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Celebrate UAE National Day with our artists

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In honour of UAE National Day on the 2nd of December, we are featuring ARTE’s amazing artists who will be showcasing their art this coming Friday at Times Square Centre, Dubai.  Central to ARTE’s charm, we showcase a variety of artists who employ a range of mediums and techniques to translate their individual experiences of living in the UAE. Have a look at the beauty of this country’s people, landscape, culture and ideology through the artists’ eyes:

 

Carrie Wareham

Since childhood, British artist Carrie Wareham was intrigued by stories of the Orient, like Aladdin’s tales. Moving to the UAE in 2001 she fell in love with the architecture, specifically the windows and doors: “I felt there was a certain mystique about them”. Wareham’s “Majlis” series is inspired by the traditional red tents used for social meetings, where the warmth of the welcoming hospitality is echoed in the rich colours in her work.

Images courtesy of Carrie Wareham

 

Hanifah Balangue

Currently a student of Islamic Art, Hanifa Balangue has lived in the UAE for 7 years. Describing the Emiratis as “very nice people, helpful and respectful”, it is this peaceful environment which inspires her love of Islamic art and Arabic calligraphy. The calligraphy is particularly enjoyed by the Muslim community and Balangue is excited to share her work with other residents and tourists. Read more on Hanifah Balangue in a previous blog post here:

 

Images courtesy of Hanifah Balangue 

 

Purvi Verma

Financial Analyst turned full time artist, Purvi Verma has been living in the UAE since 2011. Perceiving the UAE as an Expat dominated country, Verma enjoys being amongst so many different nationalities, breaking stereotypes by crossing borders. The UAE inspires her work with its “rich culture and heritage which has certain similarities with my home country [India]”. Read more here on Purvi Verma from a previous blog post.

Images courtesy of Purvi Verma

 

Catherine McEvoy

A resident for 2.5 years, Catherine McEvoy “realised how fond people are of their time in the UAE and that they want something beautiful to remember it by”. Being able to customize her work to customers’ specific colour palettes, her UAE-based designs such as “Jamal the Camel” and the “Grand Mosque” remain to be the most popular to cherish memories of the UAE.

Images courtesy of Catherine McEvoy

 

Marlene Metni Nasra

Moving to the UAE with her family in 2003, Lebanese artist Marlene Metni Nasra spends her time raising her three children, doing yoga, playing tennis and painting. “When I moved to Dubai, I felt that the beautiful scenic landscapes and its national heritage were better expressed in watercolour”. Nasra also uses mediums like oils and acrylics. She employs the “Hand of Fatima” as an artistic metaphor to translate the tolerance she experiences between the different nationalities and religions “living peacefully side by side”. Read more on the ‘Hand of Fatima” and Marlene’s work from a previous blog post here.

Images courtesy of Marlene Metni Nasra

 

Maruska Lebrun

Dutch artist Maruska Lebrun have been living in the UAE since 1979. The desert landscapes, the beautiful sunsets, the play of lights and darks have always been a great source of inspiration for her. She portrays Arabian wildlife, like camels and falcons, as well as traditional Arab architecture and landscapes. Painting mostly in watercolours, Lebrun’s work shows a maturity and sensitive understanding of the environment as a long term resident of the UAE.

 

Images courtesy of Maruska Lebrun

 

Meet these artists in person at ARTE Arts & Crafts market, Friday 28 November at Times Square Mall from 12 – 7 pm. Please visit our website for more details.

 

When in Ras Al Khaimah, go to ARTE

The best excuse for a road trip to Ras Al Khaimah this Friday is taking a pit stop at the ARTE Arts & Crafts market at Al Hamra Mall. Our vendors are showcasing a variety of unique products and with the Festive Season approaching fast, head out with your family for a fun shopping spree.

Here is a small sampler of what to expect at UAE’s only artisan market.

 

MVCO- Mary’s Virgin Coconut Oil

Kick off your visit with MVCO- Mary’s Virgin Coconut Oil. Passionately handmade by Mary Hubert (who is based in Ras Al Khaimah) from selected matured coconut kernels, this versatile and naturally healthy oil boosts the immune system, keeping those seasonal cold and flu bugs at bay.

Images courtesy of Mary Hubert.

 

 

Palm Lights candles

Eco-friendly Palm Lights candles are created by environmentalist Bhawna Sehra. Using vegan palm wax, 100% pure aromatherapy grade essential oils, aniline free dyes and cotton or wooden wicks, she ensures that each candle is unique in colour, fragrance and design. Read more on Palm Lights in a previously published blog story on this versatile artisan.

Images courtesy of Bhawna Sehra.

 

Sand Pictures

Join in the fun at the Sand Pictures table hosted by Iva Kostadinova. With cartoon character pictures and multi-coloured sands, we cherish their slogan, “We make kids happy.”

Images courtesy of Sand Pictures.

 

3H by Tatyana Pastukova

Tatyana Pastukova’s handmade teddy bears and dolls inspired her trade name, 3H, from the ideas in her Head, to working with her Hands, each character becomes a piece of her Heart.

