On Sunday 23 September 2012 at 6:30 pm, under the patronage of HRH Princess Alia Tawfiq Tabbaa, Nabad opens the third edition in a series of annual exhibitions dedicated to promoting design, a relatively new but fast-growing art genre in Jordan. “Trendsetting III” brings together eleven Jordanian artists to exhibit an innovative collection of uniquely designed decorative and functional items, in addition to a number of artworks.

The designed pieces include painted steel floor lamps and ottoman by Basel Uraiqat and Basma Abdallah Uraiqat of Atelier Uraiqat; laminated prints and side lamp by Dodi Tabbaa; a ‘winged’ golden chair by Juman Nimri; a limestone sculptured garden bench by Anees Maani; decorative side tables and butler trays by Ghada Dahdaleh; ornamental plates decorated with Arabic calligraphic elements by Omar Bilbeisi; neon light installations by Shereen Audi; ceiling and side lamps created using dried tree trunks and cuttings by Rula Atalla; a graffiti covered 1960s wardrobe by Hani Alqam; and a middle eastern-style sofa (doshak) with painted cushion, side tables, screen and painted plates by Nawal Abdullah.

The participants will also exhibit pieces created in cooperation with the Ruwwad project, a non-profit organization that assists the underprivileged community of Jabal al-Nadheef. In 2009, Rula Atalla established a ceramics workshop at Ruwwad to work with mentally-challenged teenagers in the community. Clay shapes crafted by the teenagers under Rula’s supervision have been used by the artists in this exhibition to create artworks of their own design. Also on display are paintings produced by 17 teenagers in the context of a workshop at Ruwwad. All proceeds from the sale of the Ruwwad artworks created by both the artists and the teenagers will go to the Ruwwad project to benefit the community of Jabal al-Nadheef.