Dedicated on November 14, 2003
Location: 20 Jones Street facing Market (between 6th Street and Jones)
Sponsored by: The Arab Cultural and Community Center
Co-sponsored by: The Islamic Society of San Francisco
Funded by: the Mayor's Neighborhood Beautification Fund, City & County of San Francisco

Artists:
Design artists and Muralists: Khalil Bendib, Fayeq Oweis & Said Nuseibeh, Susan Greene, Brooke Fancher, Meera Desai, Ihsan Al-Hammouri
Project Consultant: Salwa Nashashibi

Description of Mural:
Sparkling water spills from graceful fountains in a serene garden scene, inviting the eyes of the visitor to gaze through and pan the view of the garden, the fountains and the surrounding arcades.
The idyllic scene is a style common in Arab cultural consciousness and provides a refreshing vibe of color, peace and beauty. The connecting arches surrounding the garden and the fountains are reminiscent of al- Hambra in Granada and Madinat az-Zahra in Cordoba (Andalucia, Spain) and are common in some of the most famous Islamic religious monuments around the world. Calligraphy as an art form enjoys a special status in Arab and Islamic art and crowns the main arches of the mural. The choice of words adds to both beauty and the unity of the design and offers a unifying message to the community. These are the words of Khalil Gibran (1883-1931), Arab American poet and one of the most influential writers and sages of our modern time. Gibran's words challenge us into giving back to the community: There are today .. two men: on of the past and one of the future. Which one are you? Come close, let me look at you and let me be assured by your appearance and your conduct if you are one of those coming into the light or going into the darkness. Are you a secretive politician asking what your community can do for you or an enthusiast asking what you can do for your community? If you are the first, then you are a voracious weed; if the second, then you are an oasis in a desert."