Seven Women’s House Keys is a tapestry that combines traditional and contemporary Palestinian embroidery designs and needlework. This large, five by seven foot canvas incorporates remnants of the traditional Palestinian hand embroideries produced in specific villages in Palestine with contemporary beading and designs. The names of Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine surround the border of the canvas in painted and beaded calligraphy.
Suzanne Klotz was awarded a 2013-2014 Fulbright Scholar Award, administered by the Binational Fulbright Commission and the Government of Jordan, to research and document traditional Palestinian embroidery designs. The purpose of her Fulbright Scholar project is to preserve and honor Palestinian culture and history.
Prior to coming to Jordan, Suzanne spent a year and a half creating the beaded, painted and embroidered border of the canvas. The names of the two hundred and forty-seven Palestinian refugee camps (in Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon) are written and beaded in Arabic calligraphy on the border of the canvas.
From August 31, 2013 to January 31, 2014 Klotz conducted an art salon entitled, “Seven Women’s House Keys,” working collaboratively in both traditional and conceptual art making practices with seven Palestinian women who were dispossessed from their homes in Palestine and are living in refugee camps in Amman, Jordan. The canvas conceptually addressed each woman’s remembrances of her family life, home and village in Palestine.
The women who contributed to the project include: Hanan Al Khalidi (central painting of Jerusalem, majority of handmade embroidery appliqués and artistic contributions), Majedah Abd Kader (historical embroidery information, Gaza handmade embroidery appliqués and trim), and six women who gathered together weekly to attend art salons to embroider and share their stories about their origins in Palestine: Deyala Al Khalidi, Myaser Abd Al Kader, Hanifa Tahseen, Bssma Elias, Ghada Tahseen, and Amira Al Shadowh (Project Manager and translator).
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Thanks
Suzanne Klotz would like to thank the Fulbright Commission for a Fulbright Scholar Award; Alain McNamara, Executive Director/The Binational Fulbright Commission in Jordan; the 7 Women’s House Keys Art Salon participants; the artists in the exhibition; Al-Shareefa Hind Nasser for hosting the exhibition; Sophia Isajiw, Editor of 7womenshousekeys.wordpress.com; and with deepest gratitude Amira Al-Shadowh, Art Salon Program Manager/Administrative Assistant and Translator.
Film
A film by Jan Parkinson documenting Suzanne Klotz’s art and the 7 Women’s House Keys salon was begun but tragically, Jan passed away before the documentary was completed.