A group of 10 Dubai-based artists, designers, illustrators, painters, photographers and videographer - from Mexico, India, Canada, England and the Philippines – have decided to combine their talents for an art show to benefit children of Gaza.
The artists are from Mexico, India, Canada, England and the Philippines.
The event will open on March 3 and go on until March 10 at the Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Centre, Mall of the Emirates. More than 40 artworks including paintings, photographs and a multi-media installation will be on display. Some of the pieces will be based on situations affecting the children of Gaza.
At least 70 per cent of the raised at the event will be donated to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (www.pcrf.net).
“I felt very frustrated by the happenings in Gaza, and I didn't have the means to help,'' said Guillermo Munro, an infographic artist and painter involved in the project. “The only thing I knew how to do and which could help is paint. That way, more of us who are interested in helping could join hands in the effort for one common goal.''
The PCRF is a non-for-profit international organization with a chapter in Dubai which addresses the medical and humanitarian crisis facing Arab youths in the Middle East. PCRF Dubai, in conjunction with the Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation (www.mbrfoundation.ae), has brought 16 children from Palestine to Dubai for medical treatment not available to them locally, in addition to distributing medicine and milk formula in Palestine and Gaza recently.
Nadia Wehbe, spokesperson for PCRF Dubai, is enthusiastic about the art project. “If people want to contribute, the best way to do it is to offer something they're good at and what they enjoy doing,'' she said. “People, like these artists, motivate us to keep doing what we're doing.
"For the children, having people paint them and take pictures of them is great because it's helping the charity and at the same time expanding the children's horizons.''
Several of the artists involved in the project met with some of the children after they received surgery at Fine Orthopedic & Body Care in Oud Metha. There, the owner, Dr. Hovhannes Tshughuryan, showed them the prosthetic arms and legs that he custom-made for the children.
Amputees, regardless of age, need to replace new limbs about every two years. The cost ranges between Dh18,300-36,700 for a prosthetic leg and Dh29,300-55,000 for a prosthetic arm.
“It would be a tremendous achievement to give back a child the ability to walk or use his hands and resume a normal life as a result of someone willing to purchase a painting that I have created,'' said Danesh Mohiuddin, one of the designers taking part in the exhibition.
The artists' goal is to use art as a non-political mean to directly and positively help the children of Gaza. Their hope is that visitors will come in great numbers to support a good cause.
Art show info:
When: March 3-10, opening on March 3 at 7pm
Where: Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Center at the Mall of the Emirates (second level, orange car park)
Who: 10-Dubai based artists from Mexico, India, Canada, England and the Philippines
To make donations to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, go to www.pcrf.net
