Archive for November 2010
>Exhibiting Beauty and Diversity Through Art
>Exhibiting Beauty and Diversity Through Art
ILLUME MAGAZINE
Aya Khalil Sep 29, 2010 | 12:27 PM
The Second International Muslim Artists Exhibition 2010 [IMAE2010] will take place on Nov. 26 in New Orleans, LA.
“[It] will feature original 2D artwork created by contemporary Muslim artists from around the globe,” Haitham Eid, founder and curator of the exhibit said. “The exhibit will include panel discussions about Islamic art, culture and history. IMAE2010 will run in conjunction with the 4th Annual International New Orleans Middle East Film Festival at the same venue.
The free event will take place on Nov. 26 – Dec. 31 at the Zeitgeist Multidisciplinary Arts Center .
Eid, 32, art teacher, visual artist and human rights activist said the first exhibition took place in 2007, sponsored by New Orleans African-American Museum, Southern University at New Orleans, the International Museum of Muslim Cultures and the New Orleans Musician Clinic.
“The exhibit featured more than 75 pieces of artwork created by more than a dozen Muslim artists from the United States, England, Switzerland, Egypt, Algeria, Gabon and Kuwait,” he said. “The exhibit was well received from the art community in New Orleans and from the public.”
“Artists received proclamation letters from the City Council of New Orleans and I received a proclamation from the Mayor, Ray Ragin, at that time for “Promoting International Understanding through the Arts,” he said.
Eid said they have been receiving an overwhelming about of applications from around the world.
“It looks like the participation of women Muslim artists will be sixty to seventy percent,” he said.
Everybody is welcome to attend and to be part of the effort which shows contemporary Muslim artists creations.
“The exhibit has received support from Muslim and non-Muslim communities and attendance is widely open to all those who are interested in learning about contemporary Muslim artists.”
Paintings and 2D mixed media art have been the most popular art entries they have received so far, Eid said.
Eid said art is imperative these days, especially as a form of expression for Muslims.
“Art is the highest form of human expression. It is a universal language and a bridge that brings people from different backgrounds together,” he said. “It is important now more than ever for Muslims to use art as a means to communicate with non-Muslim communities and introduce the beauty and diversity within the Islamic culture.”
Eid believes Muslim communities need to be more active in displaying Islamic cultures.
“Muslims in America have established numerous and amazing mosques and schools to pray and educate their children yet we are missing the establishment of cultural, educational and research institutions to inform and educate non-Muslims about the Islamic cultures. America is in need for museums, art centers and publications that tell fairly and constructively the story of Muslims.”
If you are an artist who is interested in show casing your art work at the exhibition, click here.
>The Middle-class Indian Life
Aya Khalil Sep 16, 2010 | 8:40 AM
ILLUME MAGAZINE
Andaleeb Wajid would rather be identified as a story teller rather than just a writer.
Wajid, from Bangalore, India, has published one novel, her second novel is going to be published soon and is currently working on the third, all in English.
Her first novel, Kite Strings, was published in Sept. 2009.
“It’s about growing up, learning to understand yourself, finding your own direction in life, a lot of questions that young women find themselves faced with when they reach that threshold of no longer a child, but not yet an adult also,” she said.
The novel’s theme is about self-discovery, making it relatable to mostly anyone in that aspect. Readers can also learn about a “normal, middle class Indian Muslim family.”
“There’s a call for educating Muslim women because the main protagonist, Mehnaz, doesn’t receive any encouragement to finish her studies from her mother … she hates the idea of being rushed into marriage just because the time is right.” Wajid said. “If it weren’t for her father she would have found it very difficult to finish her education, which brings us to the whole matriarchal-patriarchal element in Indian society.”
Wajid was originally a technical writer, but began writing her novels on the side. She enjoyed it so much and became a full-time novelist.
“I call myself an impulsive writer, often not knowing myself about what will happen next,” she said. Let’s say, I finish writing my books just to know what happens in the end myself.”
Wajid, mother of two sons, said her father was her inspiration.
“He died when I was very young, but right from the time I was small he instilled in me the fact that I had to excel at whatever I did,” she said.
