World Watches in Awe as Muslims Draw
Story and art by Christopher Patrick Nelson

I didn't get there early, but I wasn't late – not for this. At the downtown Mosque in San Jose this past weekend, Muslim artists all backgrounds displayed their skills. Chicanos, Chinese-Americans, Caucasian Americans, African-Americans, Singaporeans, Filipinos, Pakistanis, Indians, Nigerians, Turks, children, young adults, andthe elderly all mixed in appreciation for the creativity on display. One of the first things to catch my attention was the handmade wax candles with Arabic calligraphy, similar in appearance to graffiti piecing, written into them. Thick or thinner, ranging from rainbow to blue and grey, they were priced as low as $18. A partnership known as Revival Arts made these. Next and to the left was Hayward-based Brother Walid Zazi of Afghanistan and his ornate antiques. There were voluptuous vases to rival China's and teapots to provoke a “how-did-they-do-that” response with the intricacy of their inscription. The silver (silver!) northern Afghani woman's party hat was the bomb. (Whoops – I hope I'm not being tapped.)

Stepping down, I was greeted by San Jose-based Garret Ibrihim Pomelow's pictures portraying aerial shots of sedulously planned-out imaginary cities filled in with wild pretend colors. He must have stayed up nights. And then there was the centerpiece – beguiling aisles of Britain-based Abu Dawud's computer graphics designs. The Islamic ban on beasts and people in images led to a striking use of abstract color and point of view, as well as a mix of strangely matching technical, reflective, geographic, and traditional images. Each of his pieces was paired with a quote from the Koran, the last Muslim Holy Book. (Muslims also believe in the Law of Prophet Moses and the original Gospel of Prophet Jesus, peace be upon them.) He used shadow and light against cubes, pyramids, and geographic shapes I don't even know the name of. It was not what I expected.

For those who like their art to be useful, UK sister Nadine Chahine and US brothers Tarek Atrissi and Mammoun Sakkal designed bone china plates with ornate red and white lettering carved into a white background.

It has been said that Buddhism is the peaceful religion. I would editorialize and add to that by saying Islam is the activist religion. So it was that when Latina Muslim sister Kathy Umaya Espinoza got up to read her poetry about Bush's wars, some of the older white couples wrinkled their noses and left. To paraphrase the poet Oscar Wilde, divergent opinions on a piece of art mean that it is vital.

Cheese and crackers, pineapple, strawberries, orange juice, tea, and “Salaam cola” (a Muslim brand) were served (Salaam is Arabic for peace.) at no charge. Actually, all of this was free, and I had an unusually good time; as an artist myself, and a Muslim, I got to combine my passions. My only complaint was that that I had no money, because everything was sensibly priced and seriously sensuous.