زهرة المدائن (Zahrat Al-Mada’en)

Welcome to our house, please make yourself at home. This exhibit will immerse you in our teta’s (grandmother’s) home, where the sights, sounds, smells and sensations evoke a feeling of safety, being home, and being cared for. As you explore the space, you will find art by local Palestinian artists, each telling their story through different artistic mediums. Join us in celebrating Palestinian art, culture and joy – an act of resistance amid Israel’s ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.

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What will be the focus of your residency and what are the themes, concepts, or methods you are interested in exploring through your work?

Each artist explores a different medium, from Tatreez embroidery to children’s story books. Their works are displayed in an immersive set that invites you to experience the sights, smells and sensations of a Palestinian teta’s (grandmother’s) home. For 76 years, Palestinian people have maintained a strong connection to their land while facing violence, apartheid and displacement at the hands of the Israeli Occupation. In that time, Palestinian families have fought to create a sense of safety and hope for their children. This exhibit explores how Palestinian joy, art and the passing down of culture and history is an act of resistance and survival.

What excites you the most about this project and what are you hoping to get out of your residency?

The most exciting part of this project is getting to give local Palestinian artists a platform to share their stories, their way. We are going to use this opportunity to develop the artists’ craft, and build strong and supportive relationships within the team. Our exhibit will be a space for celebrating Palestinian joy, art, culture and history.

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A part of The Blue Room Theatre’ 2025 Residency Program.

 

• Director

  Jude Soussan

• Producer

  Jesse Naylor Zambrano

• Production Designer

  Katelyn Rudolphy

• Artists

  Lana Kalis
  Noor Al Hilaly
  Sara Al Hilaly
  Razanne Al Abdeli