Utah Art Exhibit Stretches the Definition of ‘Spiritual’

THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
By Peggy Fletcher Stack


UTAH---You would, of course, expect to see lots of angels at a spiritual art exhibit — as well as Jesus, Madonnas, biblical figures, crosses, steeples, Hindu gods and Islamic prayer rugs. But birds, beggars, books, flying maps and beams of light? "You can find the sacred in nature and ordinary objects," says Rita Wright, curator at Springville Museum of Art’s annual "Spiritual & Religious Art of Utah Exhibition," where these works are on display. "We stretch the definition of ‘spiritual’ to include many images that are not conventional iconography." The show celebrates the experimental nature of younger artists, she says, who are trying to express their intuitive spirituality. [link]

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Turkish Fashion Label Wins Prestigious Jameel Islamic Art Prize

RUETERS
BY Freya Berry

Two of Dice Kayek's prize-winning dresses, inspired by architecture: "Dome 2" and "Hagia Sophia". Photo: courtesy of Dice Kayek Archive, Istanbul Contrast Collection

UNITED KINGDOM---The Turkish fashion label Dice Kayek on Tuesday won the Jameel prize at London's Victoria and Albert Museum, which honors contemporary art inspired by Islamic tradition. The 25,000-pound ($41,100) international prize, which is awarded every two years, has Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid as patron, and this year's judges included Thomas Heatherwick, designer of the London Olympic Cauldron. ice Kayek, a company begun by two sisters in 1992, took inspiration from the robes of Ottoman rulers and mosques to create the prize-winning structured dresses of lamé brocade and cotton. [link]

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When Two Become One! Saint Louis Arts Groups Hopeful of Merger Impact

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By TAHLIB

Detail of "A Prince Meeting a Muslim Holy Man" (1610) at the Saint Louis Art Museum

Many believe, including me that nonprofit news partnerships are the future for arts journalism. On Monday another sign of that hopeful change was the merger of the St. Louis Public Radio and the St. Louis Beacon to become one news organization. "Commercial media have no interest in the arts," said one Saint Louis arts administrator (and friend). "Today, when I send a press release or an email pitch, I get a call-back from the advertising department." The consolidation of the two nonprofit news organizations will significantly improve their business capacity; and the arts community is hopeful it will also result in more depth explorations of arts issues; and stories about artists in the community.

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U of Michigan to Exhibit 11 Centuries of Islamic Art in 'Fragments from the Past'

THE MICHIGAN DAILY
By Giancarlo Buonomo,

Selections from the Islamic Collection of the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology.

MICHIGAN---For the next several months, the University of Michigan Museum of Art will exhibit Islamic art that showcases the beauty and complexity of everyday objects from the eighth through the 19th centuries. A collaborative effort. UMMA will host the exhibition of objects from the Kelsey Museum of Architecture in its glass-walled Stenn Gallery. This exhibition is part of the UM Collections Collaborations series, supported by the Andrew W. Mellon foundation, where the UMMA showcases the diversity of the University’s art collections. [link]

University of Michigan Museum of Art: "Fragments from the Past: Islamic Art from the Collection of the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology," (Nov. 30 until April 13); 525 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI; (734)764-0395; umma.umich.edu

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Pew Research Examines What it Means to be Muslim in a World of 1.6 Billion Believers

TRUST | The Pew Charitable Trusts
By Deborah Horan

Turkish Pottery with Sufi meditation dance design.

The Pew Research Center interviewed more than 38,000 Muslims around the globe to provide a deeper understanding of the beliefs and political views of members of the world's second-largest religion. What it means to be a Muslim, it turns out, varies greatly depending on the norms of the country. The survey found that many opinions reflected prevailing cultural, legal, and political attitudes. In Iraq, millions of Shia pilgrims trek to the shrine of Hussein, the slain grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. In Turkey, Sufis spin in trancelike meditation as they pray to God in unison. In West Africa, men chant, "There is no God bu God," sometimes for hours, to commune with the Divine. And in Nigeria, Sunnis celebrate major religious holidays with a parade of the Emir on horseback. What unites these groups and Muslims around the glode is their belief in God and the Prophet Muhammad, as well as fasting and almsgiving. [Fall 2013]

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Ohio Exhibition Invites Museum's Visitors to Ponder God

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By TAHLIB

Sampling of the works by 30 artists from around the world on display in Canton, Ohio

OHIO---The Canton Museum of Art presents "Sacred Voices" an interfaith exhibition of contemporary works by over 30 artists from Australia, Austria, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Inspired by the Christian, Jewish, or Muslim faith, the imagery and artistry combine to offer fresh perspectives on religious texts, narratives and traditions of all people. "Throughout much of history, art and religion have been closely intertwined," said guest curator Michele Waalkes. "For some artists, the creative process itself becomes an act of faithfulness." The Canton Museum of Art (CMA) is one of Ohio's premier locations for an exceptional visual arts experience.

