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31/7/2013

Islam Contemporary

Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Pittsfield

Pittsfield, MA – From August 2nd to August 31st, The City of Pittsfield's Office of Cultural Development, in partnership with the recently opened Whitney Center for the Arts, is bringing an exciting initiative to the Berkshires, 'Islam Contemporary'. This multi-dimensional cultural exhibit aims to bring a fresh perspective to contemporary Islamic heritage, life and culture, as well giving audiences the chance to interact with groundbreaking art by diverse artists.

Islam Contemporary features twenty-five artists from around the world. The show features artists from Morocco, Pakistan, Bahrain, France, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, as well as closer to home: the Berkshires, New England and New York. The artist are both Muslim and non-Muslim, emerging and established. The exhibit opens 2nd August, at both the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts and the Whitney Center during the First Fridays Artswalk in Pittsfield's Upstreet Cultural District, and runs through 31st August.

The roster of participating artists includes local artists such as Ambreen Butt, a Pakistani artist now living in Boston, known for her contemporary take on the miniature tradition of South Asia and Daisy Rockwell, granddaughter of acclaimed Berkshires-based artist Norman Rockwell, who, inspired by her years in South Asia, will feature politically challenging works that deal with representations of the Muslim women by Western media. The roster of international artists includes emerging Iranian-Canadian artist Raheleh Saneie, a recent graduate of University of Ottawa, whose powerful video piece 'Sound of Strings' critiques and asserts her own gender and hybrid cultural identity, and the Bahrain-based artist collective, 'Ulafa'a, which is a reconciliation building project aiming to create new connections within the Bahraini community through art and culture in a time of crisis by powerful and engaging works.

The art show will be supplemented by further educational events. These include a community Eid celebration on Saturday, August 10 at the Whitney Center for the Arts which will feature Middle Eastern fare, Henna and discussion. Eid-ul-Fitr, is the three day long festival that celebrates the end of Ramadan, which this year ends on August 8th or 9th depending on the sighting of the moon.

There will also be a screening of the documentary 'The Other Half of Tomorrow' followed by a talkback with mother-daughter filmmaker duo of Sadia Shepard and Samina Quraeshi, at 2pm on 4th August, location TBD. The documentary profiles Pakistani women working to change their country. They include a women's rights activist in rural Pakistan, the Director of an underground dance academy in Karachi, and the groundbreaking Pakistan Women's Cricket Team. The film and the talkback will aim to unveil a complex look at Pakistan, beyond the homogenous representation of Western media, and seek to create a different narrative.
The final event in the series will be a classical Middle Eastern music concert by Massachusetts-based Al-Layaali on Saturday, August 17th at the Whitney Center for the Arts. Al-Layaali's mission is to 'increase the awareness of Arabic music and culture through concerts, recordings, workshops and lectures and features musicians from four Arab countries; Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Morocco'. The concert is scheduled to start at 8 pm, and will also feature a pre-concert talk by the musicians at 7 pm, focusing on the tradition of music in the Arab world. Tickets are $15.

Aziz Sohail, Curator of ISLAM CONTEMPORARY remarked, "I am very honored and excited to be able to create this groundbreaking and exciting project in the Berkshires. Interest in Islam and Islamic cultures is at an all time high, and this exhibit provides a platform for authentic and diverse voices that grapple with an ever-changing heritage. We hope that the show dispels stereotypes and sparks discussion by facilitating a complex and nuanced look at Islamic heritage and culture."

Megan Whilden, Director of Cultural Development said "There is a real need in the United States to have a greater understanding and broader experience of the many diverse contemporary communities and cultures where Islam can be found. I look forward to the opportunity for creative exploration and learning through the arts with Islam Contemporary."

The exhibition and events will be held in Pittsfield's Upstreet Cultural District at two locations: the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts and Whitney Center for the Arts. Pittsfield is the largest city in the culturally rich Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, and the show will be held during the high season for visitors to the region. Over 500,000 people visit the Upstreet Cultural district each year to enjoy art, performances, festivals, shops, dining and more.

The City of Pittsfield's Office of Cultural Development serves as the City's first point of contact for artists of all stripes, cultural organizations, event organizers and creative businesses in Pittsfield. We support, promote and initiate cultural activity in Pittsfield to benefit our citizens, our quality of life and our local economy. The Office manages the city-owned Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, located at 28 Renne Avenue in downtown Pittsfield's Upstreet Cultural District. The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts features a gallery/performance space featuring changing exhibitions, classes, meetings and performances; a ceramic studio; a dark room; and nine working artist studios.

The newly established Whitney Center for the Arts, located at 42 Wendell Avenue, aims to provide a platform for emerging and established visual and performing artists to showcase their talent and promote arts and culture in Pittsfield.

For updated information on the Islam Contemporary show, associated events and the artists, please visit discoverpittsfield.com/islamcontemporary, email cultural@pittsfieldch.com or call 413-499-9348.

Press Contacts: Aziz Sohail, Curator, 413-499-9348, aaziz@brandeis.edu,
Megan Whilden, Director of Cultural Development, 413-281-7289, mwhilden@pittsfieldch.com

Press Preview of the exhibit: August 1st, 1:30 – 3 PM. RSVPs welcomed.

Lichtenstein Center for the Arts
28 Renne Avenue Pittsfield, MA 01201

Whitney Center for the Arts
42 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield, MA, 01201

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