“OumKalthoum” is a tribute to the legendary Egyptian star Oum Kalthoum and to my late mother.
I grew up listening to Oum Kalthoum sing for hours on end. I have always been fascinated by her. Everyone remembers her for her stamina, the depth of the lyrics, and her infamous handkerchief.
I used some of my late mother’s fabric called “Denyajate’ or “Bahja” (meaning happiness) that she utilized as home furnishing material. It is hand woven silk and has floral patterns. Such colorful motifs dazzled any guest who came into the living room.
I remember watching interviews of Oum Kalthoum in which she described her enrapture with Moroccan kaftans. That’s why I decided to dress her in my late mother’s blue fabric. I also used my mother’s pearls as an earring for the legend: That is my artistic zing!
Coat of Many Colors
Wisdom
Musing Twins
“I Love Lucy “symbolizes “Diversity” in a fantastic way.
My love story with Lucille Ball goes back to my graduate school years in the US. I watched Lucy every day. To me, she is a jester, prankster, and most of all, entertainer. I love her persona.
Lucy married a Cuban-born musician in the 50s and put diversity at the heart of the sitcom. She was independent, feisty, and implicitly fought for women’s rights. She conquered the world of comedy, which, at the time, was exclusive to men.
I relate to her courage and sometimes even her silliness. It was only natural that I would paint her portrait. For the background, I mixed turquoise blue acrylics with sand. Her shirt is made of pieces of fabric from a bridesmaid lace dress I had worn for my sister’s wedding four decades earlier. I delicately and meticulously pasted white pearls as an earring for her.
Lucy’s words: “I’m not funny. What I am is brave”, are still ringing in my ears.
