graphics to say NO…

The Open Workshop for Culture and Art (OWCA) in Bait Annat Village, Koubar gathered 10 artists to produce this work.

OWCA and the Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Social Counseling have worked in cooperation since October to hold this exhibition.

The work was accomplished by the OWCA team, artist Jamal Al- afghani, writer Mazen Sa’adeh, and artists: Hani Zorob, Bashar Al- hroob, Raafat Asaad, Monther Jawabreh, Moeen Hasooneh, Shadi Hreim, Hafez Moeen, and Mahmoud Asaad.

In addition to the artists, three students of art participated in the exhibition: Dalia Bokhari, Salam Al-qawasmee, and Rawan Al-asaad, having accomplished their paintings under the supervision and direction of the artists participating in the workshop.

OWCA opened its doors for four “open days” during which anyone interested in opposing violence against women could participate. Participants included: Bassemah Darwish, Maisa Siaj, Suad Abu-dayeh, Ashraf Abu-hayeh, Hanan Abu-Gosh, Nibal Thawabteh, and Maisa Shadid. Each completed his or her own paintings under the supervision and with help from participating artists.

The First Exhibition
Khalil Sakakini Center Opening night: Saturday November 26th at 17:00 to December 2nd

The Second Exhibition
The Peace Center in Bethlehem Opening night: December 6th to December 8th

Participating Artists:

Jamal Al-afghani
Born in Nablus, 1951. Has had numerous personal exhibitions, participated in tens of Arab and international exhibitions, and won many national and international prizes.

Mazen Sa’adeh
Born in Jericho, 1960 Writer and filmmaker Published 3 novels and directed numerous documentary films which participated in national and international festivals.

Hani Zo’rob
Born in Rafah – Gaza, 1976. Made one personal exhibition, and participated in many group, national, and international exhibitions.

Bashar Al-hroob
Born in Kharas – Hebron, 1978. Made one personal exhibition, and participated in 13 group, national, and international exhibitions.

Raafat Asaad
Born in Nablus, 1974 Made one personal exhibition, and participated in many group, national, and international exhibitions.

Moeen Hasooneh
Born in Gaza, 1974. Made one personal exhibition, and participated in many group, national, and international exhibitions.

Monther Jawabreh
Born in Al-arroob, Bethlehem, 1976. Chaos, existence, and flying melodies were the names of his personal exhibitions. And he participated in many group, national, and international exhibitions.

Shadi Hreim
Born in Salfit, 1977. Participated in many group, national, and international exhibitions.

Hafez Moeen
Born in Nablus, 1983. Participated in one group exhibition.

Mahmoud Asaad
Born in Nablus, 1977. Participated in many national group exhibitions.

Coordination and Administration
The success of this exhibition was only possible with the cooperation of the team in the Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Social Counseling, Shatha Odeh, and OWCA’s head of public relations, Hussein Yassin. Additionally, this exhibit depended on the work of Maisa Shadid who has worked tirelessly to coordinate the workshop side to side with the OWCA team and the Women’s Center.

The Open Workshop for Culture and Arts

The idea for OWCA came from a group of artists and writers trying to create a state of harmony between the different fields of art including: painting, ceramic sculpture, cinema, music, and theatre.

The goal of OWCA has always been to create a state of communication and interaction between young Palestinian and foreign artists and to fill the gap that has existed between the arts and social issues within Palestine.

Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Social Counseling

Based on our belief in humanitarian principles, equality and social justice, we work in the women's center against gender based violence and its negative impact on the society. We work toward solving the historical ignorance and the negative social and cultural inherited attitudes about the Palestinian woman's situation. Additionally, we try to satisfy and follow up on the needs of women who have suffered violence imposed by the Israeli occupation in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Make your piece

Based on the Open workshop’s conviction of the importance of generalizing and popularizing the Art, and giving Art a share in our daily lives, the open workshop created one of its activities (Make your pieces), which aims to engage and incorporate more creative people to make their own piece of art, regardless of their ages. Even those who have no experience in sculpture, painting, or graphic, are also invited to make their own piece of creativity. The workshop provides all the facilities for the participants, such as; the place, tools, materials. In addition to the provision of all the information and instructions related to the use of the materials and techniques.

This activity opens its doors for everyone during weekly vacations (Friday-Sunday), and the formal, religious holidays in Palestine.





Theatre Programme

The Open Workshop for Culture and Arts (OWCA) made Theatre one of its main concerns, especially playwriting. Through conducting regular workshops which encourages and motivates some playwrights and talented youths to resume and direct their efforts and creativity in that field.

In Palestine, none of the writers specialized in playwriting. As during the last 30 years, out of 500 Palestinian writers, who registered in the Palestinian writers union, we find only 5-6 playwrights. There are many talented youths in Palestine, and interested in playwrights, but most of them will be directed towards writing poetry, novels, and stories, which is most popular in Palestine. In addition to the misconception which claims that playwriting is only for theatre plays and not for publication in books. This misconception keeps them away from playwriting. The (OWCA) on its behalf will face this misconception, and work on publishing theatre plays, just as anywhere else in the world. To apply this, the (OWCA) made an agreement with Palestinian national theatre, and al-nasher association, to cooperate in publishing a number of Palestinian theatre plays, in order to make it a customary not an exception.