Syracuse, N.Y. — “Reclaiming Our Collective Inheritance: A Palestinian Diaspora Collection,” at the ArtRage Gallery, features an array of thobes, loose-fitting, hand-stitched dresses which are integral to Palestinian culture.

Ebtisam “Ebby” El-Sharkawy, the show’s curator, said each garment teaches her something new, emphasizing that each dress represents an act of creativity.

In the current exhibit, the thobes are decorated with a palette of bright colors, come from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and more current eras, encompass a range of motifs—the moon and the stars, peacocks, geometric forms, and olive branches, among others.

The dresses clearly had a practical function; they were worn on a regular basis. In addition, they are emblematic of community and family ties.

It’s not just a gene

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