The upcoming novel is called Blinkers Off.
“It’s different from Kite Strings because it’s more contemporary and fresh. It’s a lighthearted read compared to Kite Strings because the protagonist is not assailed with questions of what she will do in life. Here, the protagonist knows what she wants to do. The novel is more of a huge episode in her life and there’s a romantic element in it as well,” she said.
Wajid encourages other woman, especially Muslim women from all around the world to continue doing what they love to do.
“I just like to think of myself as someone who has stepped beyond the boundaries of home and hearth without compromising anything on my religion,” she said. “ I just write because I like to write and I always tell others that they should do what they really like doing. I know it’s hard to follow that in a world where we also have to earn our living but nonetheless, we shouldn’t forget our dreams and what we were meant to do in our lives.”
Kite Strings is available at most Indian bookstores and online at Flip Kart and Indian Plaza. Click here for more information on Wajid and her books.
Last updated: Sep 19, 2010 | 10:28 AM
http://www.illumemag.com/zine/articleDetail.php?Wajid-Andaleeb-Kite-Strings-13308
>Artist Hand-makes Painted Islamic and Middle-Eastern Inspired Jewelry
>Artist Hand-makes Painted Islamic and Middle-Eastern Inspired Jewelry
ILLUME MAGAZINE
Aya Khalil Sep 7, 2010 | 11:12 AM
Imagine walking into a dazzling home resembling a “livable folk art” and Islamic art museum: wood panels from the Swat Valley, Palestinian bedouin textiles, and sand blasted tiles from Morocco and Afghanistan.
That would be 27-year-old artist and jewelry designer, Taslim van Hattum and family’s mosaic studio home in New Orleans, LA.
Van Hattum comes from an artistic family and became inspired to start her business, Abiqutie, a one-of-a-kind jewelry line.
“I began working with wood and paint at a very young age. My father is a trained master carpenter, and a world-renowned artisan with wood and Islamic design,” she said. “Some of my earliest memories are of being with him in his large workshop and being given wood to carve, paint, stain, and fashion into both furniture and abstract art. As I grew older he slowly trained me to work more consciously with wood and Islamic design.”
Van Hattum has always been inspired by her surroundings and tends to focus her hand-painted designs on Middle Eastern and Islamic designs.
“They are global designs inspired by my surroundings. Islamic designs are often used, and Middle Eastern themes definitely run deep in many of the items, but they are re-imagined with a more contemporary sensibility.” She said. “I have pieces that are inspired by the stones of the old city streets of Jerusalem, the adobe textures in walls of old New Mexican pueblo’s, and even the reimagining of science fiction-esque space ships drawn out of Islamic shapes.”
The hand-painted designs are unique, and people always comment that they are wearing art on their ears.
“All women, despite their backgrounds have been drawn to it,” she said.
The name of her line, Abiqutie, is named after her home village in Northern New Mexico called Abiquiu.
“It’s translated into English from the Tewa word, “sweet water” — a profound and weighty title given to it by its indigenous inhabitants in the middle of the high mountain desert,” she said.
“This village was the birthplace of one of the largest intentionally created Muslim community in the 1980’s in the United States, Dar al Islam. The name pays homage to my memories of a community of Muslims who have come together to be a part of one another’s lives in a joyous and peaceful way.”
Van Hattum realized Abiqutie was the perfect name for her jewelry line because of those reasons and also the symbolism of the jewelry.
“Growing up, the girls in my village often referred to each other as Abiquties, meaning the cute girls from the village of Abiquiu. I adopted the phrase and fashioned it to represent line,” she said. “Abiqutie reminds me that regardless of where these earrings travel, they are a part of a beautiful place called Abiquiu, sweet water of the Indigenous, adopted home of the Muslims, beauty inspired in both its surroundings and female wearers.”
The village is also known to be the place where Georgia O’Keefe, a famous American artist, lived and created her work,” van Hattum said.
Van Hattum’s jewelry runs from $20 – $100 and can customize special orders depending on what the customer wants. One of her most popular items would be the “Femme Futball Nile Nur” series she created during the World Cup.
