The Moon of Bethlehem

The Moon of Bethlehem, an eight pointed star, is a symbol used in Palestinian Tatreez, a centuries old embroidery technique used in formal garments. Palestinian artisans have always used symbols as a form of resistance and story-telling through clothing - Indeed the Keffiyeh includes fishnet patterns, olive trees and trade route symbols, signifying the existence of societies.  

 The moon of Bethlehem has many names and interpretations -  referred to as a star in Raffa, Moon in Ramallah, and Rose in Gaza. It holds deep cultural significance, representing “fulfilment, release from darkness, and the ushering in of a new day” with the eight points representing the four stages of life — infancy, youth, maturity, and old-age, as well as the four directions of north, south, east and west. 

 In this exhibition the artists share their grief and outrage, using shared images of Jamie's family in Jerusalem, who have used the Moon of Bethlehem as a restaurant logo (which has now closed) as indicative of their culture during the occupation and a homage to their birthplaces in Bethlehem. In the sharing and breaking down of these symbols and creating a place for audiences to grieve and reflect, the exhibition talks of humanity, compassion, and positive action in the face of genocide and the planned annihilation of a people.