PROVO, UTAH
Why would Brigham Young University — a Church-owned institution found in the heart of Mormon culture and heritage — play host to a massive exhibit of Islamic art grounded in the day-to-day culture of the Muslim world?
It's a fair question. One that exhibit and museum directors are eager to answer and engage. Dr. Sabiha Al Khemir, project director of the new Islamic-themed "Beauty and Belief," said she is often asked by associates from far outside Utah just why such an exhibit would open at BYU.
"Why BYU? Because here is a religious community who actually sincerely embraced the project, who is willing to cross bridges and in the making itself of this exhibition many bridges have been crossed," she said in a museum release. "That in itself is reinforcing to the message of this exhibition."
"Beauty and Belief" opens Feb. 24 at the BYU Museum of Art. Visitors will be introduced to a broad collection of objects that define the exhibit — the largest ever hosted by the museum. More than 250 objects were collected from 10 countries, 40 lending institutions and 10 private collections. Counted among the contributors are several international museums stretching from Great Britain to Morocco. The exhibit will be on display at the museum until Sept. 29. It will then be housed for short stints at museums in Indiana, New Jersey and Oregon.
Dr. Al Khemir likes to use the word "bridge" when discussing the "Beauty and Belief." It's prominently found in the exhibit's subtitle: Crossing Bridges with the Arts of Islamic Culture. Curators hope that museum visitors will study each object, step across a bridge of understanding and discover the common ground between Islamic and Western cultures.
The exhibit is not political — but it obviously arrives at BYU during a politically charged time in the world. Dr. Al Khemir and her associates hope that visitors will discover differing ways of seeing the Islamic world — and then leave with new understandings and insight about Islamic culture.
"Beauty and Belief" is, at once, a challenging and an accessible exhibit. On one hand, the collection of "art" is obviously different than many objects found in a traditional art exhibit. Instead of paintings or sculptures that share an easily recognizable narrative, most of the objects found here are household items such as bowls, dishes, textiles and decanters.
Yet each object tells a story of belief. The items were typically crafted by an anonymous artist who utilized their talent to both celebrate and communicate their love of God and His creations. Their artwork doubles as holy offerings.
Plenty of educational materials are found in the exhibit to help folks understand the history, purpose and nuances of each object.
It's hoped that a wide variety of visitors experience "Beauty and Belief," including school groups, Primary classes, Church youth groups and, of course, families and individuals.
Admission to the exhibit is free. Visit the exhibit's web site, www.beauty-and-belief.com or call (801) 422-8287 for more information.
