Reflecting Upon our Presence in This Country
By Khawaja Azimuddin
Sep/Oct 2024
The Islamic Arts Festival, a unique and unparalleled celebration, stands as the largest and oldest of its kind in the U.S. Drawing in visitors and artists from all corners of the country, it has cemented its position as the Americans’ go-to destination for Islamic art enthusiasts.
Houston’s nonprofit Islamic Arts Society (IAS) has organized this festival since 2014 to share this rich heritage. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it was held online.
The IAS arranges art events, lectures, and workshops to celebrate Islamic culture and promote a positive image of Muslims. Art is a common language and binds diverse communities. By promoting Islamic arts, the society hopes to promote mutual understanding and bring the broader American community together.
Since its humble beginning 11 years ago, the festival has evolved into a national phenomenon. Last year, it welcomed over 6,000 visitors, many of them non-Muslims who learned about Islamic traditions in a friendly and artsy environment. The festival brings people of all ages, ethnicities, and faiths together for two days of fun, festivity, and learning.
This year’s event, to be held on Nov. 9-10 at the University of Houston, will be even grander than previous years due to its enhanced programs and expected attendance.
“This is a significant milestone for IAS, as we transition from our suburban location to the heart of the city at the University of Houston, a move that will amplify our reach and enable us to introduce Islamic art to a wider American audience,” said Shaheen Rahman (president, IAS).
The 2024 festival will feature a captivating live nasheed (religious song) performance by the Al-Firdaus Ensemble from Spain. And as always, Preacher Moss and his team will make the audience laugh with their stand-up comedy show. The event will also host a film festival spotlighting Islam in the U.S., a spoken art program, and an academic seminar organized in collaboration with the University of Houston’s Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts. In addition to the extensive visual art display, interactive art sessions and live demonstrations of calligraphy, henna tattoos, ebru, and paintings will further enrich the immersive experience.
Featuring 50+ artists and 5,000+ pieces of Islamic art, the festival will have something of interest for everyone, regardless of age. Almost every form of Islamic art — paintings, illumination, calligraphy, ebru, henna, ceramics, woodwork, glasswork, and metal art — will be displayed and available for purchase.
Last year, the festival brought together some of the biggest names in Islamic art — Haji Noor Deen, Behnaz Karjoo, Paul Barchilon, Jennifer Usman, and Moina Sajjad — allowing them opportunities to network, collaborate, share ideas, and inspire one another. Other prominent artists who have participated in our events include Elinor Holland, Josh Berer, Nihad Dukhan, and Muhammad Zaman.
“The Islamic Arts Society’s Festival is a unique experience in the American landscape — nowhere else is there a coming together of this scale and breadth of artists exploring the many mediums of Islamic arts,” said Josh Berer, a famous calligrapher in his own right and a student of the celebrated calligrapher Muhammad Zakariya. “As an Arabic calligrapher, being invited to the festival was one of the great honors of my career. The connections and friendships I made among the other artists at the festival I will hold for the rest of my life,” he added.
The participation of schoolchildren is evidence of IAS’ commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists. Each year six Islamic schools are invited. Supervised by the IAS, they organize an internal competition that is evaluated by a three-judge panel. Their winning art pieces are displayed at the festival. Through such initiatives, the IAS aims to instill the love of Islamic art in these children.
There are several concurrent workshops that are held. In 2023, illumination artist Behnaz Karjoo from New York and geometric artist Paul Barchilon from Colorado held classes. IAS believes that teaching Islamic art is key to preserving our rich heritage of arts and culture. Young and adult students not only learn about the artistic forms of expression during these workshops, but also benefit from a broader understanding of the philosophical and spiritual interconnectivity between art and Islam.
During the festival, a dedicated children’s art program, overseen and supervised by esteemed institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Children’s Museum of Houston, and the Asia Society engage young attendees in coloring Islamic arabesque and geometric patterns, bead making, creating geometric patterns, writing calligraphy, and similar activities.
Ultimately, the festival celebrates Islam’s rich artistic and cultural heritage, creates a sense of belonging and identity among attendees, and brings people together by fostering social cohesion and strengthening community bonds. In addition this event serves as a melting pot, for many non-Muslims attend our event and experience the beauty of our traditions through art. The event’s organizers believe that showcasing Islamic art to the American public is the best way to oppose Islamophobia and correct the negative stereotyping of Islam and Muslims. Visitors are amazed to see Islam’s beauty through art and take away a very positive impression of Muslim traditions and culture.
Dr. Khawaja Azimuddin, a gastrointestinal surgeon in Houston, is an avid ceramic tile artist. Many of his large-scale murals are installed in public places. He uses his passion for the arts to help build bridges between communities. To achieve this goal, he founded the Islamic Arts Society, a 501 (c)3 nonprofit that aims to share the rich heritage of Islamic art.
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