Luma Al Mukhalalati sees no reason why Abu Dhabi cannot be teeming with artists.
The co-founder of Art Central – an art supply shop, gallery and workshop space that recently opened at the Boutik Mall on Reem Island – says talent can lie dormant until it is unleashed through instruction or trial and error.
“It’s not as rare as you might think. People could have the talent but just not know how to express it because they’ve never had the opportunity,” says the visual-arts major. “Anyone can take an art class and discover a hidden talent.”
Basic découpage, mixed media art, portrait painting, drawing and sketching, ceramics and sculpture, oil and acrylic painting, portrait painting and silk painting are some of the many art disciplines taught at Art Central.
“Our vision is to fill this city with both art and artists,” says Al Mukhalalati, who is also a photographer.
“We’ve created a space for UAE-based and Emirati artists to display their art. And then we went out and found certified art instructors and artists and asked them to conduct workshops to help people learn about the foundations of art.”
Beginning on Sunday, 10 art courses will begin at Art Central for beginners, intermediate and advanced artists – from the age of five and upwards, teenagers and adults. The workshops include four two-hour sessions held once a week and cost Dh1,200 to Dh1,800 per course.
At the start of every month, a new round of courses will begin, with four weekly sessions per course being the standard.
Art Central will host an open day of workshops tomorrow, at which aspiring artists are encouraged to drop by, meet art instructors, ask questions and take part in tutorials for free. If committing to a full-month of weekly classes seems daunting at first, there’s always the option of attending a one-time pop-up class held each Saturdays at Art Central.
The pop-up classes cost Dh250 for a three-hour session. On January 23, an Arabic calligraphy pop-up class is scheduled, and on January 31, printmaking is on the agenda.
Next month, Art Central will branch out and include courses on branding and graphic design.
• Visit ArtCentralUAE on Facebook for a full schedule of classes or call 056 201 7970 to sign up
artslife@thenational.ae
