For several years, Montclair Presbyterian Church has been proud to be part of the ‘Faith Trio’, a partnership between MPC, the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, and Kehilla Community Synagogue. One wonderful outcome of this partnership is the Interfaith Art Exhibit, now in its third year.
Interfaith Art Exhibit: Last Weekend and Artist Meet & Greet
This weekend — May 29th thru 31st — is the last chance to see this year’s Interfaith Art Exhibit. It’s going out in style, however, with an Artist Meet & Greet on Sunday the 31st from 1pm – 4pm. Come to the Islamic Cultural Center at 1433 Madison Street this Friday or Saturday for a final opportunity to view the all the beautiful and inspiring artwork (including works by Tom Debley and Carolyn WarmSun!), and on Sunday to meet and hear from the artists. This event is free and open to all.
Event Announcement
Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California (ICCNC), Kehilla Community Synagogue, and Montclair Presbyterian Church (the three institutions make up the “Faith Trio”) are thrilled to announce that we are going to have the 3rd Interfaith Art Exhibition Biennial* on May 2 to 30, 2015 at ICCNC (1433 Madison St, Oakland).
This exhibition symbolizes our commitment to the arts and interfaith relationship building. Once again, it will feature the work of Bay Area artists coming together to showcase compelling artwork while furthering interfaith understanding and respect.
If you have any questions you may contact: iccncarts@gmail.com
Please consider LIKING our Interfaith Art Exhibit page on Facebook .
Highlights from the 2013 Exhibit
Here are some photos taken at the exhibit opening:
This article by Kathy Horn, Montclair Presbyterian Church, discusses the opening reception of last year’s exhibit:
Opening Reception for the Interfaith Art Exhibit “Finding Common Ground through Sacred Words” a HUGE success
Guests were greeted by colorful flowers lining the portico of the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California near Lake Merritt on Saturday, May 11. They were celebrating the opening of Oakland’s Faith Trio Interfaith Art Exhibit sponsored by the ICCNC, Kehilla Synagogue, and Montclair Presbyterian Church. The crowd of 300 filled the beautiful auditorium which set the mood for Sacred Art with its traditional wooden trussworked ceiling and domed rostrum.
Ali Sheikholeslami, one of the exhibit organizers, and Mr. Mogarei, representing the Board of Directors of ICCNC, welcomed all and invited several artists and leaders from the three congregations to speak.
We learned from Reverend Katie Morrison of Montclair Presbyterian Church that the Faith Trio began after September 11, 2001, when three Muslim women visited MPC, hoping to establish a friendship because of their shared roots in Abrahamic faith. Kehilla came on board soon after. Rev. Katie’s screen print, included in the exhibit, references Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s quote from the Book of Amos in the Bible, “”let justice roll down like waters”.
The large gathering was treated to tales from the organizing committee, provocative thoughts, and personal meditations on the special creative process that was evoked by the theme of this year’s show: “Finding Common Ground Through Sacred Text.”
Susan Felix, a Jewish artist whose blessing bowls are in museum collections around the country, quoted Rumi: ‘beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing there is a field. I’ll meet you there.’ She blessed the gathering with “Peace, Shalom, Salaam. I bless us that we carried this field of love, of light, and the joy into the world.”
Rabbi David Cooper, a third generation needlepoint artist who is showing his beautiful “Imagine/Dim’yeyn—John Lennon”, also spoke of his support of this interfaith effort that helps us understand each other through our art.
Sculptor Jane Vanderveer, from MPC, gently questioned, “What is that still, small voice that nudges us to give birth to our deepest feelings through the creative process? …that Love that will not let us go?”
After refreshments, guests climbed the grand staircase to enjoy two large rooms displaying over 130 unique works incorporating text sacred to the artist. Artist statements are beautifully printed by Gregg Schwinn of Montclair Presbyterian Church and mounted next to each work, interpreting the Arabic, Hebrew or one of several other languages chosen by the artist. In this way, all viewers can understand the Sacred Text that inspires the work.
The ornate and unique “Eve’s Crown” by Mormon Jana Rains, impressed viewers for the nature and effect of its unusual materials in creating a believable, traditional adornment. She says of her work, “This is a crown I made to celebrate the story of creation and Eve—who I think gets too much bad press. It’s a celebration of her brave decision.”
Arash Shirinibab, Chairman of the organizing committee, presents a golden yellow, evocative photograph of a Sufi dancer twirling through a swirl of Arabic calligraphy, titled “Alive”.
Whether miniature or grand, delicate silver or found cast-off, stitched, carved or crafted, this exhibit offers much to contemplate. Each work is certainly a unique expression of the common sacred values shared by persons of all faiths and persuasions, not only those from the Faith Trio.
The interfaith art exhibit will continue Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 – 4pm until June 7th. The Closing Reception that day is from 5 – 7 pm and will include food, music and artists available near their work to answer informal questions. ICCNC is at 1433 Madison St., Oakland.
* This exhibit builds on the success of an inaugural interfaith art exhibition in Fall 2011 called “Diverse Visions of Harmony”, and a second one called “Finding Common Ground through Sacred Words,” in May 2013. From the 2011 exhibit to the 2013 one, we had increased the number of artists and artwork represented, from 40 artists to 100 (a 150% increase). The number of artworks increased as well, and in 2015 we plan to again feature a range of art modalities and artists representing many faith traditions. A third exhibition has been in demand by our constituents and faith organizations due to its strong attendance and satisfaction ratings.