Friday, Oct 23, 2020
3:30 pm PST
View archived lecture here, available for the duration of the Virtual Lecture Series.
This talk will focus on the art and architecture of the early Islamic world, from the rise of Islam in the 7th century CE, through its presence in early medieval Europe. We will examine the iconography of early Islamic visual culture and its expression, and will outline basic religious concepts and rituals that determine built space. Our discussion will be rich in images, concepts, and thought-provoking questions.
Dr. Ann Shafer is an art historian and designer, and a faculty member at SUNY-FIT. She specializes in the arts of the Middle East and North Africa, and has published widely on the subject, with a special focus on architectural ornament and artisanal technologies. She believes in contextualizing art within broader historical and contemporary cultural practices, including discussions of gender, race, the environment and sustainability, education, and politics. As a designer, she operates in the intersection of design and social activism, working especially with refugee and other traditional artisans. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska, Master’s degrees each from the University of Chicago and the Rhode Island School of Design, and her Doctorate from Harvard University.
Image: Folio from the “Blue Qur’an,” second half 9th–mid-10th century, gold and silver on indigo-dyed parchment, Tunisia, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
