Arab Education Forum

Jeera Initiative in Cooperation with

Greater Amman Municipality

Al Weibdeh Tour (Tajwal) May 31st 2014

Figure 1: Amman Map (Pink), Al Abdali (Red) & Al Weibdeh in Green

1. Introduction

1.1 Al Weibdeh

The Arab Education Forum and Greater Amman Municipality held a meeting

for Jeera initiative with “Friends of Al Weibdeh Society” to start a chain

of learning tours in one of Amman’s oldest districts; Al Weibdeh!

According to Mrs. Hayat Al Naser, the president of Friends of Al Weibdeh

Society, “the history of Al-Waibdeh goes back to the 40’s of the last century

when several of the most highborn families lived in it to leave it later.”

Figure 2: Hayat Al Naser

In the past times, Al-Waibdeh took several popular names that represented

the stages of its growth. Thus, in 1950s, it was called "the nationalists'

mountain" because it was the meeting point of political activists; among

them are revered Jordanian figures like Samir Al-Rifai, Munif Al-Razzaz,

Amin Shuqir and Suleiman Al- Nabulsi. Moreover, in 1960s the foreign

embassies moved to the place giving it a new name: the Americans' quarter.

Nowadays Al-Waibdeh’s old suburbs and streets embrace many of the most

important cultural, creative and artistic centers like the Jordanian Museum

of Fine Arts, Makan, Dar Al-Anda, the Jordanian Writers Association, the

Association of Jordanian Fine Artists, the Syndicate of Artists, the Youth

Pioneers Association, Abu Mahjoob Co. for Creative Production, the French

Cultural Center, Paris Library and several artistic studios and ateliers.

Furthermore, there are different theatres and movie houses like Osama Al-

Meshini Theatre and the Movie House and Theatre of Ammon. For this very

characteristic cultural property of the place, we find more than 20 streets

named after Arab and Jordanian great writers and poets. ( www.alwaibdeh.org)

1.2 Planning for Al Weibdeh

In cooperation with Al Naser and Ms. Shima Al Tal an active member of the

society and a cultural activist, Jeera organized the first learning tour to

Jabal Al Weibdeh to cover the following learning spots:

- Dar Al Anda Art Gallery (http://www.daralanda.com)

- Makan: Art Space (http://goo.gl/U23qkJ)

- Darat Al Funun – Khalid Shoman Foundation

(http://www.daratalfunun.org)

Figure 3: Al Weibdeh – Paris Square

1.3 Participants in AL Weibdeh Learning Tour (1)

- Jeera Initiative (The Arab Education Forum & Greater Amman

Municipality) – as organizers

- Friends of Al Weibdeh Society (President and some members) - Hosts

- Individuals that represented social initiatives in Amman

- Ahmad Al Awamleh – Jordanian Artist / Sculptor

- Manal Al Hasan – Palestinian Journalist & Photographer

- Maha Rasheed – Photographer (Photos documented are taken by Maha

Rasheed & Amal Jadallah)

- The elected Representative of Al- Weibdeh (Mr. Omar Al Faouri)

Total number: 20 persons.

Figure 4: Jeera in Al Weibdeh

2. Summary of the Learning Tour

2.1 Dar Al Anda Art Gallery

Ali Yass, Art Student, was the host at Dar Al Anda. Ali took the group in a

tour around the Art Gallery During which he explained the history, vision

and mission of this place.

Since its foundation in 1998, Dar al Anda has been known as a gallery of fine

arts. In reality, it was not exactly that; it was rather a project that meant

to bring together visual and auditory arts, and thus counted as one of the

centers of culture and the arts.

Dar al Anda’s contribution to both arts appeared in the form of musical

concerts, informative literary and cultural activities that took place in

tandem with the many exhibitions of fine art. Dar al Anda turned its set

goals into reality. It presented a great variety of works to its public, works

that were subjected to scrutiny and fine selection. The administrators of

Dar al-Anda have by now achieved a judicious sense of experience that

enables them to move on and further their possibilities, relentlessly

exhibiting a will to cooperate with willing parties.

Figure 5: At the Door of Dar Al Anda

The Aims of Dar al-Anda:

- To turn the venue into a cultural centre for the arts working within

established regulations.

- To develop an aesthetic sense and performance skills in those participating

in sculpture, painting, pottery and music workshops.

- To encourage all ages to participate in this cultural creativity.

- To create an adequate atmosphere for these creative activities.

- To make contact with Arab and International art and culture groups.

- To contribute in marketing Jordanian art in and out of Jordan

- To protect the creative rights of the artist

Here are some photos from Dar Al Anda visit. You can find all photos of Dar

Al Anda visit on Jeera Facebook Page here (http://goo.gl/ks57kw)

Figure 6: Ali Yass (Right) explains some notes about the artworks at Dar Al Anda

Figure 7: Dar Al Anda

Figure 8: Some paintings and artwork from Dar Al Anda

During the trip Mrs. Hayat Al Naser,Mr. Omar Al Faori and the Friends of Al

Weibdeh such as Mr. Saleem Kona told the participants stories about Al

Weibdeh and its history.

2.2 Makan: Art Space

The participants went on foot to the second stop; Makan: Art Space.

According to Rula Harb, the executive director of Makan,” Makan is an

independent dynamic space for contemporary art”.

Since 2003 this establishment has dedicated to contemporary art and social

practices. Instigating activities within and outside its venue in Amman,

Jordan, Makan has a long tradition of public interventions. In the last eleven

years, Makan has been an independent platform for artists, cultural

producers, activists and community initiatives that examine contemporary

visual culture, food politics, gender, and socio-political issues.