Images courtesy of Tatyana.

Lola Team

Travel back in time with these custom-made, vintage inspired accessories and watches by the Lola team.

Images courtesy of Lola Jewelry/ Watches.

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ARTE Art & Craft Market at Al Hamra Mall, Ras Al Khaimah will run from  12 – 7 pm on the 21st of November, and every third Friday of the month. Click here to find your way to ARTE at RAK.

Arabian Centre and RAK Hamra Mall, here we come! Plus all things wood

Since ARTE said goodbye to the long term location at Dubai Festival Centre, we have now found new homes in other locations – such as RAK Hamra Mall as well as Arabian Centre in Mirdif, in addition to the two markets at Times Square. Well into our ninth year, the ARTE family have truly expanded throughout the Emirates and beyond.  You just have to look at the highly interactive facebook page standing at 16K followers and our social media is full of videos, instagrammed photos and tweets and an ever growing list of subscribers and fans that support handmade in the UAE. Thank you all.

So don’t forget to pop down there to see us.

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In the meantime, we are dedicating this space to some amazing wood crafts by our artisans. Enjoy the gallery!

 

 

Follow these artisans on facebook.

Kariba Arts

Miss Green Tea

The Joinery Shop

Wael Hamadeh    – read more about his work here.

Prerna Unlimited – read more about her work here.

Lilly’s Floral Decoration– read more about her work here

 

All photos used as owned by the artisans unless otherwise indicated.

Our Pink October favourite picks

October, being the month to raise breast awareness, many of our artisans have decided to go pink.  The following items will be available at ARTE at Times Square this Friday, 10th of October. Don’t miss out.
Aunty Becky's Crocher Corner has a pink stool seat in store for you

Aunty Becky’s Crochet Corner has a pink stool seat in store for you

Find Aunty Becky’s Crochet Corner on facebook. This crochet aunt will soon be starting workshops for crochet lovers.

Designs by Anna D

Designs by Anna D

Anna D likes to create pretty cards, canvasses and jewelry. Find Designs by Anna D on facebook.

 

It's all on paper by Susan Lee

It’s all on paper by Susan Lee

Find IAOP  – It’s All On Paper on facebook.

 

Pearls and Rose Quartz make the perfect pink bracelet - by MC StudioNDesign

Pearls and Rose Quartz make the perfect pink bracelet to wear this October – by MC StudioNDesign

Find MC StudioNDesign on facebook.

 

Silk sachets in the making by RedCat-SilkArt

Silk sachets in the making by RedCat-SilkArt

Knittox and their cute toys

Knittox and their cute toys

Find Knittox on Facebook.

Doggie wants pink biscuit today - by Mutt Madness

Doggie wants pink biscuit today – by Mutt Madness

Pure Candles Dubai generous with their pink hearts!

Pure Candles Dubai generous with their pink hearts!

Like the luxury eco-friendly soy wax candles by Pure Candles Dubai on facebook.

Ragmatazz goes pink

Ragmatazz goes pink with their fancy purses in pink and blue

Find Ragmatazz on Facebook.

Rebecca Bear's pink doodle of Audrey Hepburn

Rebecca Bear’s pink doodle of Audrey Hepburn

Find Rebecca Bear and her iconic UAE doodles on facebook.

 

Animal Planet comes to ARTE

The first ARTE fair for the last quarter of 2014 was filled with beautiful people and beautifully painted and crafted icons from the animal kingdom – butterflies flitting about from one ceramic pin to another, camels trekking from cushion to cushion, the hippos and the rhino making merry, and more.

Here are a few artisanal products by our ARTE. You can find their facebook pages below the gallery.

 

 

Like the artisans on facebook

Hector’s handmade

Komeropuoti craft shop

Handmade Agate jewelry

Favourite Things – Handmade by Roberta

Photos by the artisans or Alex Nex (Green Moments Photography)

Wael Hamadeh and his upcycled work

It is amazing how a well travelled member of human kind finds his journey back into the arms of his homeland, Lebanon. Where ‘the history of stone merges with the beauty of nature, where olive trees dance with the breeze of the valley’ (Reference, Wael Hamadeh’s biography.

Dance on, live on, paint on....Lebanon calling as seen through Wael's eyes.

Dance on, live on, paint on….Lebanon calling as seen through Wael’s eyes.

The biography is as poetic and heavy with ‘dancing’ metaphors, just as Wael’s beautiful paintings are.  The characters in his paintings are filled with nature’s way of expressive arts, whether that is the picking of apples or the gathering of fruits and herbes, whether it is the sweat of his father and forefathers, or the brightness of the sun wiggling its way through the harvest season.

When you see Wael at ARTE, you will notice that he is always painting. There is movement, liveliness, mermerism at its best. Wael believes in social consciousness, so he uses materials such as wood and even throw-a-away tin cans to paint on a make some great pieces of upcycled art. The rust from the cans is quickly covered with luscious dips of acrylic paint and with a flick of lacquer, the painting is sealed for good, never to corrode through the course of time.