“I worked with Arabic soccer and new propaganda clippings from different days of soccer coverage, combined with other headlines—a commentary on a love of the game, but a reminder to pay attention to unfortunately many injustices still occurring while our attentions are paid elsewhere,” she said. “I then incorporated a female voice into them through layered designs, and imagery.”
Van Hattum’s favorite piece from her line is so valuable she refuses to sell it.
“They are a modern take on a North African inspired painting of a woman in a masculine brilliant blue Tuareg turban surrounded by traditional Iranian and Turkish flower designs. These serene images are overlaid on Arabic newspaper clippings from an article about the harsh plight of Sudanese women in Egypt,” she said. “To me this pair of earrings is a physical depiction of the stunning beauty of women, but also reminds the wearer about the plight of women, the need for remembrance, and the beauty to be found in consciously seeking gender solidarity … I cannot imagine letting go of them and I wear them all the time making them my walking advertisement.”
To take a look at van Hattum’s designs, check out http://www.abiqutie.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/abiqutie
Last updated: Sep 7, 2010 | 11:16 AM
>Artist Hand-makes Painted Islamic and Middle-Eastern Inspired Jewelry
>Artist Hand-makes Painted Islamic and Middle-Eastern Inspired Jewelry
ILLUME MAGAZINE
Aya Khalil Sep 7, 2010 | 11:12 AM
Imagine walking into a dazzling home resembling a “livable folk art” and Islamic art museum: wood panels from the Swat Valley, Palestinian bedouin textiles, and sand blasted tiles from Morocco and Afghanistan.
That would be 27-year-old artist and jewelry designer, Taslim van Hattum and family’s mosaic studio home in New Orleans, LA.
Van Hattum comes from an artistic family and became inspired to start her business, Abiqutie, a one-of-a-kind jewelry line.
“I began working with wood and paint at a very young age. My father is a trained master carpenter, and a world-renowned artisan with wood and Islamic design,” she said. “Some of my earliest memories are of being with him in his large workshop and being given wood to carve, paint, stain, and fashion into both furniture and abstract art. As I grew older he slowly trained me to work more consciously with wood and Islamic design.”
Van Hattum has always been inspired by her surroundings and tends to focus her hand-painted designs on Middle Eastern and Islamic designs.
“They are global designs inspired by my surroundings. Islamic designs are often used, and Middle Eastern themes definitely run deep in many of the items, but they are re-imagined with a more contemporary sensibility.” She said. “I have pieces that are inspired by the stones of the old city streets of Jerusalem, the adobe textures in walls of old New Mexican pueblo’s, and even the reimagining of science fiction-esque space ships drawn out of Islamic shapes.”
The hand-painted designs are unique, and people always comment that they are wearing art on their ears.
“All women, despite their backgrounds have been drawn to it,” she said.
The name of her line, Abiqutie, is named after her home village in Northern New Mexico called Abiquiu.
“It’s translated into English from the Tewa word, “sweet water” — a profound and weighty title given to it by its indigenous inhabitants in the middle of the high mountain desert,” she said.
“This village was the birthplace of one of the largest intentionally created Muslim community in the 1980’s in the United States, Dar al Islam. The name pays homage to my memories of a community of Muslims who have come together to be a part of one another’s lives in a joyous and peaceful way.”
Van Hattum realized Abiqutie was the perfect name for her jewelry line because of those reasons and also the symbolism of the jewelry.
“Growing up, the girls in my village often referred to each other as Abiquties, meaning the cute girls from the village of Abiquiu. I adopted the phrase and fashioned it to represent line,” she said. “Abiqutie reminds me that regardless of where these earrings travel, they are a part of a beautiful place called Abiquiu, sweet water of the Indigenous, adopted home of the Muslims, beauty inspired in both its surroundings and female wearers.”
The village is also known to be the place where Georgia O’Keefe, a famous American artist, lived and created her work,” van Hattum said.
Van Hattum’s jewelry runs from $20 – $100 and can customize special orders depending on what the customer wants. One of her most popular items would be the “Femme Futball Nile Nur” series she created during the World Cup.
