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Chama Mechtaly

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Moroccan artist and activist
Chama Mechtaly
BornJuly 1992 (age 31–32)
Casablanca, Morocco
Alma materBrandeis University

Chama Mechtaly (Arabic: شامة مشتالي; born July 1992) is a Moroccan artist and activist based in Dubai.

Early life and education

Mechtaly was raised in Casablanca by a Muslim mother and Jewish father. Her paternal grandfather was Amazigh-Jewish, but converted to Islam to marry her paternal grandmother, who was Muslim. In high school, Mechtaly became interested in her family history, and more broadly in the influence of Jewish history and culture on Morocco. She remained in Morocco until age 17.

She attended college in the United States, studying conflict resolution and international relations at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts through a scholarship. There, she became interested in the Jewish concept of tikkun olam and in repairing relations between Muslim and Jewish communities in the Middle East.

Art career

Mechtaly began painting and drawing as a child, and was encouraged by her father to pursue art. She began using oil paints at age 15.

While studying in the United States, Mechtaly exhibited in the Boston area. Her first solo exhibition was at the American Islamic Congress’ Newbury Street art gallery in April 2013.

In 2015, while exhibiting at Complexe Culturel Sidi Belyout, the director removed her pieces, DrapeauMarocainRevisité (Moroccan Flag Revisited), out of concern that it might incite "aggressive behavior". The piece is a painting of the Moroccan flag, with a green Star of David on the red background, as opposed to the usual five pointed star. She was also later threatened with charges of "deformation of national emblems".

In 2021, Mechtaly co-curated Maktoub, the first Jerusalem-UAE art exhibition, which focused on ten calligraphers, five from each country. Her own art was also included in the exhibit, which was organized in collaboration with the Jerusalem Biennale.

In 2022, Mechtaly launched an NFT artwork in honor of women and the then-recent Abraham Accords.

Mechtaly was a 2023-2024 fellow of the Atlantic Council's WIn Fellowship.

Style and themes

Mechtaly's work tends to focus on Moroccan culture, history, and pluralism. She has painted portraits of both Amazigh and Jewish women, and created paintings which involve Arabic and Hebrew calligraphy.

Moors and Saints

Mechtaly is the founder of Moors and Saints, a Dubai-based jewelry brand. The pieces are handmade in Dubai from gold, silver, and precious stones. The brand does not use diamonds, as part of a mission to be "conflict free".

The brand draws on influences such as Moorish architecture from Andalusia during the Golden Age of Spain, during which there was religious tolerance between Muslims and Jews.

The brand debuted in September 2019, during Dubai Design Week. The first three collections were Granada (inspired by Alhambra), Marrakesh (inspired by the city's zellij tiles), and Cairo (inspired by Al-Azhar Mosque).

Activism

Mechtaly has spoken in favor of the Abraham Accords, and in November 2021 was part of a delegation which promoted the agreements in the United States.

Mechtaly has donates some profits from Moors and Saints to Banat el Emarat, a UAE-based NGO focused on women's empowerment.

Personal life

Mechtaly moved to the United Arab Emirates in the late 2010s. She later moved to Israel.

She considers herself to be an intersectional feminist and an "advocate for interfaith dialogue and pluralism".

References

  1. ^ Coulibaly, Justin (2021-02-21). "Maroc, Israël : Chama Mechtaly, de Casablanca à... Jérusalem". Afrik (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  2. ^ Frantzman, Seth J. (2021-01-28). "Moroccan artist Chama Mechtaly is building aesthetic bridges". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  3. ^ Bendefaa, Nahla (2015-07-27). "Moroccan Identity: Reclaimed and Censored". Morocco World News. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  4. ^ Starr, Michael (2021-12-02). "1st joint UAE-Israel art expo prescribes shared destiny for Jews, Arabs". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  5. ^ Goel, Nidhi (2013-01-25). "Local painter Mechtaly expresses activism through art". The Brandeis Hoot. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  6. ^ "L'art judéo-amazigh de Chama Mechtaly censuré au Maroc". Telquel.ma (in French). 2015-07-27. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  7. "Israeli, Emirati calligraphers collaborate on trailblazing exhibit in Jerusalem". Israel Hayom. 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  8. ^ Margit, Maya (2021-11-30). "Israeli, Emirati Calligraphy Artists Hold Groundbreaking Jerusalem Show (VIDEO REPORT)". The Media Line. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  9. Rahhou, Jihane (2022-03-18). "Moroccan Artist Dedicates First NFT Artwork to Women". Morocco World News. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  10. "WIn Fellowship 2023-2024 UAE". Atlantic Council. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  11. "Chama Mechtaly". We, Ceremony. 2016-12-26. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  12. ^ "Moroccan designer Chama Mechtaly's 'Moors and Saints' shows value of connection". Arab News. 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  13. ^ Bellheather, Diana (2020-04-08). "New Dubai-based ethical jewellery brand inspired by Moorish architecture". Emirates Woman. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  14. Hassan-Nahoum, Fleur; Mechtaly, Chama. "Israel-Morocco Sahara deal can unlock new era of peace". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  15. Berman, Lazar (2021-11-22). "Young peace activists promote Abraham Accords in California". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  16. Cole, Claudia (2020-12-07). "Moors & Saints: Bridging Cultural Gaps With Jewellery". KeiSei Magazine. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
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