Who can help this old lady realize her dreams? She needs drawing lessons, and would be great if she can travel to France and Italy!
https://www.facebook.com/MaanNews.net/videos/vl.433190693540210/1349918811725812/?type=1
https://www.facebook.com/MaanNews.net/videos/vl.433190693540210/1349918811725812/?type=1
Maan News Agency posted an interesting interview by Ihab Damiri, on December 3, 2016.
The video starts with an old woman walking up the stairs, carrying a bag. As she walks, her back is bent at an angle of almost 90 degrees. Her hands seem to have arthritis.
The video starts with an old woman walking up the stairs, carrying a bag. As she walks, her back is bent at an angle of almost 90 degrees. Her hands seem to have arthritis.
The video does not mention anything about this old lady's health issues, and is not about her sawing skills. Instead, it is about her interest in drawing, which started following a dream. The old lady comes from the West Bank, and it seems she did not know what "France" is.
In the dream, she was told to draw and that she would go to France and Italy. Her kids brought her drawing colors, pencils and paper. She started drawing and now has hundreds of drawings. She draws nature, village life and people, draws for kids, raising awareness on topics such as saving water. She would like to take drawing lessons, and needs someone to teach her drawing. Maybe she can master Fine Arts, and maybe someone can help her travel to France and Italy!
Original video Interview in Arabic under the title الحاجة ام سمير تدخل عالم الرسم بعمر يقارب الخمسة وثمانين عاماً
https://www.facebook.com/MaanNews.net/videos/vl.433190693540210/1349918811725812/?type=1
The video had 729,289 Views on February 9, 2017.
Following is a translation of the interview
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Hajja Um Sameer enters the world of drawing at around 85 years of age
Who would believe that an old lady, of around 85 years of age, would enter the doors of art with pencils and colors!
This is the story of Hajja (i.e. old lady) Sameeha Al Haj Abed from the town of Arraba, south of Jenin (West Bank- Palestine).
Um Sameer (Sameer’s mother) was, and still is a taylor. Whenever she is free, she draws. She puts her chair outside under the sunlight, and starts drawing. Passers-by would ask her… what are you doing? She’d say I am drawing… finding her drawings to be beautiful, she is asked…. Where did you learn drawing? She answers: No one taught me. It’s a gift from God.
Um Sameer spends most of her time between her drawings, in which she illustrates life in the village, its people and nature. In an attempt to improve her drawing skills, her children and grandchildren support her love of drawing. They provide her with everything she needs. She got attached to drawing by chance.
Her daughter tells the story of how it all started. Her mom told her one day that she dreamt of Abu Ammar* RIP. (Note: Abu Ammar usually refers to the leader Yasser Arafat)
Recalling the dream, she asked her daughter, what is in “France”? Her daughter answered: Mom, this is the name of a country.
Um Sameer: He (Abu Ammar) asked her to draw him, and told her: I want to take you to France and Italy.
Her daughter: This is the country of artists. Hope you will become an artist!
This encouraged “Um Sameer” to start drawing. Her family brought her drawing pencils and paper to draw. As she started drawing, each drawing became better than the previous one.
Hajja Sameeha currently has hundreds of drawings, in which she presents issues related to society as well as raising awareness.
Her drawing ambitions have no limits. Her dream is to master Fine Arts. This is her request to institutions interested in art. She started drawing for school children about topics such as saving water and other topics that come to her mind. She loves to learn everything. She needs someone to teach her, as she doesn’t know how to do it by herself.
The art produced by Hajja Um Sameer might not be unique art according to art and artists’ standards. However, it represents the determination of this old lady to live and to share her vision through her owns skills developed at a later age. Better late than never! With her light spirit and determination, she is sharing whatever comes to her mind. She is proving with her art that a person’s ambition has no age limitation.
Reporter: Ihab Damri, Arraba, south of Jenin.
Maan (Together) News Agency https://www.maannews.net/
This English version was voluntarily prepared and translated by: Serene Zawaydeh, February 9, 2017.
Maan (Together) News Agency https://www.maannews.net/
This English version was voluntarily prepared and translated by: Serene Zawaydeh, February 9, 2017.