Wael demonstrates his painting technique at ARTE

Wael demonstrates his painting technique at ARTE

Like Wael Hamadeh’s facebook page.

His website is worth looking at too. From exhibitions to commissioned work, from coffee sketches to sculptures, the website is replete with the creativity at its best.

The Hand of Khamsa paintings, by Marlene

The ‘Hand of Khamsa’ or the ‘Hand of Fatima’ has become quite popularised in jewelry, keychains and other accessories. Khamsa literally means ‘five’ in Arabic. While the origins of this symbol cannot be pin-pointed in history, it is believed to offer protection (from what some may call ‘evil eye’)

While the Hand of Khamsa is very often, seen in amulents and accessories, it is refreshing to see it used as part of artwork and paintings. And that is what you get to see at Marlene’s stand at ARTE.

The hand of Khamsa painting series by Marlene

The hand of Khamsa painting series by Marlene

Amidst the paintings of her blooming roses, you will see acrylic painted square canvases with the Hand of Khamsa. These make very nifty gift ideas. Marlene obviously has her ‘eye’ on the Hand of Khamsa (no pun intended). She fills the interior of the Hand of Khamsa symbol with 3 D paints or with flowers. No two are alike.

In this painting, the somber background leaps through the Hand of Khamsa to made a unique statement

In this painting by Marlene, the somber background leaps through the Hand of Khamsa to made a unique statement

Celebrate Mother’s Day with Lilly’s Floral Decoration

When you pass by Lilly’s Floral Decoration stall at ARTE, you can be sure that you will not be greeted by the intense ‘cacophony’ of confusing floral scents – which is a good thing, because you get to admire the tastefully decorated plant and flower installations instead.

Lilly holds an Engineering Degree in Architecture and is an Interior Designer by profession. No wonder, then, that she has blended her love for design, colour with the ‘architectural’ principles to produce towering floral installations that would make grand centre pieces or little candle holders with a dot and a dash of flowering delights.

The flowers are artificial, some are made of silk, and others a mixture of materials which are soft to touch. None of that horrible plastic looking floral finishes. You can choose from orchids, to bougainvilleas, from roses to tulips.

So if you are looking for a special gift for mum, consider Lilly’s Floral Decoration. Her products are designed and built to last.

Connect with Lilly’s Floral Decoration on facebook.

Studio Saubhagya- T(h)reading on Success

Photo copyright Studio Saubhagya

Photo copyright Studio Saubhagya

One day, Ms. Sonal, the lady behind the Studio Saubhagya brand, had a bright idea. She decided to translate her fashion design expertise into the realm of making jewelry using mixed media work (chiefly thread and other embellishments). At affordable prices, Studio Saubhagya’s collection caught the eyes of many a colour-junkie and the hearts of those in love with embroidery, embellishments and jewelry.
Recent months have seen Sonal return to making accessories that have the repeated embroidery theme that is so synonymous with her jewelry line. She now makes sets of lovely keychains with personalised themes. Note the Car and Home themes below. The elephant, peacock and other animal trinkets are made of wood so you can be sure they are going to stay intact.

Delicately crafted Keychains crying out to be seen (and purchased!)

Delicately crafted Keychains crying out to be seen (and purchased!)

Home-Car-Home ...Represents our modern life.

Home-Car-Home …Represents our modern life.

Note that Sonal makes lovely bags with a quilted bottom so that they stay put when placed on the floor, table or chair. If you look at the interior of the back, you will see neatly embroidered pockets to keep your mobile phones and more. Great to use as a beach bag we think.

 

Close up of the a heavily embroidered bag by Studio Saubhagya

Close up of the a heavily embroidered bag by Studio Saubhagya

We are sure Studio Saubhagya can do a neat set/package of matching bag, book, keychain and mobile holder, with the designs that you decide upon. Such a great gift set!

Consider buying a gift set of a bag, book/note pad, and keychains for a loved one!

Consider buying a gift set of a bag, book/note pad, and keychains for a loved one!

Visit Studio Saubhagya on facebook.

Ways to Go Green! (Recycled Gift Ideas & More)

Our ARTE Markets are an invaluable resource for visitors to discover a wide variety of beautifully locally crafted items for the home. Among others, ARTE also welcomes a variety of locally-based artisans, who are committed to using sustainable, eco-friendly practices.

Here are a few green gift ideas for any occasion, – hand produced by ARTE Artisans, who have put their skills and love into making the products.

Scrabble tile cuff links by Theresa Tsui

Old zippers transformed into attractive rings

Old zippers transformed into attractive hairbands

Sock monkeys by Sandustar Socks Toys

Sock monkeys by Sandustar Socks Toys

Upcycled driftwood candle holders by Kariba Arts

Hand painted bottles by Artmitul

Hand stamped old spoons 

Old CDs transformed into Candle Holders by Pretty Dezines

Fabric scraps transformed into reusable envelopes

Sale of Second-Hand Books in support of Feline Friends