Stars on a Dark Night Portal for Contemporary & Traditional Islamic Arts

Islamic Art Online

Traditional Islamic Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art-Islamic Exhibit

http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_Of_Art/department.asp?dep=14

Serving the Guest

A Sufi Cookbook and Art Gallery

http://www.superluminal.com/cookbook/index_gallery.html

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/

Islamic Art, Music and Architecture Around the World

http://www.uga.edu/islam/IslArt.html

Islamic Art and Architecture

http://www.islamicarchitecture.org/art/index.html

"What today is called “Islamic Art” was to the originators (‘A-Ri-Fuun) acts of Dhikr for the transformation of self from the clay nature to the nature of spirit. This was the quest of the Mystic (who today would be called 'artist')"

VISUAL ARTS SYLLABUS

International Board of Education Research and Resources

1. GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

Islamic Art

2. QUEST OF ISLAMIC ART:

Transformation Desirous Self (Naf-sul-am-maa-ra)

to Self at Rest (Naf-sul-mut-ma-in-na)

3. VEHICLE FOR THE QUEST:

The creation of Beauty in the phenomenal world

4. PURPOSE FOR CREATION OF BEAUTY:

Remind the self and the onlooker of The Almighty Allah

(Possessor of Absolute Beauty)

(Practice of Art as a form of Thikr)

5. PRINCIPLES OF ISLAMIC ART:

1) Unity

2) Unity in Multiplicity

3) Multiplicity in Unity

4) Reflection

5) Beauty

6) Expansion and Contraction

7) Opposites and Harmonies

8) Masculine and Feminine

9) Change and Permanence

10) Wave Action and Encounters

11) Passive, Active and Completeness

12) Centrifugal Movement

13) Centripetal Movement

14) Spacial Connections

15) Rhythm and Symmetry

16) Love

17) Majesty and Mercy

The International Board of Education Research and Resources (IBEER) of which Yusuf Islam is the Chairman, serves as a chain of Islamic schools for English-speaking Muslim communities all over the world.

This extensive syllabus which contains aims, goals and principles

of teaching Islamic art in a creative and inspiring way.is posted in full on their website

http://www.iberr.org/art.htm

Contemporary Islamic Art

Word into Art

Artists of the Modern Middle East

An incredible Virtual Gallery of contemprary artists from the Middle East provided by The British Museum and Birzeit University

http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/middleeastnow/word-into-art/index.html

VisualDzikr

http://www.visualdhikr.com/main.html

paint, ink, digital and mixed media

need Flash Player

Islamic Digital Artwork

http://www.rbpn.org.uk/images/DigitalArt/Canvas/index.htm.

One valuable way of learning about Islam is through it's rich expressions in art. We hope to encourage this creative expression by providing resources and inspiration. There is a vast supply of talent that we hope to tap into, along with providing some practical resources for learning about Islamic art.

"God is beautiful and loves beauty."

Teaching Islamic Art to Children

http://awaironline.org/

Doorways to Islamic Art is the vehicle for the encounter! An essential ingredient in your multicultural art library, this kit is intended for across-the-curriculum study of Islam and its manifestations in the lives of Muslims in more than fifty countries. Enter the art through five doorways - each exemplifying one of five characteristics of Islamic art. Students will learn the vocabulary of the art, do some art exercises, and then create works that will astound everyone!

Contains Everything You Need: 34 slides, a written slide narrative, duplicate masters and instructions for two Islamic geometric design projects and lesson plans for both a research project and a critical thinking discussion based on three readings.

"Doorways to Islamic Art provides a fresh, new avenue for encountering the living tradition of Arab and Islamic peoples. Godlas' program walks us through a maze resembling the streets of Fez, where art, geometry, and history combine to create a delightful vision of the unexpected at every turn." Huston Smith, author of "The World's Religions: A Guide to Our Wisdom Traditions" and subject of Bill Moyers' interview "The Wisdom of Faith" (see below)

Can be purchased through AWAIR Online

http://awaironline.org/

Sufism, or the 'Way of the Heart', contains the spiritual teachings of Islam. It embraces the journey of our path to God. The expressions of joy and love from a well-nourished spirit often manifest themselves through music, poetry and visual arts.

We embrace & encourage those expressions.