[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="81722,81721,81734,81733,81732,81731,81730,81729,81728,81727,81726,81725,81724,81723"] By Fatima Muhammad Saudi Gazette ‘Abha brings us together' is a unique event that brings together various artists from the region in an open air art fair. The supervising committee of Abha summer festival organized a series of events this year. Saudi artist Awad Al-Zarib came up with the idea about and said many artists have worked with his vision to create artworks. The art pieces are spread over 250 meters in the heart of Abha city with over 300 male and female participants. According to Al-Zarib art is a way to please people. He presented his idea last year to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage who agreed to support the event in cooperation with the government. The art pieces are all covered by a roof made completely of umbrellas of various colors adding to the whole mosaic. Traditional music is played in the background making the open air exhibit a phenomenal experience. Ahlam, an artist participating at the event presented a portrait of her father. The drawing dragged a great number of visitors since she wrote a poem marking the loss of her father. Ahlam told Saudi Gazette that she decided to participate by drawing her role model who inspired her and pushed her to follow her dreams. "My father used to drop me everyday to school. I can clearly remember when he passed away while I was holding him close." Some art pieces depict the war scenes in Syria and others show solidarity with Saudi soldiers. A number of drawings depict nature while a special section was devoted to Arabic calligraphy. The event also allocated an art workshop for children as part of the project. Faisal Al-Shahrani, supervisor of the childrens' workshop said that they have so far marked 20 works as special art pieces and they will be awarding children who made them. "We look forward to bringing all age groups to participate in an attempt to increase interest for art. Children represent an important element in the Abha Art Street," said Al-Shahrani. Mohammad Al-Omrah, general manager of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage in Asir noted that the event is the largest open art event in the region and added that they have provided the equipment for artists to show their skills and share their hobbies with the public. The Arab Organization for Tourism has lately selected Abha to be the Arab Tourism Capital of the year 2017.
