“Sandow Birk’s American Qur’an,” organized by The Andy Warhol Museum of Pittsburgh, will be on view at the Faulconer Gallery Jan. 27 – Mar. 18, 2012.
Though it is widely considered one of the most influential books of all time, the Qur’an remains a mystery for many Americans. With a curiosity about Islam spurred by his travels in Islamic countries and heightened in the media aftermath of 9/11, Sandow Birk began to study the ancient text nearly a decade ago.
American Qur’an—Birk’s multiyear project to transcribe and illustrate an English translation of the Qur'an—aims to make the Holy Book of Islam more accessible to Americans. Based on traditional models of manuscript illumination, it combines the handwritten text with images drawn from contemporary American life, such as street scenes of the artist's native Los Angeles; Midwestern farm views; Americans at home and at work, and scenes from recent American history, including Hurricane Katrina's devastation and the 2001 attack in lower Manhattan.
Faulconer Gallery is sponsoring several events in conjunction with the exhibition, including a panel discussion with Muslims in Iowa, a student roundtable on the “The Qur’an in America,” an open mic night, a community day with a variety of hands-on activities, yoga in the gallery, and a discussion on “Visualizing Islamophobia.” Birk will be on campus for a gallery talk on Feb. 28.
For more information, see:
- "Sandow Birk's American Qur'an" opening Jan. 27 in Faulconer Gallery
- What is Islam? And What Does it Mean for Islam to Be in America?, introduction by Caleb Elfenbein, assistant professor of Religious Studies and History.
- An American take on the Quran, Des Moines Register
