Fellows' Reflections: Asha Athman

After arriving in Jordan at the end of July, I didn’t anticipate getting into the groove of life in Amman so quickly. I was fortunate to have strong support at Collateral Repair Project when I arrived and this smooth transition enabled me to enjoy working on personal projects outside of work. I am passionate about art and soon after arriving in Amman began preparing to participate in a month-long art residency at Darat al Funun, a dynamic art foundation in Jordan.

Darat al Funun is a well-known art institution in Amman that features modern art and cultural exhibitions mainly produced by artists from Jordan and the Arab world year-round. The Lab of Darat al Funun was started by the foundation to support the work of emerging artists. In 2019, the Lab is undergoing several residency and exhibition programs distributed into “Phases.” The residency I participated in was part of Phase II, which focused on diaspora narratives, raw materials, and conceptions of home.

During September, I worked by day and produced art by night on a busy, but rewarding schedule. The residency included communal cooking nights, movie screenings, reading circles, and excursions in Amman that related to its central themes and the projects of its participants. The program allowed me to become closer friends with many young artists in and outside Amman.

I was able to complete a collage project I began working on in the United States during this program. The project was an initiative to explore my Somali heritage in a creative way. I digitally brought together pictures, old documents, music, and videos that reflect Somali history and culture in the 20th and 21st centuries. I grew up in the Somali American diaspora and this project brought me closer to home in a number of senses while I was adjusting to life in Jordan.

The final exhibition for the projects produced in the Lab Phase II Residency program was held at the beginning of October. It was incredible to show my work alongside other participants in the Residency and share this experience with my friends and coworkers in Amman. The start of my fellowship in Jordan was a whirlwind, but after the exhibition I had the opportunity to reflect on all I had accomplished in and outside of work during these two first months.

I look forward to continuing working on this project and am currently working on a digital and print publication that matches the style and content of the pieces produced for the Darat residency.

Fellows' Reflections: Hannah Byrd

A young boy on a bicycle rode alongside our car. “There are more that way!” he shouted through the open window, gesturing across the street. He lives in the Erriadh neighborhood in Djerba, a small island off the coast of Tunisia. This neighborhood was selected as the location of Djerbahood, an open air museum established in June 2014. Over one hundred artists representing thirty nationalities painted murals on walls throughout the neighborhood. The result is delightful. Diverse styles and cultures swirl over white and brick walls, greeting visitors at every turn.

I thought about what it meant for that young boy to grow up with these beautiful paintings decorating his world. In our brief interaction, I saw how he appointed himself as a guide. I imagined much of his summer break spent riding around on his bike under the intense Mediterranean sun, interacting with strangers from all over the world who have come to see his neighborhood.

I visited Djerba at the end of my fellowship year in Tunisia. After saying goodbye to my students at ClubAnglais, I piled in a car early on a Monday morning at the end of June with three of my closest friends in Tunisia. On the long car ride there, I alternated between sleeping and monitoring the playlist, trying to enjoy this time with my friends and ignoring my impending departure.

Djerbahood, however, demanded my attention and reflection. This neighborhood is a living testament to the beauty of cross-cultural exchange. Artistic styles from around the world each tell a different story, yet enrich the overall message of the project. When people from different backgrounds come together and share experiences and customs, a similar phenomenon happens: our perspective and empathy grows. Fortunately, cross-cultural exchange is not limited to living abroad, although it is a fantastic way to experience it. It happens in coffee shops, classrooms, over lunch: anywhere people from different backgrounds gather and share their stories. The simple act of listening and seeking to understand can create profound change.

Now that I am back in the United States, I hope to follow the example of the boy on the bike. I want to be hospitable and welcoming to newcomers and embrace encounters with those different from me. We have a lot to learn from one another, if we just take a moment to engage.