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LA Islam Arts Initiative

The Los Angeles/Islam Arts Initiative (LA/IAI) brings

together nearly 30 cultural institutions throughout Los Angeles to tell various

stories of traditional and contemporary art from multiple Islamic regions and

their significant global diasporas. LA/IAI is the first-of-its kind, wide-scale

citywide initiative on Islamic arts producing and presenting programming such

as art exhibitions, panels, discussions, and performances. Anchoring LA/IAI are

two connected exhibitions, Doris Duke's Shangri La: Architecture, Landscape,

and Islamic Art and the contemporary art exhibition, Shangri La: Imagined Cities

commissioned by the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) to be held at DCA's

Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LAMAG) at Barnsdall Park from October 26

to December 28, 2014.

 

Los Angeles' substantial populations from areas with strong Islamic roots make LA

a compelling location for this initiative. LA/IAI casts a wide net, being inclusive and

welcoming, with art as its central focus. The term "Islamic art" includes work created

by non-Muslim artists from Muslim-dominant countries, work by Muslims creating art

in non-Muslim dominant countries, and work by artists culturally influenced by Islam.

Designed to build a greater understanding of the role of Islamic arts, LA/IAI seeks to

stimulate the global conversation in connection to cultural, political, and social issues.

The celebration of Islamic art and culture is presented by DCA with major support

from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, the National Endowment for the Arts,

the California Community Foundation, the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts),

and the Barnsdall Park Foundation.

 

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Support Provided By
discostan
Place of Disco: The Republic of Discostan
The Discostan collective, hosted at Footsie's Bar in Los Angeles, is a celebration of musical traditions and cross-cultural sounds from Beirut to Bangkok via Bombay.
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The Cotabato Sessions: The Sound of the Philippines Comes to L.A.
The documentary "The Cotabato Sessions" spotlights the indigenous music of the Philippines and the dance performances that traditionally accompany them.
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Histories Absolved: Revolutionary Cuban Poster Art and the Muslim International
The new exhibition "Histories Absolved" displays posters of the Cuban Revolution conceived in solidarity with Muslim liberation movements in the Middle East.
Truck Artist Haider Ali at International Street Fair & Diversity Festival | Courtesy Los Angeles / Islam Arts Initiative
Haider Ali: The King of Pakistani Truck Painting
The Pacific Asia Museum's "From the Grand Trunk Road to Route 66" brings an eclectic array of arts from Pakistan to Los Angeles.
Shangri La: Islamic Arts Come to Los Angeles
The L.A. Islam Arts Initiative citywide program offers non-Muslim viewers the opportunity to see there's a rich creative culture within the Muslim communities.
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Return of the Mecca: The Art of Islam and Hip-Hop
The exhibition "Return of the Mecca: The Art of Islam and Hip-Hop" explores how Islam played a vital role in politicizing Hip-Hop, and how it continues to shape the genre today.
persians
The Persians: Performing Aeschylus' Tragedy Today
The ancient Greek drama "Persians," staged at the Getty Villa's amphitheatre through Sept. 27, resonates with today's audiences tuned to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
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