Encyclopedia of Arab American Artists

(Hardback)

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Description

The rich history and culture of the Arab American people is found in the passionate works of its artists. Whether they be traditional media such as painting and calligraphy, or more sophisticated media such as digital work and installation, the pieces represent the beauty of heritage, the struggles of growing up in war-torn countries, the identity conflicts of female artists in male-dominated societies, and the issues surrounding migration to a Western culture very different from one's own. Many of the artists included here, though their works appear in museums and galleries throughout the world, have never before been featured in a reference book. Interviews conducted by the author provide a personal look into the experiences and creative processes of these artists. Artists included: *Etel Adnan *Wasma Chorbachi *Nihad Dukhan *Kahlil Gibran *Sari Khoury *Emily Jacir *Sari Khoury *Mamoun Sakkal *Mary Tuma *Madiha Umar *Afaf Zurayk

Reviews

A list of resources on Arab American artists and Arab culture in the United States is a useful entre to organizations, museums, cultural and community centers, workshops, and other nonprofit institutions involved in access to and promotion of the Arab American artistic and cultural community. * College & Research Libraries News *
The Encyclopedia of Arab American Artists profiles individuals both familiar and obscure in the United State and elsewhere. * America.gov *
The author highlights the accomplishments of 100 Arab American visual artists. * MultiCultural Review *
This is a user-friendly book that fulfills its goal; it is an excellent source for basic information and provides resources for further study. The Artists of the American Mosaic series is part of a larger online educational resource that includes resources and prepared lesson plans for educators addressing the multiethnic nature of the American experience. * ARBA *
This work provides summaries of the lives and works of about 100 Arab American visual artists, each of whom have made significant contributions to the American and international art scene. The entries are organized alphabetically and detail the biographies of the artists as well as their artwork, the issues that influenced it, and the places where it can be seen. The volume incorporates pictures, artists' quotes, and an introduction offering a general overview of Arab American artists which highlights common themes in their histories, identities, political perspectives, and adversities, and identifies institutions that draw attention to their work. * The Middle East Journal *

Author Bio

Fayeq S. Oweis is an Arab American artist and a professor of Arabic Language and Culture at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California. He has a PhD in interdisciplinary studies with focus on Arabic and Islamic arts. As an artist, he designed the exterior entranceway murals and the calligraphy of the interior dome of the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. He has also exhibited his Arabic calligraphic compositions through out the United States, and was an Artist-in-residence at the Art Institute of Chicago in February 2007.