This document summarizes a series of events called "ARTS and DOWNS" that took place from March to May 2022 in Lebanon. The events were conceptualized by May Haddad and aimed to provide a space for reflection and sharing of how art helped people cope with difficulties since 2020, including COVID lockdowns and Lebanon's economic crisis. Each event included various art activities like collage, painting, and music, as well as poetry, meditation, and discussions. Over 30 people participated in total. Documentation of the events was posted online, including YouTube videos, photo albums, and blog posts with details about each gathering. The document recognizes various contributors and provides links to the digital materials.

1. ARTS and DOWNS ‫ـات‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ب‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ط‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫م‬ ‫و‬ ‫ـون‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ن‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ـ‬‫ف‬: During
Unbelievable Times, When We Feel Most
Vulnerable/ Happenings conceptualized and
facilitated by May Haddad with the contribution
of several artists and friends March-May 2022.
ARTS and DOWNS is a call for us to reflect upon, examine and
share the ARTS that we have used/discovered that have helped
us during the DOWNS that we have been subjected to since
March 2020 included are the Corona LOCKDOWN; and for us
living in Lebanon, the CRACKDOWN and the Collapse at a
country level.
May Haddad has initiated the call by organizing three
happenings at hUNNA art exhibition (ABC Art Space) on
March 28, April 7 2022 and May 5. The call resonated with
friends, activists and artists who participated in the events
(39 person-event).
The happenings included a mix of Art Stations, Poetry,
Meditations, Laughter Yoga, Music and Singing, Dance and
Movement, Exhibitions, Clown performance and Circle time
discussions.
The Art Stations that we organized included: Layering
paper collage, Stencil revolution arts, String arts (acrylics
and design), Clay sculpture, Doodle arts, Stone arts, Matisse
cut-out cards, Mandala coloring, Paddle dolls, Secret lover’s
eye, Leaves prints, Acrylic painting on canvas and Words
and Poems.
Several exhibitions were integrated: The Arts of Nadeen
Baba, The Watercolors of Noura Badran, The Mandalas of
Amal Abu Hatab Sultan, The Doodles of Noura Badran and
Our exhibitions of art materials. Zorba launched his
musical instrument during the last event.
Special thanks to the people who joined us and who
contributed to the contents: Nadeen, Zorba, Mauricio, Rana,
Marah, Amal, Wadad, Fernando, Peter, Nadia, Hanan,
Hussein, Amani, May A. , Rawan, Fares, Beley, Marilyn,
Noura, Iara, Paul and friend, Safa and Suha.
ARTS and DOWNS March-May 2022
May Haddad

3. ARTS and DOWNS: Documentation
Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=RyFMmiwfyCQ&list=PLzMLidHEpohdzDqIJdB6VB32ayylOiNLn
Photo Albums (Facebook)
ARTS and DOWNS: May 5 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.5299506026739141&type=3
ARTS and DOWNS: April 7 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?
vanity=MayYacoubHaddad&set=a.5222381604451584
ARTS and DOWNS: March 28 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?
vanity=MayYacoubHaddad&set=a.5198001536889591
ARTS and DOWNS March-May 2022
May Haddad
Blogs (Wordpress)
About ARTS and DOWNS https://mayhaddad.wordpress.com/2022/04/08/about-arts-and-downs/
Blog: ARTS and DOWNS: May 5 https://mayhaddad.wordpress.com/2022/05/06/arts-and-downs-
may-5-2022/
ARTS and DOWNS: April 7 https://mayhaddad.wordpress.com/2022/04/08/arts-and-downs-event-april-7/
ARTS and DOWNS: March 28 https://mayhaddad.wordpress.com/2022/03/29/arts-and-downs/
11 TikTok films at https://www.tiktok.com/@mayhaddad2025

4. ARTS and DOWNS March-May 2022
May Haddad
Arts and Downs May 5 2022
Blog: ARTS and DOWNS/ May 5
https://mayhaddad.wordpress.com/2022/05/06/arts-and-downs-may-5-2022/
Our poems and Zorba’s
https://youtu.be/BhG5a_GQkYw
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSdaXNvtK/
Photos in a short movie
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSdaX8h1p/
Photo album (Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=MayYacoubHaddad&set=a.5299506026739141
Glimpses from the event
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSdaX1MjQ/
https://youtu.be/unwQGy-sCOQ
Meditation
https://youtu.be/SCGd0yZiKWM
Our Doodles
https://youtube.com/shorts/IxbF-bR8z-E?feature=share
Words
https://youtube.com/shorts/wcyAP1X_i28?feature=share
Samba
https://youtu.be/R66TjGPGp9w

5. Did the people really heal? My response
to Kitty O’Meara poem of March 2020
ARTS and DOWNS March-May 2022
May Haddad