Allah is Beautiful and Loves Beauty: Inaugural Ramadan Exhibit (2023)
In the sacred time of Ramaḍan, we shift from paradigms of Islam as a static and time bound tradition to Islam as its believers know it: living, vibrant, beautiful, thought provoking, intellectually rigorous, reflective, reflexive, multivocal, a struggle enveloped in ease. This exhibit shows Islam as alive. It allows Muslims who live and breathe Islam to take up space. Islam is represented here as it touches the hearts of believers, as it is understood by believers.
Golden Hour, Saadia Yasmin Pervaiz, (2023). Artist statement: "To me, a key part that keeps my spirituality strong in Islam is appreciating the being that is me. I think self-love is overlooked in Islamic practice. Part of that includes the physical form--my body. As a Muslim woman, I was raised in an environment that made me feel shame for being in the body of a woman. It led to me being my own voyeur. But why was I my own voyeur? Why can't I enjoy the female form without the undertone of temptation? As a human who lives, feels, and takes up space. I paint these women, wholly embracing who they are, bodies and all, as an act of self-love. They are alone, with no audience. They are existing in their bodies in nature as appreciation for the form Allah has given us"
Rebirth of Spring, Saadia Yasmin Pervaiz, (2023).
The 100 Year Slumber, Saadia Yasmin Pervaiz, (2023).
A Summer Pastoral 1, Saadia Yasmin Pervaiz, (2023).
A Summer Pastoral 2, Saadia Yasmin Pervaiz, (2023).
A Summer Pastoral 3, Saadia Yasmin Pervaiz, (2023).
99 Names of Allah, Hanifah Ibrahim Artist Staetment: "This quilt is a combination of Arabic, Islamic subjects, combined with conventional hand embroidery and quilting techniques. The 99 Names are hand embroidered, and the quilt is machine pieced and quilted, using hand dyed and batik fabrics. The quilt took about 5 months to design and complete."
Nations and Tribes, Hanifah Ibrahim Quilt uses hand dyed and batik fabric, and features hand embroidery and appliqué techniques. The quilt is machine pieced and quilted.
Hubb, Hanifah Ibrahim, Cotton fabric and glass bead, Arabic word for love, hubb, using hand embroidery techniques and stuffed applique.
Muslimuh, Parastoo Resaimanesh, Digital art. This artwork is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions of Muslim women, and aims to showcase the beauty and diversity of Muslim women and their devotion to their faith.
Children of Abraham, Parastoo Resaimanesh, Digital art. Artist statement: "This digital art piece portrays the conflict between Israel and Palestine through military Israeli guards on one side and mourning Palestinians on the other. Inspired by the passing of Shireen Abu Akleh, a Christian journalist who was covering the event, the artwork aims to convey the ongoing struggle and human cost of the conflict while highlighting the need for peace and reconciliation."
Sabr, Parastoo Resaimanesh, Digital art Artist Statement: "From a spiritual perspective, Sabr/Patience is seen as a virtue that involves surrendering to a higher power or divine will. It helps to cultivate inner peace, mindfulness, and detachment from outcomes. Patience aligns us with the rhythms of the universe and requires deep trust and faith in the process of life."
Wounds is the Place Where the Light Enters You, Parastoo Resaimanesh, Digital art Artist Statement: "This quote by the Persian poet and Sufi mystic, Rumi, suggests that our wounds and struggles can serve as opportunities for growth and transformation. Rather than avoiding or denying our pain, we can embrace it as a means to access greater wisdom, compassion, and understanding. By acknowledging and working through our wounds, we can open ourselves up to the healing power of light and love."
Hijabi: the Things We Go Through, Jacinda Bullie, Digital art Artist Statement: "My Islamic Art reflects the question I ask myself often, where all is Allah showing up? I use colorful pallets, sacred geometry and my beginning stages of learning various Arabic writing styles. I am interested in merging my own evolving of basic graffiti lettering/ alphabet with more traditional Arabic calligraphy styles such as Kufic."
Creator, Jacinda Bullie, Vinyl print of an original paint marker black book sketch
He Who Lives and Dies is Lost, Amatullah Mir, hand painted skateboard Artist Statement: "This piece features intricate geometric patterns and exquisite calligraphy that are hallmarks of Islamic art. Painted with blue, orange, and white acrylic paint, individually painted tiles are the backdrop to the phrase “Whoever lives dies and whoever dies is lost.” This is a line from Quss ibn Saida's famous khutbah, and the words are written in Arabic calligraphy, with the letters flowing gracefully across the skateboard in a mesmerizing pattern. The choice of the skateboard as a medium is used to demonstrate a form of cultural fusion that highlights the diversity and richness of Islamic culture. Islamic art is not static or fixed, but adapts and evolves to incorporate new influences and ideas. This reflects the dynamic and ever-changing nature of Islamic culture. Islamic art is not limited to traditional media such as paper or ceramics, but can be adapted and applied to new and unconventional materials. Islamic art as a spiritual expression is rooted in the concept of tawhid, or the oneness of God. The intricate patterns and geometry are used to express the power of the Divine and inspire a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty of creation. The use of a skateboard in this piece demonstrates the adaptability and versatility of Islamic art as a means of spiritual expression, allowing it to reach a broader audience and spread the message of Islamic spirituality and culture to new and diverse communities." @the.painted.mandala
Annawabi Mosque Saudi Arabia, Fareeda Alaidi (2023) Glass Mosaic
Allah, God (2023) Fareeda Alaidi, Tile Mosaic
Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem/Palestine, (2022) Fareeda Alaidi Oil on canvas
Aqsa Mosque, East Entrance in Jerusalem, Palestine, Fareeda Alaidi, Oil on canvas
The Bridge Beyond, Safia Mahjebin, Watercolor, gouache, and acrylic Artist Statement: "Crashing waves like chaotic struggle: poison and sustenance together. This life be like that. Can we filter? Find a path forward. A bridge beyond. With firmly rooted belief like the flowering trees stretching out to the heavens like Muslim palms in prayer."
So Where Are You Going? Safia Mahjebin Artist Statement: "'So where are you going?' (Surah Takwīr: 26) Paths are many. Stay on your toes as they twist and turn. Life, cosmically uncontrollable, can be a game of snakes and ladders. Seeming serpent among lotuses, are you friend or foe? Danger in beauty. Can you believe your eyes? Slip ups allowed by The Most Merciful, The Oft Forgiving. The “straight path” isn’t always straight."