Islamic Art Revival PR_Texas Artists.pages

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The 3rd Annual Juried International Exhibition of
Contemporary Islamic Art
October 25th to November 29th, 2014
Opening Reception: November 1, from 6:30 – 9:30pm
Samarra Iraq by Carolyn Brown
The Islamic Art Revival Series (IARS) in partnership with LuminArté Gallery presents an
international exhibition of contemporary Islamic Art with an opening reception to the public on
November 1, from 6:30 – 9:30 PM. This prestigious international exhibition includes artwork in a
variety of styles and media, inspired by Islamic culture, art, literature and architecture. In this
installment, 46 artists are participating from 17 countries including the USA, the United
Kingdom, Iran, Bulgaria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Japan, Egypt, Pakistan, Canada,
Singapore, Lebanon, Switzerland, Qatar, Mexico, and Cuba; and several Texas based artists
will also be exhibiting. The public opening reception is on November 1st, 2014 at 6:30 pm; and a
full color catalog will be available during the exhibition. The exhibition and reception are free and
open to the public; and many artists will be in attendance. In addition, a special presentation of
the Islamic Art Revival Series Experience 2014 will be held at the Charles W. Eisemann Center
on Sunday, November 9 from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Tickets can be purchased online at http://
www.eisemanncenter.com/tickets/
Participating artists:
Ameena Khan, Anila Agha, Anna Chupa, Anne Francey, Anne Polashenski, Antoaneta
Melnikova-Hillman, Asma Chaudhary, Bilo Hussein, Carolyn Brown, Charlotte Noruzi, Christina
Altfeld, Daisy Rockwell, Della Reams, Dick Simon, Ethan Rice, Fawn Atencio, Gabriel SanchezViveros, Hedieh Fard, Helen Zughaib, Hend Al-Mansour, Hilda Hiary, Husny Dahlan, Islam Aly,
Jon Barlow Hudson, Jon Young, Karen Karlsson, Katarina Öberg, Kelly Crosby, Leo Tecosky,
Marie Bourget, Nadia Tiseo, Naoko Morisawa, Paul Glenn, Rene Culler, Ruby Jaffrey, Saberah
Malik, Sarah Ahmad, Shady Eshghi, Shafaq Ahmad, Shakil Khan, Sheila Fraga, Sheila Klein,
Shirine Osseiran, Sudi Sharafshahi, Yasaman Moussavi and Zahra Nazari
This year’s juror is Dr Iftikhar Dadi , an Associate Professor at Cornell University, Department
of History of Art, and is the Chair of the Department of Art.
Guest Speakers include Dr. Karin Oen, the Director of Education at the Crow Collection of
Asian Art, Dorothy Masterson, Director of the Museum of Geometric & Madi Art and Dr.
Pamela Patton, Professor and Chair of Art History at the Meadows School of the Arts at SMU.
In addition, Jamie Labar, LuminArte Gallery owner, and visiting artist, Shirine Osseiran will also
be delivering lectures during the Eisemann Center and LuminArte Gallery events.
Vertical Bismillah Triptych by Ruby Jaffrey
Many of the exhibiting artists have relocated to the USA from around the world; and several of
the participating artists are based in Texas, including a prestigious group of women artist
working out of the DFW area.
Dallas Based photographer, Carolyn Brown received her M.A. in studio arts at Texas Woman's
University; and her post-graduate work in art history was completed at Cairo American
University. Through the years, Carolyn has received travel grants and commissions to
photograph in Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Rwanda, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and
throughout Mexico, enabling her to develop a large archive of images from ancient sacred
places, both manmade and natural. Although Carolyn traveled the world to photograph famous
places, some of the best images are found in her own backyard. Most recently her fourth book
on Dallas, Dallas: Portrait of a City was published. Another book to be published by A&M Press,
Visions of a Southern Cypress Lake, co-authored with Texas Historian Thad Sitton will be
available in the spring of 2015.
