A VARIETY of workshops have been lined up for art enthusiasts this month at Al Jasra Crafts Training Centre.
•Making Basket Workshop; September 3, 10, 17, 24; 10am to 12pm.
Palm leaves are used to make several items that can be found in Bahraini homes, such as dining mats, storage baskets, small dishes, hand fans and chicken coops.
The widespread handicraft is still popular and many practise this traditional craft in several villages throughout the island, namely Karbabad, Jasra and Budaiya.
•Terrazzo Tray Workshop; September 4; 4pm to 7pm.
Terrazzo is a composite material, poured in place or precast, used for flooring and wall treatments.
It consists of chips of marble, quartz, granite, glass or other suitable materials, poured with a cementitious binder, polymeric, or a combination of both.
Participants will learn about terrazzo marble-making and its history, cement materials and how to create colourful cement flakes.
They will also learn how to smooth finish a terrazzo plant pot by sanding and surface cleaning.
•Boat Making Workshop; September 3, 10, 17, 24; 10am to 12pm.
The workshop will teach participants how to identify the different types of wood used for manufacturing model ships, how to chop wood to create ship models, how to mould the ship’s accessories as well as how to draw and carve a piece of wood and sand it.
Shipbuilding is a popular traditional industry that Bahrain has been known for since ancient times, one that Bahrainis have excelled in and left visible marks.
The various kinds of ships that have been used for the purposes of fishing, diving, pearling as well as passenger and cargo transportation include Al-banush (dhow), Abloom, Albaghlah and others.
•Pottery on the Wheel Workshop; September 3, 10, 17, 24; 10am to 12pm.
Pottery is one of the most historically popular Bahraini industries that has been practised since ancient times, with archaeological research indicating its spread for thousands of years, due to the local availability of materials. The workshop will cover such topics as the types of clay and the tools used in shaping, the methods of clay wedging and kneading and how to shape and sculpt wheel potter clay.
•Weaving Workshop; September 3, 10, 17, 24; 10am to 12pm.
Fabric weaving has deep roots in the history of Bahrain and has been known to be passed on from generation to generation.
Earlier, the textile industry was widespread in certain villages such as Abu Saybi, Dar Kulayb and Makabah, it has since been restricted to Bani Jamrah village, which in the past has hosted close to a hundred factories that employed almost all residents of the village.
These factories were nothing but modest huts of palm fronds where the weaver and his family members would seek refuge from the heat of the sun.
The village was a bustling market which people frequented to purchase their requirements and fabric was even exported to various other regions in the Gulf. The workshop will teach participants about the types of threads used for weaving textile and how to use the machine.
•Saff - Palm Tree Leaves Weaving for Children; September 3, 10, 17, 24; 10am to 12pm.
A creative interactive workshop for seven- to 14-year-olds on the art of palm frond weaving will train them in sewing saff or palm tree leaves.
The artform is a traditional handicraft that has been practised by women to make household accessories and tools, from dining mats and storage baskets to small dishes, handheld fans and chicken coops. It is still practised in several villages throughout the island and is most prevalent in the villages of Karbabad, Al Jasra, and Budaiya.
•String Art Workshop; September 5 and 6; 5pm to 7pm.
A simple art form that everyone can make with a little patience. The unique method is relatively inexpensive as eye-catching artworks can be created without a big investment.
All events are being organised by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and registration is required at culture.gov.bh
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