The centre is the vision of an architect and artist, Wissa Wassef, who trained family members as well as took apprentice weavers, batik artists, and potters to create unique art reflecting Egyptian life. The result? Amazing detailed woven landscapes, stylized batik fabrics (table cloths, pillow cases), and high fire ceramics, both sculpted and thrown. These items are on sale at the centre, which we were told is rarely visited by tourists. The big tourist buses barrel on down the road without stopping, destined for the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. C’est domage; their loss.
For me, the whole visit was a kind of cross cultural déjà vue. The entire time I thought of my dear parents and their pottery and painting studio with their gorgeous landscaped grounds.
We saw …- the beautiful villa and surrounding gardens
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| A photo for Marlee. |
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| Yes, a real pomegranate! |
- equally amazing outbuildings
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| gardening shed |
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| compost |
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| food |
- small studios for artists
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| batik studio |
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| dying vats |
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| weaving studio |
- the dormant pottery studio
The architect’s aging daughter and only remaining potter, has been in ill health, so this studio seemed ghostly.
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| quite the kick wheel, eh Dad? |
- and souvenirs that we just had to bring home.
It was my first big Cairo driving experience. On the way we …
- used my defensive driving skills
- passed by Memphis
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| Hey Tom, no Elvis here... |
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- took some back roads and encountered some “traffic”
- and bought a cauliflower (yes when it comes to food it is always bigger and better in Egypt!).
What a magical place! If any of you are coming this way, let us know if you would like this to be one of your destinations. We would love to go back.
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