August 31, 2017
The long and rich legacy of the arts in Islamic cultures often falls to the wayside in our study of history. But masterpieces abound and are well worth examination. In this “Great Gatherings” two-part series led by arts and culture professional and MPA parent Barb Horlbeck, we will look at the artistic history of Islam and the masterpieces created by Islamic cultures from Andalusia, the Iberian peninsula where the Muslims reigned for nearly 800 years, to the rich decorative designs, book illustrations, textiles and calligraphy of the Ottoman world, to icons such as the Taj Mahal and the magical gardens of the Mughal Empire, to the great Abbasid city of Baghdad, home of the remarkable “House of Wisdom” where scholars gathered from all over the world. We will conclude with a brief examination of 19th century ‘Orientalist’ paintings as we examine the power of these works that were created of the east by the west and the influence they had in laying the foundation for misperceptions of the Islamic world that hold forth even to today.
DATE: September 7 and 21, 2017
TIME: 6 PM
WHERE: Porter Conference Room
Hosted by Barb Horlbeck
Kindly RSVP to Susan Robertson, Development Manger, via email.