Canton Museum of Art: "Sacred Voices" (December 5, 2013 - March 2, 2014); 1001 Market Avenue North, Canton, OH; 330-453-7666; cantonart.org

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5 Features of Islamic Culture

ONISLAM
By Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi

Islam is a comprehensive and global religion. It covers every aspect of life. The greatest beauty of Islam is in its culture. Here I would like to talk about the salient features of Islamic culture. Many people think that culture means art, music or some social habits. The word “culture” has many meanings. In Arabic it is called “thaqafah.” The culture is defined as patterns of behavior and thinking that people living in social groups learn, create, and share. Culture distinguishes one human group from others. Islam has a distinct culture. [link]

Some characteristics of Islamic culture:

1. God-centered or theocentric.
2. Egalitarian, tolerant and fraternal.
3. Dignifying and moralistic.
4. Dynamic, progressive, world affirming and not world-denying or ascetic.
5. Non-exclusivist but Da`wah-oriented and optimistic.

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Modern And Ancient Afghan Art And Design In Ferozkoh in UK

LONDONIST
By Tabish Khan

"Ferozkoh: Tradition and Continuaty in Afghan Art" at Leighton House Museum

UNITED KINGDOM---Nestled away in Kensington is Leighton House Museum, the house of noted Victorian artist Frederic Leighton and awash with Asian and Middle Eastern trappings that he acquired on his travels. This makes it the ideal location for a display of both classical and contemporary Islamic art, fresh from being exhibited in Qatar. There are statues and wall hangings scattered throughout the house that blend in with their surroundings plus a room filled with a comparative exhibition where each contemporary artwork sits alongside a classical one. [link]

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Sunnis Close Baghdad Mosques to Challenge Religious Attacks

THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Associated Press

IRAQ---Iraqi Sunni religious leaders said Saturday that they had decided to close down the sect’s mosques in Baghdad indefinitely to protest attacks against clerics and worshipers, highlighting the country’s deepening sectarian rift. Many mosques appeared to comply with the order to close. In Baghdad’s Sunni northern district of Azamiya, a banner at the closed gate of the Abu Hanifa mosque said, “The mosque is closed until further notice because of the targeting of imams, preachers and worshipers.” [link]

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Behind the Veil: The Religious Connotations and the Mystery

DAWN.COM
By Salwat Ali

"Obscure" in Sillouettes exhibition at the Taseer Art Gallery, Lahore

PAKISTAN---Veil and veiling have been a part of both Western and Eastern visual cultures for millennia. In Western art the veil is associated with exotic notions of the East and is viewed increasingly as a symbol of cultural oppression. When it comes to the East, this veil and veiling has a far wider context. Other than its religious connotations, the veil has a traditional history, is considered a symbol of respect and modesty as well as as mystery, and in current art practice its usage is loaded with socio-political implications. In the recent exhibition of paintings, ‘Sillouettes’ by Sadaf Naeem at Taseer Art Gallery, Lahore, it is the finely meshed lace veil that invites speculation. [link]

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Graduates of Islamic University in Pakistan Show Wealth of Talent

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Photo courtesy of Express Tribune

PAKISTAN---An exhibition of miniature paintings from the thesis of nine recent Fine Arts graduates of the Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) is on at gallery6. The show is an attempt to encourage budding artists, who have a wealth of talent but scant opportunities for promotion. Titled ‘Thesis in Miniature,’ the exhibition will be inaugurated by a US-based consultant on Islamic Art, Asad Reza. The participating artists are Ayesha Bilal, Maramla Umair, Rida-e-Fatima, Rubab Zahra, Saima Farooq, Sidra Ashraf, Sofia Younas, Sumaiya Noor and Zahra Bangash. [link]

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12 Muslim Artists Take Center Stage in Oklahoma City

ILLUME

OKLAHOMA---Muslim artists from Oklahoma City, Edmond and Norman, Oklahoma, will be holding a one-night event showcasing their works. This third annual "Art in the Heartland" exhibition at Will Rogers Theater Wednesday night. Twelve artists, most of them women, and most of them in their early twenties, will display artist endeavors covering a wide range of the arts: painting, sketching, fashion photography, poetry and Arabic calligraphy, which has long been a traditional form of Islamic art. The list of the 12 artists and their bios are available here. [link]

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Kansas City Trip Shows Visual Component of Interfaith Worship

JBU STUDENT ONLINE
By Sydney Van Wyk

MISSOURI---Many students had their first experience with Orthodox Christianity and Islamic art during a trip last weekend to Kansas City. Students in Honors Integrated Theology visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to tour the “Medieval and Islamic Art” exhibit on Saturday, Nov. 9, before experiencing a Vespers service at a Russian Orthodox church. The next morning they attended a Sunday church service at a Greek Orthodox church. [link]

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Gay Muslim Movie 'Naz + Maalik' Explodes Stereotypes

THE HUFFINGTON POST
By Yasmine Hafiz

HOLLYWOOD---An upcoming independent feature film borne out of director Jay Dockendorf's reaction to hearing about the FBI's program of secret spying in mosques in Brooklyn, "Naz + Maalik" explores the world of two closeted Muslim teens who have their Friday afternoon ruined by FBI surveillance. Though the American Muslim community is becoming increasingly diverse, the problem of ignorance and bigotry towards Islam is still an issue. In that sense, American Muslims share a history of prejudice with the black and gay communities, which all intersect in this film. [link]

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Prince Charles Visits Sufi-Muslim Saint's Tomb

THE TELEGRAPH
By Dean Nelson, Mumbai

The Prince of Wales views the tomb of Saint Haji Ali during a tour of the Haji Ali Mosque in Mumbai, India, on the sixth day of his official visit with the Duchess of Cornwall.

