The Palestinian Culture Exhibition at Bayt Lothan, November 23-26, 2015

Open Invitation: For Jerusalem

The Palestinian Culture Center holds the second of its two annual exhibitions for 2015 at Bayt Lothan. The show includes a large collection of textile-based traditional handmade cross-stitch as well as pottery from Hebron, posters and books about Palestine in English and Arabic. It aspires to reaffirm the Palestinian national identity by its handicrafts and support education and families.

The Palestinian Culture Center is a non-profit organization that was established in Jordan in 1993. It aims to (1) preserve the rich heritage and culture of Palestine, (2) help empower women and their families in the refugee camps become economically independent, and (3) sustain needy Palestinians in their homeland and in the Diaspora.

This year was an active year for the Center due to the effects of the global financial crisis which placed a further strain on the poor. Furthermore, the violent and aggressive Israeli military onslaught on Gaza, Jerusalem and the rest of occupied Palestine, have made the situation in Palestine dire, and the need for aid more urgent. As a result, the Center has worked to increase the salaries of the 550 or so women who do the embroidery work as well as pay for their transportation (from the camps). We motivate the ladies by granting bonuses for excellent quality work. We also provide support to Palestinians in the homeland by providing financial aid to needy families, health care, and university scholarships.

Some of the Center’s accomplishments included support of some of the vital institutes such as Almaqased hospital in Jerusalem which was established in 1968 with substantial financial support from The State of Kuwait. The Center is also working on providing the necessary financing of the Water Desalination Project in Gaza for producing potable water and assisting Gaza area hospitals that were bombarded by Israel, such as Alshefa Hospital, to produce and store oxygen for medical purposes.

Exhibition Highlights

Traditional cross-stitch embroidery of dresses, linens, shawls, cushions, table runners, cards, frames, coasters, belts, purses, bookmarks and more: * Handmade ceramics from Hebron. * Books, posters, key chains, kafiya’s and DVDs as well as posters from Palestine.

* Food sale of traditional Palestinian food such as thyme, sumaq, baked goods and other traditional plates.

* Palestinian folklore “Dabkah” will be performed on and Thursday at 6:30 pm.

Palestinian embroidery using needle and silk thread is a manifestation of the Palestinian identity as it has evolved over the ages. An age old art, all Palestinian ladies, young and old, would spend hours embroidering their trousseau, dresses, shawls and cushions. Using geometric shapes at first, and then evolving to depicting images from nature surrounding them, the dresses are famous for their flowery designs and bold natural colors of indigo and red. Symbols of the ubiquitous cypress trees surrounding the orange groves, roses, jasmine and the famous olive tree are typical motifs in these dresses.

The exhibition will be held at Bayt Lothan, Salmia, It will be held for 4 days starting Monday the November 23rd through Thursday 26th. It is open to the public from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm and 4:30 to 8:30 pm.