“I worked with Arabic soccer and new propaganda clippings from different days of soccer coverage, combined with other headlines—a commentary on a love of the game, but a reminder to pay attention to unfortunately many injustices still occurring while our attentions are paid elsewhere,” she said. “I then incorporated a female voice into them through layered designs, and imagery.”
Van Hattum’s favorite piece from her line is so valuable she refuses to sell it.
“They are a modern take on a North African inspired painting of a woman in a masculine brilliant blue Tuareg turban surrounded by traditional Iranian and Turkish flower designs. These serene images are overlaid on Arabic newspaper clippings from an article about the harsh plight of Sudanese women in Egypt,” she said. “To me this pair of earrings is a physical depiction of the stunning beauty of women, but also reminds the wearer about the plight of women, the need for remembrance, and the beauty to be found in consciously seeking gender solidarity … I cannot imagine letting go of them and I wear them all the time making them my walking advertisement.”
To take a look at van Hattum’s designs, check out http://www.abiqutie.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/abiqutie
Last updated: Sep 7, 2010 | 11:16 AM
>Wrapping For Literacy, Senegalese Mix
>Wrapping For Literacy, Senegalese Mix
Written by: Aya Khalil
Aug 31, 2010 | 8:02 AM
Twelve pages of diversified head-covered women in the 2011 wall calendar, Beautifully Wrapped, will contribute to the literacy of 10,000 girls from Senegal.
The full-color 2011 wall calendar will feature women from different countries, religious backgrounds and races.
“Beautifully wrapped is a public educational tool we are doing for women who cover their hair for religious and cultural reasons,” Zarinah Al-Amin Naeem, anthropologist, author, and founder of Niyah Publishing said.
Naeem, 30, who currently resides in Kalamazoo, Mich., but originally from Detroit, taught several head wrapping classes.
“We were teaching ladies how to wrap scarves so people said we want something else. So we had hand outs on how people can wrap their head when they got home,” she said.
The calendar is part of a project called 10,000 Girls.
“I visited Senegal and so many women were beautifully wrapped,” Naeem said. “Those women … couldn’t go to school but want to go to school.”
Naeem met many girls who made tea, arts, clothing and quilts to raise money in order to help fund their education.
“We decided to use our talent in publishing to support their work and invest in their future. All of the profit goes to the 10,000 girls.”
Naeem’s goal is to raise $10,000 for 10,000 girls.
“We take our education for advantage here. Those girls have to do all those things to get basic literacy. We will use our project in order to support and invest in these girls’ futures,” she said.
“10,000 Girls was found by a Muslim woman from Detroit, Dr. Viola Vaughn, who moved to Senegal and was nominated for CNN American heroes,” Naeem said. “They [girls] know that we’re doing this and giving us full support on their side as well. We established Niyah Publishing to produce books and goods for a positive purpose. So we will use the calendars to do philanthropic work. This is a way for us to use our publishing talent in order to raise the money to invest in 10,000 Girls.”
Naeem is accepting high quality photo submissions for the calendar and also for a future photo essay book of beautifully wrapped ladies. Each person can submit up to five photos of themselves.
On the calendars, there will be statements from the ladies who are featured about why they wrap. There will also be historical facts about Muslim women.
“A lot of people don’t know about women’s history in the broader society and in Islam. For example, Ingrid Mattison’s election to be the president of ISNA [Islamic Society of North American]; she was the first woman president of ISNA. We need to acknowledge those things we’re doing,” she said. “We want to feature Muslim women in a positive manner. We will include dates in history and Islamic calendar dates. Our goal is for this calendar to highlight women of different ethnic and different religious background and to build cultural knowledge.”
She believes the calendar will encourage woman of all religions to dress modestly.
“To me in this age and society, people define beauty by the length of the skirt and depth of the neckline,” she said. “We are able to be beautiful, fashionable, put together, professional — all of this and more while still covering our hair and transfer that to other aspects.”
“I’m Muslim so we started focusing on Muslim women, but then it expanded to other women of other religions and cultural backgrounds who cover their hair and who are beautiful and modest,” she said. “Orthodox Jew women cover their hair, also. Want to pay homage to that.”
