Los Gatos Volunteers Help Build Iraqi House
Temporary Iraqi Farm House at Montalvo Arts Center
Ed. Note: Iraqi-born artist Wafaa Bilal, 41, directed the creation of Al Dar Al Iraqi, a temporary structure on Montalvo Art Center's Front Lawn, as part of Montalvo's Iraq:Reframe focus. Bilal escaped Iraq after the Gulf War, learned English and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of New Mexico in 1999, and now teaches art in Chicago. Los Gatan Chris Wiley has coordinated construction projects in Iraq and other dangerous places around the world.
An Iraqi farm house just down the road and thanks to many volunteers; some from Los Gatos. Not only was there lots of physical work, there were a few local business folks who donated assets to this structure, located at Montalvo Art Center in Saratoga.
Al Dar Al Iraqi (Iraq House)
This project is just one of many in a series of temporary sculptures-on-the-grounds. This one was a creative process that started by pulling earth out of the Montalvo grounds and mixing it with water, hay, sand, and other natural resources, to produce adobe-type bricks. As the process continued over 21 days, it became easier--especially as donations of labor, time and assets were added to the mix.This one-room mud brick house of about 18 by 22 feet, located just about 100 yards from the grand Montalvo Villa, brought together a group of diverse people. Montalvo's stated goal was, "Through building the house together, the community volunteers will bond, while becoming aware of cultural differences and learning to bridge those differences to work with each other."
Chris Wiley pours mortar on the concrete foundation as artist Wafaa Bilal (orange bandanna) looks on (Photo by Terekah Dawa JenaDeLight NaJuwan)
The artist, Wafaa Bilal, came from an area of Iraq that was farmland, but he learned to build this type of building while he was living in a refuge camp in Saudi Arabia. It was a way to maintain his creativity as an artist. His goal for Al Dar Al Iraqi (an Iraqi House) was to include even a satellite dish and TV to show that everyone in Iraq who can tries to hook up to the entertainment and news media. During the Saddam era, no TVs or radios were permitted in households or businesses. Iraqi's new lifestyle now includes these electronic devices.Other key members for this project were Nick Deamer and Terekah Dawa JenaDeLight NaJuwan. Nick is a resident artist at Montalvo and the project manager for the Iraqi farmhouse sculpture. Nick is primarily a media artist and also the creator of the Buoy sculpture adjacent to the Iraqi House. He currently commutes between San Jose and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The first 3 adobe bricks and the simple form used to make them
Terekah Dawa JenaDeLight NaJuwan was the primary photographer and building assistant for the Iraqi House sculpture. Terekah comes from Sudan and has published a book of photography about Sudanese immigrant communities in America. As a child, she was the water carrier for her village brick makers, but it was not until this project that she had the chance to actually build a mud brick house. She currently lives in the San Jose area.
The door medalion reads "Mohammed is a prophet of Allah"
Los Gatos merchants who contributed assets to the project include:Montalvo Arts Center will hold an opening reception and artist presentation for Montalvo members on Nov. 3 at 3 p.m.
Artist Wafaa Bilal and primary assistant Terekah Dawa JenaDeLight NaJuwan
(l to r) Wafaa Bilal, Ariana Rug Gallery owner Siamak Shamouilzadeh, and Nick Deamer
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