5 Week Advanced Series: Drawing Moroccan Geometric Patterns

Live from Fes, Morocco

After a successful 5-week series with VAWAA Artist and multidisciplinary Moroccan craftsman Hamza, we invite you to a brand new 5-week advanced series on the art of sacred Moroccan geometric patterns. This is specially designed for anyone with experience in drawing geometric patterns either through Hamza's VAWAA online sessions or with another teacher. Those without experience but who are ready for the challenge are welcome to register, too! 

Join from any time zone -- participate live or through recordings. For five consecutive Sundays, July 26 - August 23, join Hamza live on Zoom as we learn about the different designs of Islamic and Jewish art found in many of Morocco's traditional buildings, mosques and synagogues. Each session will last 2 hours, building up smoothly into something deeper and more grand. To top it off, we'll end every session with a special 10-minute performance of Moroccan Andalusian oud music by Hamza himself!

There'll be optional homework (~2 hrs/week) for those looking to level up. We will also have a private Facebook group with Hamza to connect between sessions, share, ask questions, and get feedback. We'll end the series with a special online exhibition. 

If you're not sure, sign up for the first session and register for series after. Please note that VAWAA Online Pass cannot be used for this series.

Joining us from a different time zone? Be sure to convert the time.

Session 1: Mesedes bedwayer wel Qatib (مسدس بالدواير والقطيب)
July 26 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

For those feeling a little rusty, we'll start with a review session that'll serve as a refresher-- a mini lecture on Moroccan geometry covering techniques and patterns previously learnt, traditional drawing methods, symbolism, and culture. It will be a great time to take notes and ask questions, as well as discuss the session description and objectives. Then, we'll construct a curved 6 pointed star.

It is MANDATORY to attend this session. 

Session 2: Arbaa Matarik (اربع مطارق)
August 2 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

We'll create a pattern from a brass door from the 14th C. Attarine Madrasa in Fes Medina.

Session 3: Tnashri Bel Looza wel Qaraa (تناشري باللوزة والقرع)
August 9 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

We'll construct special pattern from a wooden door in Dar Batha Palace - a 19th C. Alaouid royal palace in Fes Medina.

Session 4: Al Mutaman Bel Maqusa (المتمن بالمقوصا)
August 16 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

We'll explore a pattern from wooden windows found in the 9th C. Qarawiyeen Mosque/ University and the 14th C. Bou Inania Madrasa.

Session 5: Mutaman bkhatem Adloo wel Meejem wel Matwi (متمن بخاتم الدلو، الميجم و المطوي)
August 23 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

We'll build a pattern found on Zellij on the 18th C. Sidi Amhammed Ben Lafkih Zawiya, a sufi shrine and sanctuary in Fes Medina.

Online Exhibition
August 30 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT

We'll end the series with a special online exhibition. Curious folks who make up the awesome VAWAA community, as well as friends and family, will join from around the world to celebrate our hard work, creativity and works. We'll each have a chance to display our favorite patterns and share about our experience - it's going to be a party!

What you'll need

A compass, pencil, ruler, divider (a compass with two sharp points), paper (A4 or A3), eraser, sharpener, and coloring pencils.

How to join

We'll be hosting this VAWAA Online on Zoom. We'll send the link and details to join via email a few hours before each session begins.

About Hamza

Hamza is an Andalusian Oud musician, a geometer, brass-smith, bookbinder, paper-maker, paper-marbler and founder of a crafts studio dedicated to Moroccan arts and crafts in Fes. He comes from a multigenerational family of artisans and passing on crafts knowledge is a family culture. He apprenticed under his father and traveled around 15 countries crafting and learning from masters. Now his mission is to continue this legacy and help people around the world connect with old Moroccan crafts. His traditional art revolves around the art of Compass & Ruler. With those two instruments, he draws and traces Moorish and Islamic geometric patterns, etches and engraves them on brass and copper trays and embosses them on leather book covers.

Visit his artist page to learn more about his in-person VAWAA.

Reviews

"Working live with Hamza was truly inspiring. He is an excellent teacher and was also able to ground us with the cultural significance of his art all throughout the lesson." - Steve

"Mr Hamza is an amazing teacher. He taught in a simple way and he gave a nice historical speech about islamic geometry. I love how he gives variations and different possibilities of the pattern. This opens up our curiosity and nourish our creativity." - Mona

"The surprise moment was when Hamza played this instrument for us after we were done with the pattern making. This made the whole experience personal & real." - Hitasha

"Well conducted using Zoom enabling us to understand the process and produce an attractive repeating pattern in a short time." - Sally

"The two hours with a fantastic teacher flew by! I'd recommend it if you get the chance!" - Ezra

"It’s addicting!" - Candy

"Being able to participate in the Moroccan Geometric Patterns workshop with Hamza was educational and inspiring. Not only was his teaching wonderful but getting to hear him play the oud was a treat every week. My classmates were also inspiring and I hope to take more classes with Hamza in the future... perhaps one day in Morocco." - Tania

"Excellent, Excellent, Excellent! Hamza is a wonderful--and very patient--teacher, who guided students to learn and successfully create designs we thought impossible to master." - Nicole