"Artists Hosting Artists" workshop in Nazareth

On August 7 we held an Artist Hosting Artists workshop in Nazareth for 20 Jewish and Palestinian participants and 3 other visitors. This was part of the series of Artists Hosting Artists workshops that we are conducting this year. The program consisted of a morning workshop in natural clay, held at the Mosmar Pottery. In the afternoon, there was an optional afternoon tour in the city. The program was organized by Dyana Shaloufi Rizek. The hosting artist was Bassam Mosmar.

The venue of the morning workshop was the Mosmar Pottery which was established in 1929 by Hanna Mosmar, a master potter. Our host was his grandson, Bassam Mosmar.

The activities opened with an acquaintance session, where we came to appreciate the interesting variety of the group and listened to singing and storytelling by Naila Azaam Libies, who collects and performs collecting cultural and traditional songs.

Bassam introduced and took us on a tour of the pottery. At each station, he stopped and gave us a hands-on demonstration of the tools and machines, allowing us to experiment ourselves.

A lunch break gave us an opportunity to continue our acquaintance and afterwards we began the actual workshop, producing some small pieces, working with various natural clays and coming to appreciate the challenges of traditional pottery making. Natural clay is resilient, tricky to work with and dries quickly. But we enjoyed working together and experimenting with this special material, which Bassam’s great grandfather Hanna used to collect from the natural surroundings.

Hanna Mosmar had studied ceramics work, established the pottery, and made many pieces that survive till today. As a child who grew up in Nazareth, I was well aware of his work. I even helped to create exhibitions that featured his works.

The second part of the day was optional for the participants, but about 12 of the group members continued with a walking tour in Nazareth’s Old City. We saw some of the historical buildings some of which are being newly refurbished to breathe new life into the Old City.

Finally, some of the group visited Liwan, a coffee shop and art gallery. The place illustrates the creative renewal at the hands of the city’s young people. The building’s top floor has become a simple and interesting guest house that takes full advantage of the artistic fabric of the buildings. In the gallery, there was a room that featured the ceramics of Hanna Musmar, and we were able to see some of the works as well as to enjoy the exhibition of Juhaina Habibi Kandalaft, who had taken part in our morning gathering. One of the owners, Sami Jabali talked to us about the exhibition and his motivation in opening the place, at a time when many local businesses had been failing. He also told us of other initiatives by some of the city’s young women that had succeeded thanks to their courage and faith.

At the end of the day’s activities, we took care to exchange contact information and promised to stay in touch. We had forged new professional acquaintances and friendships, which we hope will bear fruit. After the meeting some participants sent beautiful pictures and encouraging words.