Love Speaks: A Day of Art and Poetry from the Muslim World

Celebrate Mother’s Day by exploring the many facets of love through poetry performances, workshops, and artist demonstrations in the Islamic Art galleries, followed by a special Sunday at the Met reading and discussion with New York State Poet Marie Howe, CUNY scholar and poet Meena Alexander, renowned poet and editor Kazim Ali, and Columbia University scholar Frances Pritchett.

1:00-1:30pm & 2:00-2:30pm Poetry Writing Workshop
Write your own short poem and be inspired by works of art in the galleries during this workshop with poet Kazim Ali.

1:30-2:00pm & 2:30-3:00pm Gallery Performance and Poetry Reading
Experience the unique mystical style and virtuosity of performer Amir Vahab during gallery performances.

1:00-4:00pm (30 minute sessions) Artist Demonstrations
Explore love, Islamic visual traditions, and written language through traditional and contemporary techniques. Watch master calligrapher Elinor Aishah Holland demonstrate Islamic scripts and learn about Ishqnama, The Book of Love and other recent projects from artist Laimah Osman. Join both artists as you try your own hand at making a folding book and beautiful lettering.

1:00pm How Did They Do That? Tilework of the Islamic World
Peek at technique and learn—through handling tools and materials—how Islamic tiles were created.

3:00pm Sunday at the Met: Love Speaks: A Day of Art and Poetry from the Muslim World
Poets and scholars respond to the theme of love in art and poetry in the Muslim World. Presentations by Marie Howe, New York State Poet and Dr. Frances Pritchett, Professor Emerita of Modern Indic Languages, Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies, Columbia University, with poetry readings by Meena Alexander and Kazim Ali.

Made possible by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.