Figures (9+10) : Rula Harb speaking to Jeera group

Jeera group were invited to Diwan Makan whicj is an art installation that

takes on the form of a playful ‘Majlis,’ an Arabic style seating arrangement

in our main hall. The installation is made up of different fabric patterns,

commissioned artwork by Omar Al-Zo'bi , a photograph by Hady Aboukamar

and a sculpture by Samah Hijawi.

Diwan Makan is an invitation to Makan’s friends to activate the space for

various discussions and dialogues.

Figure 11: Diwan Makan

Another experience that Jeera group learnt from was Jehaz Al Hurreya

(The Freedom Device) which is a sustainable technique of planting in

Makan art space. The participants were invited to the roof to take a closer

look at Jehaz Al Hurreya.

Figure (11+12) a group photo on the roof and sustainable planting

After that Jeera reached out to the third and last place in Al Weibdeh

Learning Tour was darat Al Funun!

2.3 Darat Al Funun – The Khalid Shoman Foundation

Haya Al Saleh was the host at Darat Al Funun. According to Haya “Darat al

Funun is a home for the Arts and the artists of Jordan and the Arab world.”

Darat al Funun is housed in three traditional buildings of the 1920s,

alongside the archaeological remains of a six century Byzantine church built

over a Roman Temple, all restored for use.

And about the beginnings of the establishment Haya said: “In memory of

Khalid Shoman, his wife and children have established the Khalid Shoman

Foundation which will pursue his vision of a future renaissance in the Arab

world. Khalid Shoman has been the patron of Darat al Funun since its

inception in 1993. Now under the umbrella of the Khalid Shoman

Foundation, Darat al Funun will intensify its mission, spreading awareness in

the fields of the Arts, Architecture and Archaeology.The Khalid Shoman

Foundation aims at being a haven for knowledge and progress, dedicated to

the moral values which Khalid Shoman upheld throughout his life.”

Jeera group visited all segments of the foundation; The Lab, The main

building, the Byzantine Church, Caravans Exhibition, “In and out of the

Studio” Exhibition& the Blue House.

The Lab

The Lab at Darat al Funun is an experimental space encouraging creative

exploration by artists and curators from various disciplines. The Lab offers

its space and is accepting proposals to work, produce, or curate innovative

art projects and/or organize a series of talks, workshops, or film screenings.

This call is open to artists, filmmakers, designers, architects, performers,

curators, and all creative minds.

Figure 13: The Lab – Darat Al Funun

Figure 14: Ahmad Al Awamleh (in whilte) and Jeera Group at the ruins of the Church

Figure 15: Ahmad Al Awamleh (in whilte) and Jeera group nearby the blue house

You can find all photos of Darat Al Funun on Jeera Facebook page please

click here (http://goo.gl/J0zonP)

Caravans Exhibition

Nidaa Sinnokrot is an artist and filmmaker of Palestinian origin, who

employs a variety of mediums to transform ordinary objects or actions into

sensory experiences. His films, installations, and sculptures often explore

notions of time and space in a phenomenological investigation of Diaspora

consciousness. 'Caravans' is Sinnokrot's first solo exhibition in the region.

The exhibition focused of the Bedwens of Naqab – Palestine and the impact

of the Israeli occupation on their lives. The following quote by the artist

himself explains it all:

"...Camels, like sheep, were once revered as a store of wealth, a divine gift.

A caravan of camels made even the most inhospitable of climates negotiable

by offering shelter and security. In Palestine such caravans are a thing of

the past. The nomadic Negev Bedouin are all but extinct, forced into

prefabricated urban dwellings. Caravans today are little more than the

name we give to shipping containers whose circulation ends permanently as

settlements and offices in the West Bank construction sites."

Figure 16: Caravans Exhibition

In and out of the Studio

Featuring over 200 photographs from various archives of photography

studios in Jordan, Palestine, and Egypt, In And Out Of the Studio showcases

a selection of landscapes, architecture, and studio portraits from the late

19th through the mid-20th century. The images shown on the top floor of

the Beit al Beiruti pay tribute to a shared heritage of photographic studio

practice that can be traced back to a generation of Armenian photographers

coming out of Constantinople and some of the cities in Anatolia at the end

of the 19th century.

It is worth mentioning that the exhibition was put together by Joseph E.

Malikian, Ph.D, and Hrair Sarkissian, with images from The Middle East and

Armenian Photograph Archive, The Malikian Collection, and from various

collections held by the Arab Image Foundation.

Figure 17: In and out of the Studio

Figure 18: Some photos of the exhibition

2.4 Sculpturing Knowledge with Ahmad Al Awamleh

The Spirit of Jeera Initiative is all about Learning and exchanging

experiences! During the trip some participants showed interest in learning

sign language and Sultan Mustafa (From GAM) offered his help and promised

to launch a training course after the month of Ramadan in cooperation with

GAM.

The Jordanian Artist Ahmad Al Awamleh has volunteered to teach the

participants the basics of sculpture and they tried it out and like it so much

as you can see in the following photos!

Figure 19: Ahmad Al Awamleh teaching sculpture at the blue house

Figures (20+21): Sculpture activity

Figures (22+23): Sculpture activity

Figures (24+25): Sculpture activity

You can find all photos of Darat Al Funun on Jeera Facebook page please

click here (http://goo.gl/J0zonP)

That was some of what we wanted to share with through our first Learning

Tour at Al Weibdeh! Please join us next time!

Figure 26: Jeera participants

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