INDIA---The Prince of Wales laid flowers on the tomb of one of India's most revered Sufi saints today as its imam prayed for the health and happiness of Britain's royal family. The visit to the shrine or 'dargah' of Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, one of Mumbai's most celebrated landmarks, was to support the restoration of its 500 year old building and to promote dialogue between different faiths. The shrine commemorates the devotion of Haji Ali, a wealthy merchant who migrated from Bukhara and died while making his Haj pilgrimage to Mecca. [link]

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Calligraphy in Islamic Art of Adry Abdelrehim, Khawaja Azimuddin, and Samia Nazir at Pearl Fincher Museum

HOUSTON CHRONICLE

TEXAS---Calligraphy in Islamic Art is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 18, at the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts. According to a news release from Pearl Fincher, "The program will feature a discussion on the history of the art form. All three featured artists in the Bridging Cultures exhibition will discuss their artwork and use of calligraphy." Admission is free, and tickets are not required. The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts is at 6815 Cypresswood Drive, Spring. For more information, call 281-376-6322 or visit www.pearlmfa.org. [link]

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Many Sunnis and Shias Worry About Religious Conflict

PEW RESEARCH

This week Sunni and Shia Muslims ushered in the Islamic New Year and the beginning of the holy month of Muharram. For Shias, the month also is a time to mourn the events that sparked the centuries-old schism between Shia and Sunni Muslims. Pew Research Center polls conducted in 2011-2012 find high levels of concern about sectarian tensions in several countries where Sunnis and Shias live side by side. These concerns are particularly pronounced in Lebanon, where fully two-thirds of all Muslims, including about half of Shias and 80% of Sunnis, say sectarian tensions are a very big or moderately big problem. Roughly half of all Muslims in Iraq, more than four-in-ten in Afghanistan and nearly a quarter in Iran say the same. [link]

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British Artist Traces Graffiti's Muslim Roots

THE ART NEWSPAPER
By Anny Shaw

Mohammed Ali, a muralist from Birmingham who goes by the name of Aerosol Arabic,
presented a short, unconventional history of graffiti beginning with a 13th-century Muslim artist

UNITED KINGDOM---A two-day festival and exhibition of art, music and poetry by Muslim artists or artists celebrating Islamic culture closed in East London on 31 October. Part of the World Islamic Economic Forum, which was held this year for the first time in a non-Muslim country, MOCAfest (Marketplace of Creative Arts) brought together 30 artists from around the world, including several graffiti artists. Qasim Arif Illm, a calligraphy artist from the Netherlands, exhibited canvases that fuse Arabic scripts with graffiti lettering, while Mohammed Ali, a muralist from Birmingham who goes by the name of Aerosol Arabic, showed paintings inspired equally by the Quran and the New York subway art movement of the early 1980s. [link]

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Treasures From Another Era: Islamic Art Connoisseur Displays Rare Artefacts

EXPRESS TRIBUNE

The unique pieces collected by the artist for over 40 years provide a rich glimpse into Islamic history. PHOTO: EXPRESS

PAKISTAN---An exhibition of artworks from the 18th century onwards opens at Gallery6 on Friday (today) at 5pm. The exhibition, titled “Splendid Artworks from a Collector’s Assets”, will be inaugurated by Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward. The pieces on display are mostly based on Islamic art and include a variety of interesting chromolithographs, original watercolour paintings, calligraphic works, and other artefacts. The pieces have been collected from around the globe over the last 40 years by Asad Raza, an international consultant for Islamic art. “I have been collecting these items all my life. Antiques were always valued in my household where my forefathers encouraged collecting them. They told me these were everyday items from a glorious era, what you see at the gallery is only the tip of the iceberg,” said Raza, who is currently based in the US. [link]

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Examining the Beauty and Harmony of Islamic Artist Shirin Neshat

BAY STATE BANNER
By Susan Saccoccia

“Roja,” by Shirin Neshat, is a gelatin silver print with India ink

MASSACHUSETTS---Beauty and harmony are paramount in Islamic art. These qualities are also integral to the photographs, videos and films of Shirin Neshat. Her ravishing images show women crossing boundaries and asserting power despite Islamic norms that constrict their freedom. Yet as Neshat composes images, she is guided by Islamic aesthetic principles she has absorbed since childhood. “Harmony is the essence of Islamic art,” says Neshat. Neshat’s new photographic series, “The Book of Kings,” borrows its name from the epic poem of Iran, the Shahnameh. The ensemble of 80 portraits casts contemporary Iranians as nation builders. [link]

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