A new pottery center in Baaqline for developing the trade from crafts to art

The pottery exhibition center of Bkerzay reserve opened last week with the participation of a large number of local and foreign artists but with the noticeable absence of the traditional Lebanese pottery.  The director of the centre, Marianne Geada3, noted that invitations were sent to Lebanese traditional potters but they did not participate maybe because, according to her, they are not used to collective work or for other reasons.  Geadda3 added that pottery making in Lebanon is on the way to disappearing hence the importance of this project in protecting popular memory as well as safeguarding a traditional skill that has been thriving in Lebanon for thousands of years. She also stressed that pottery has now become a true form of art and is no longer a simple craft.  She further added that the Centre provides private lessons to those wishing to learn pottery and it targets youth to encourage them to engage in this sector and not be limited to banking and finance.  Moreover, Geada3 said that the work of the Centre will not only rely on exhibitions but will extend to the carrying out of activities within the Baaqline forests where hiking routes have been opened in collaboration with the local forest authorities and for the purpose of strengthening eco-tourism.
Source: Al-Safir 20 October 2014