Born and raised in London, England, Ruby Jaffrey moved to Dallas, Texas in 2002 where she
now lives with her husband and 3 children. Her love for the arts was nurtured at home by her
mother who is an Urdu poet, who taught her to read and write Urdu and Arabic. At an early age,
Ruby began to appreciate the importance of holding on to ones heritage through language and
traditions. This appreciation has manifested itself in her desire to translate her spirituality into
works of art that celebrate color, faith, and the elegant and timeless beauty of the ancient
scripts.
View by Hedieh Fard
Mixed media painter, Hedieh Fard was born and raised in Tehran, Iran, a country rich in art
heritage and world history, and pursued a bachelor degree in communications and a master’s
degree in painting. Hedieh has devoted many years to exploring western culture in order to find
the best ways to communicate and combine eastern and western art. She immigrated to the US
and to Dallas to pursue her career goals beyond the traditional limits of her homeland.
Dubai Woman by Antoaneta Hillman
Antoaneta Melnikova-Hillman Is a self-taught artist based in Rowlett, Texas. She considers
herself to be half Bulgarian, half Russian and 36% American. Antoaneta was born in Pleven,
Bulgaria, where she began her career in the arts writing poetry, influenced as was her father by
the beauty of Russian literature and language. She published two books on poetry and her
poems and stories appeared in various newspapers and magazines throughout Bulgaria.
Antoaneta began to experiment with oils at the age of eighteen, and since coming to the United
States in 2001, she has broadened her skills to encompass encaustic and acrylic mediums. Her
work has been displayed in a number of exhibitions in DFW, Bulgaria and Cyprus; and her
paintings are found in private collections internationally.
Shafaq Ahmad was born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. After leaving Pakistan she lived in the United
Kingdom, Iran and Denmark before settling down in the United States, where she graduated
Summa Cum Laude with a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia
and a Master of Fine Art degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. Shafaq
worked as an art glass designer from 1995 to 2003 and collaborated with several art glass
studios in Czech Republic and Sweden. Her art glass designs are in private collections in many
countries. Presently, she works as a multimedia artist, and has participated in many
international exhibitions. Her work is a part of permanent collections at the Museum of
Geometric and Madi Art in Dallas, Mercedes Benz Daimler Financial Corporate Headquarters in
Fort Worth, Brookhaven College in Dallas, and North Lake College in Irving, as well as in
several private collections in the USA and abroad.
Sacred Marks of Acknowledgement by Shafaq Ahmad
About IARS
At IARS we believe that art is a Universal Language. We are passionate about Islamic art as a
translator and connector across generations and cultures. “From heart to heart, through time.”
Founded in 2011 by a cross-cultural coalition of business and nonprofit leaders, students and
small business owners, the Islamic Art Revival Series (IARS) includes a diverse group of
women and men. We are passionate about sharing the rich cultural relevance of Islamic Art as a
means of building awareness and exposure to the art itself and enhancing cross-cultural
understanding among people from all walks of life. Through our Islamic Art events we promote
education in the arts of the Islamic world and encourage vibrant cross-cultural exchange
amongst all faiths and cultures. In doing so, we build cultural bridges between the Islamic
cultures and rest of the world.
About LuminArte Gallery
LuminArte Gallery, conveniently located in the Dallas Design District, showcases contemporary
award-winning artists, as well as bright emerging talent. Specializing in art placement and
interior design consultation, the gallery presents collectors, designers and corporate clients with
a diverse array of artwork in a variety of media, styles and techniques. Representing over forty
artists from more than a dozen countries, LuminArte continues to embrace the local art
community by hosting an artist in residence program, and by providing workshops and
continuing education opportunities.
LuminArte Gallery is located at 1727 E. Levee Street, Dallas, Texas 75207. Hours are Tuesday
through Friday, 11am - 6pm; and from noon to 6pm on Saturday. For more information, call
214.914.4503 or visit www.luminarte.com and follow on Facebook.
For hi-res images and interviews, please contact Matt Anzak- [email protected]