"Awel Quatfah."
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By Joseph Fahim
First Published: July 7, 2007
Through a winding alleyway in Giza, in the rundown neighborhood of Ard El-Lewa, nestled between old buildings is the Artellewa gallery, one of the newest and most talked about art centers in Egypt.
On the small rooftop, there's a sensation of pure joy and a carefree attitude. Children here are quieter, focusing on perfecting their drawings and paintings. For more than four months, Artellewa's workshop has given underprivileged children in the area an outlet to express themselves and find their hidden talents.
The workshop is one of many ideas Hamdy Reda, owner and founder of Artellewa, had in mind when opening the gallery earlier this year. "One of the primary goals of Artellewa was to provide artistic services for kids and teenagers in the area," Reda told The Daily Star Egypt.
The children's work is currently on display in an exhibition called "Awel Quatfah."
The activities normally available to the children are limited. For them, this workshop is a retreat and a chance to practice a hobby they can afford.
Although none of the kids could articulate their passion for art, their eyes gleam the moment they complete a painting. They all have different dreams for their futures, but the majority hope to become artists or at least continue being involved with art.
I found Reda on the rooftop with a group of six- to nine-year-old kids who sat in the shade painting, coloring and just having fun.
The idea behind the workshop was simple: create a place for kids to paint and provide them with some material free of charge. There are no rules, no restrictions and no requirements; even those who do not know how to paint can still participate. The adults' role is limited to supervision.
Artist Hanna El Daygham brought her old coloring materials and plenty of blank paper and gave them to the kids visiting her exhibition. The idea came to her when she saw how much they enjoyed drawing.
"We got El Daygham some chairs and tables and the project kicked off right away," Reda said.
Reda, a resident of Ard El-Lewa, made no announcements or invitations. "Many of the [neighborhood] kids are familiar with the place, so as soon we started the project, they just came."
He considered postponing his project until school let out in the summer, but too many children came on a regular basis. So workshop was held on Fridays during the school year.
At first, the kids were given the artists' leftover materials, but soon enough, Hamdy bought them brand-new water colors. Later on, Hamdy invited a number of his friends to participate in the workshop.
Ibrahim Saad, who went to college with Hamdy, said the reason he joined the project was because he believes that "childhood, and the work created in it, is the period that differentiates a good painter from a great one."
Saad added that he personally benefited from his experience with the children. "It's always fascinating, for me as an artist, to watch them create something out of nothing without any preparation," Saad said.
Another contributing painter is Magdy Moustafa, a resident artist at the gallery who is currently working on a sound-art project. Moustafa studied developmental psychology for five years and has previously worked as an art teacher.
Moustafa's commitment to the workshop is rooted in his belief that the kids of Ard El-Lewa need art more than children in more privileged areas. "These kids are hardly exposed to this type of entertainment and culture. They desperately need to express themselves without boundaries, play and [interact] with each other," Moustafa said.
Most of the displayed paintings of the workshop are simple, yet spontaneous. The content of the girls' artwork focuses mainly on nature and landscapes, depicting oceans or vast green meadows. Boys, on the other hand, mainly feature TV characters or superheroes.
One of the most promising participants of the children's workshop is 10-year-old Hebatallah Hussein, who has been a regular visitor of Artellewa since it first opened. Her paintings are vibrant and expressive.
According to Saad, her paintings are exceptional and she has great potential in becoming an accomplished artist.
Both Moustafa and Reda believe that children do not learn art appreciation in schools, and this is one of the main aims of the workshop.
Hamdy says it's hard to pinpoint the impact of the workshop on the children, and he's not too concerned with doing so. "My foremost ambition is to set up a place for them to reflect their impression of the world through colors and pictures," Hamdy said.
He's also concerned about finding more room to accommodate the increasing number of children.
"All I really wish is for those children to have an artistic sense," Moustafa said, "to learn how to enjoy life through beauty."
"Awel Quatfah," a collective exhibition for children's artworks, is open Sunday-Friday from 4-10 pm at Artellewa gallery. For more information, please call (012) 596-3611
