By Qamar Hussaini
Around 280 artists and creatives gathered to celebrate Calgary’s 10th annual Muslim art event on the evening of Sept. 17.
“A lot of the time the creative scene tends to exclude Muslims or people of minority background in general so it is hard to see that visibility and that representation,” says Mim Fatmi, president of the Western Muslim Initiative. “But at the same time. Muslims have so much incredible art to contribute.
The event was hosted by the WMI (Western Muslim Initiative) and was held at The Pioneer, a venue on Calgary’s busy Stephen Avenue, where people go to browse the many stores and have a good time.
Muslim Arts Movement X is a Calgary-based event for creators to showcase their artwork, foster community, and celebrate their many accomplishments and body of work.
The show featured artists from many different backgrounds, musicians, and entertainers, as well as a variety of foods and beverages for attendees to enjoy.
The Western Muslim Initiative founded created the event to contribute to and strengthen Calgary’s cultural legacy while simultaneously providing Calgarians with the opportunity to engage in the broad tradition of Muslim art.
Sumaya Bernier, one of the event’s artists born in Calgary and of mixed heritage, spoke on her passion for art and Islam.
“I wanted to make art that was not only true to who I am, but also could possibly make a difference in other people’s lives,” Bernier says.
Bernier has always been passionate about art and wanted to portray Islam beautifully so that other Muslims who grew up in the West might resonate with it. Her artwork combines European and Islamic influences.
“I think it’s really important to have an event in Calgary so people can have a place where they can showcase their creative output and also invite people who aren’t Muslim to see,” Bernier says.
The lack of representation of Muslims in the media made Bernier feel religiously and culturally excluded. She decided to contribute to this event because of her ambition to create art and defy the negative and inaccurate stereotypes prevalent in the media.
The theme of this year’s event was heritage, and artists such as Faiza Akhtar and Hajrah Umer collaborated to explore the concept of identity through photography and mehndi to present at the event.
“In mainstream society, we are not portrayed as creatives, I think especially being Canadian but also being Pakistani and being Muslim, I’m kind of trying to encompass all of it,” says Akhtar.
Their artwork reflects elements of their identities, revealing both Pakistani heritage and Western elements. Their shot, taken at Heritage Park, shows women dressed in traditional Pakistani attire holding chai with mehndi-adorned hands.
“I think it’s so important that we have these organizations and groups who are giving Muslims opportunities to be seen and be heard and to acknowledge that their art and their talent is at the level of non-Muslim artists as well,” says Umer.
“Calgary’s still small enough that you can learn to know people and communities but also feel really isolated if you don’t know the right people,” Fatmi says “An organization that can provide that sense of community to people is very much needed, especially in a growing city.”
