Found in Translation
Upcoming Programs
Presented in part by Mrs. Joyce Martin Hill
and the Humanities CouncilSC
Lecture: Symbolism Seen in
Geometry of Islamic Art
Friday, July 19 | Noon
Mana Hewitt discusses how Islamic art
reveals a preference for surface patterns
composed of geometric forms. These
complex designs create the impression
of unending repetition, which is said to
encourage the viewer to contemplate
the unlimited nature of God. Hewitt is
the current Undergraduate Director and
McMaster Gallery Director at the USC
Department of Art.
$10 / $8 for members / $5 for students.
Lecture: The Adornment of
Geometry: Image, Text & Form
Friday, August 9 | Noon
Islam’s adornment of geometry, the
Arabesque may be traced back to the early
formation of Islamic Art around the 8th
century. In this lecture, Dr. Akel Kahera
explores the major issues of image, text and
form by inviting participants to examine the
adornment of geometry in Islamic visual
expression. Dr. Kahera is the Associate
Dean of the College of Architecture, Art and
Humanities at Clemson University.
$10 / $8 for members / $5 for students.
Dinner and a Movie with
Steven Naifeh
Sunday, August 18 | 5:30 p.m.
Spend an epic evening with Steven Naifeh.
Enjoy cocktails, the galleries and an artisan
BBQ dinner from chef Scott Hall. After, stroll
down to the Nickelodeon Theatre where
your ticket includes popcorn, desserts and
more libations. Naifeh will introduce the
film Pollock, based on his Pulitzer Prizewinning book.
Individual tickets: $100 / $75 for CMA and
Nickelodeon members.
Couples’ tickets: $175 / $125 for members.
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columbiamuseum.org
get larger left and right, downward and
upward, all at the same time. The result is
an expansive, rhythmic and very positive
feeling. According to Naifeh:
“Saida is an Arabic word
meaning happiness.
When I found the
geometric basis
for this series, it
was incredibly
exciting. And I
think most people
who see it have
the same feeling. It
is so surprising and
delightful the way the
pattern works out – how
these boxes of different sizes
stack into a spiral. It combines the
satisfying resolution of geometry with the
playfulness of Op Art. The contradiction
of these two pleasures affects the way you
see the image. Your eye oscillates constantly
between the stable overall design and the
shape-shifting separate elements. The result
is a kind of visual laughter. It’s the same
reaction you might have to a magic trick:
That can’t be right! How does it work?”
One of the most glorious aspects of Islamic
art is that it is made using such a wealth of
materials. Think of just a few—mother-ofpearl inlay in Damascene furniture, semiprecious stones set in the white marble
of Mughal architecture, ceramic tiles in
domes and minarets all along the entire
length of the Silk Road and the lustrous
silks of Ottoman textiles.
So much of the Islamic world stretches
across such arid geography that the
indigenous artists naturally turned to rich
color and material, to enrich their own
often-ascetic lives.
“There are many ways to honor this
celebration of rich materials, ways that
don’t involve emeralds and rubies,” Naifeh
said. “In many of my paintings I use
metallic paints, which I often
oppose to strips of flat
white paint to enhance
their metallic effect.
I have also used
metallic paints
on fiberglass or
on welded steel,
which produces
an even more
luminous surface.
My LED lightboxes have an entirely
modern luminosity
that, I think, Islamic artists
from 1,000 years ago would have
appreciated.” n
Exhibition Presented By:
Mrs. Joyce Martin Hill
Supporting Sponsors:
Dr. Gregory J. Wych
The Hilliard Family Foundation
Friends of Naifeh:
Dr. Suzan D. Boyd
and Mr. M. Edward Sellers
R. Thomas Cox, III
Dr. Carolyn Kressler-Greenberg
and Dr. Stanley H. Greenberg
Mrs. Carol C. Saunders
Adams and Reese, LLP
Ellis, Lawhorne & Sims, P. A.
The Boudreaux Group
Humanities CouncilSC
The Clarion Hotel