To submit your photo for Beautifully Wrapped and for other projects, such as the photo essay, go to http://www.beautifully-wrapped.com/ or e-mail calendar@beautifully-wrapped.com for more information.
“You can be beautiful and beautifully wrapped at the same time. There’s no dichotomy between them. We want to recreate our culture and really expand people’s thinking,” Naeem said. “That’s what we’re all about.”
Beautifully wrapped is available for pre-sale and will be shipped on Nov. 15, for $13.95.
http://www.illumemag.com/zine/articleDetail.php?Wrapping-For-Literacy-Senegalese-Mix-13262
>Crocheter Knits Hope for Flood Victims
>Crocheter Knits Hope for Flood Victims
Aug 24, 2010 | 12:05 AM
30-year-old freelance artist, Savera Iftikhar, discovered her talent of crocheting accidentally – literally.
She will be donating fifty percent of the proceeds from her hand. made. stuff this week to the flood victims in Pakistan.
“I call it an accidental business because it was an accident,” the Chicagoan said.
A week before she got into a bad car accident, she visited her friend in Colorado whose hobby was crocheting.
“She crochets; I was just watching her and admiring her and I was thinking that’s so cool and she said “I can teach you.””
However, Iftikhar made it hard and thought it was too complicated.
“Then I got home and got into a car accident,” she said. “I was bored and I couldn’t do anything because I got hurt.”
Little by little she learned how to crochet by watching YouTube videos.
“The first thing I made was a flower,” Iftikhar said. “I was really proud of myself and put it on a head band and sent it to my friend in Colorado and she was proud.”
She continued to crochet scarves, cowls, and koofi’s (small caps worn by men). She taught herself how to make more complicated parts such as tiny ears for a hat.
“I still consider myself a beginner. I use simple stitches but I try to make them a little cuter,” she said.
She made hats for babies and kids that take the shape of a bear or a strawberry or an apples.
After posting pictures of her art work on Facebook, she got plenty of requests from her friends and people she didn’t know. Her art work ranges from $25 – $60, depending on the design and size. Customers can also choose an array of colors for their koofi’s, cowls, scarves and hats.
Her family and friends have been supportive and her brothers and fathers purchased a couple of koofi’s.
When she heard about the flood in Pakistan, she was upset the media wasn’t paying as much attention to it as it had with other natural disaster-stricken areas.
“I was really upset. It was really sad hearing about what happened and seeing people displaced. I have a tie to this country, my parents are from Pakistan and my grandparents live there,” Iftikhar said.
“It was really bothering me that nobody was doing anything about it,” she said. “I was really confused. I felt really upset and it wasn’t because I was Pakistani or Muslim, but because I’m a human and those are people.”
She then decided she would help by donating half of the proceeds to the flood victims.
“I don’t have a lot of money but I would like to give whatever I have,” she said. She then put her idea on her Facebook status, and she got tons of requests.
“I’m very overwhelmed, I was not expecting that all. I’m trying to keep track of everything. I got a really really really big response,” she said. “It was smart because people are more likely to give when they get something. So they’re getting something and they help save someone’s life.”
Iftikhar will continue to take orders and donate half the proceeds of those orders this week. She ships internationally and payments can be made through PayPal, cash or check.
Iftikhar said although she discovered her love of crochet after a major accident, she believes everything happens for a reason.
“It turned out to be such a blessing. I’m amazed at the whole process. I’m just sitting here in awe,” she said. “Being patient pays off.”
She hopes people will become more aware of the poverty and disaster-stricken Pakistan and help out by any means possible.
“If I can do this anybody can do something. If you put your mind to it and if you want to help people, no matter how poor or how low your income is, you can figure out a way to help,” she said.
“It’s just we’re all human and we all share that– we share humanity we have to take care of each other and feel each other’s pain.”
Click here to view her hand. made. stuff. To place an order, e-mail Iftikhar at artsavvy@gmail.com.
Also, check out her other cool art work and photography:
http://savera.carbonmade.com/
http://weddingsavvy.carbonmade.com/
http://artsavvy.carbonmade.com/
http://savvydesign.carbonmade.com
Aya Khalil 