Ramadan Ladies Night at Sharjah Art Foundation

Overview

Sharjah Art Foundation invites you, your family and friends to join us on 28 May and 4 June 2018 at the Collections Building in Sharjah’s Arts Square for Ramadan-inspired workshops and inclusive activities that are accessible to adults and children of all ages and abilities.

Come create Ramadan journals and smash books, design your own Ramadan decorations, learn about Arabic coffee and sweets, and get involved in storytelling, both as a writer and a listener.

The first Ramadan Night on 28 May will be open to all; the second on 4 June is Ladies Night.

Workshops

Workshop: Smash Books and Bookmarks
Ages: 7+
Accessible to participants with hearing impairment, Down syndrome and physical disabilities.

In this workshop, participants will make smash books (informal scrapbooks), where they will document their daily activities through journaling, photos and drawings. They will also create bookmarks using paper and decorative materials such as stickers and tassels. The design of the smash books and bookmarks will be inspired by Islamic patterns and ornaments as well as the colours commonly used in Islamic designs.

Workshop: Unconventional Lanterns
Ages: 7+
Accessible to participants with hearing impairment, Down syndrome and physical disabilities.

In this workshop, participants will cut different geometrical shapes out of cardboard and then use these shapes to build an unconventional lantern that can decorate the entrance of their home during the month of Ramadan.

Workshop: History and Preparation of Arabic Coffee
With Zainab Al Moosawi
Ages: 15+
Accessible to participants with Down syndrome and physical disabilities.

Whether spiced with cardamom, saffron or cloves, or served with fuwala [traditional Emirati tea time snacks, including fruits, dates, nuts and desserts], Arabic coffee is a major aspect of Arab culture and hospitality in the UAE and the region. Every Arab household prides itself on the way family members perform the ceremonial act of serving coffee to guests, which comes with its own etiquette for preparation, serving and drinking. In this workshop, participants will explore the history of Arabic coffee and the various ways it is prepared and served. They will also sample different types of coffee to compare their concentrations, roasts, colours, aromas, tastes and quality, and they will try traditional Emirati fuwala as well.

Workshop: Making Felt Bookends with Ramadan Decorations
Ages: 15+
Accessible to participants with hearing impairment, Down syndrome and physical disabilities.

In this workshop, participants will make their own felt bookends from cardboard and recycled fabric found in the surrounding community. Then they will decorate them with Ramadan-inspired designs and
colours. At the end of the workshop, participants can take their new bookends home.

Workshop: Ramadan Journals
Ages: 16+
Accessible to participants with hearing impairment, Down syndrome and physical disabilities.

In this workshop, participants will explore the activity of art journaling—from finding inspiration to creating beautiful journal pages. Participants will experiment with many different art techniques as they use their imagination and draw on experiences from their daily Ramadan routine.

Silk Painting
Ages: 15+

Accessible to participants with hearing impairment, Down syndrome and physical disabilities.

In this workshop, participants will learn different techniques to paint on silk using stencils, stamps and shibori (a Japanese dying technique). These techniques will be employed in combination with wet on wet fabric painting, done in a freehand style.