Niseem, Arabic for breeze. With the warm desert wind at her feet, this swirled, swift, spirited Arabian Niseem bolts from the sand to the surf. The dramatic design, was one of hundreds of student entries from the American School of Dubai, and has been brought to life by a talented team of art students and their teachers. The rich, cool background colors are complimented with warm swirls in metallic and iridescent paints; metallic gold and silver trim highlights the horse’s movement. Niseem is ready to run right off the podium.
The design of Sylvia Ghattas was used to paint Niseem, although modifications were suggested from all of the painters as they took the design from 2D to 3D. Bob Jarmson and Jane Elliott advised the student painters: Sylvia Ghattas, Katrina Zimmerman, Mariel Whelan, Jacob Christensen, and Chelsea Zimmerman. The students looked forward to seeing it evolve and change over the month as it was painted in the foyer of the high school. It raised the awareness of students, teachers, and parents about public art, in addition to the significance of horses in the U.A.E., from horse competitions to the endurance race. By presenting each student with an opportunity to compete in the design selection of the horse, ASD has generated considerable interest in this project. All ASD students feel a sense of pride having participated in the Celebration of the Arabian Horse: something exciting is happening in Dubai and ASD is a part of it.
