RIYADH, 12 April 2004 — A three-weeklong exhibition of the largest documented collection of costumes from Palestine and Jordan opened yesterday.
Princess Hussa Al-Shaalan, wife of Crown Prince Abdullah, inaugurated the exhibition entitled “Palestine Traditional Treasures” at King Abdul Aziz Historical Center here.
Widad Kamel Kawar, an ethnographer who amassed the collection, described its humble beginnings. “Many years ago I was given two traditional costumes as a present. I was already interested in the textiles and jewelry, but I never thought that one day this present would grow into this large collection.”
As the collection grew, so did the difficulties, she said. “After the war of 1967 I faced the reality that all villages in Palestine were now occupied and I had to double my efforts to collect the genuine pieces before they were influenced by refugee camp styles,” she said.
Kawar grew up in Bethlehem and studied in Ramallah. She continued her study at the American University of Beirut where a teacher of English had already carried out research on Ramallah embroidery and made her and other fellow students work on samples of traditional patterns.
With the Israeli occupation and the influence of the Arab-Israeli war of 1948-49 traditional ways largely disappeared and a “camp culture” emerged, prompting Kawar to seek to preserve what she could.
She began to document her interviews with Palestinian women. “The women whose heritage I have collected have remained my inspiration. They have honored me by sharing their sad and happy memories; it is my duty now to pass on their rich culture to future generations,” she said.
Kawar said that the exhibition will be open to the public until April 30 — for families from 8.30 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and on the same days in the evening for women only from 4-9 p.m. Tuesday mornings will be for women and evenings for men.
