A celebration of Eid al-Fitr

This festive time marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and invites the community of Blackburn to join in traditional and contemporary art workshops, film, food and conversation.

Venue
63/65 King William Street
Blackburn, BB1 7DT
Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 August 2014
 

Arabic Calligraphy Workshop 
Thursday 7 August, 11am to 4pm
Join Qasim Arif from the Netherlands 11am to 4pm in a traditional Arabic calligraphy workshop teaching participants on words, lettering and form of Arabic calligraphy styles. Free Entry.

 
 
Artist in Conversation and Live Arabic Calligraphy Demonstration
Qasim Arif
Thursday 7 August, 5pm to 6pm

Qasim will also be artist in conversation between 5pm and 6pm where he will be delivering a live calligraphy demonstration and signing visitors name in Arabic. A small fee of £5.00 will be charged per name card.
Free Entry

Film Al-Ghazali
The Alchemist of Happiness (80mins)
Thursday 7 August, 3pm to 4pm

 
Exploring the life and impact of the greatest spiritual and legal philosopher in Islamic history, this film examines Ghazali's existential crisis of faith that arose from his rejection of religious dogmatism, and reveals profound parallels with our own times. Ghazali became known as the Proof of Islam and his path of love and spiritual excellence overcame the pitfalls of the organised religion of his day. Combining drama with documentary, this film argues that Ghazali's Islam is the antidote for today's confusion. Free Entry

Arabesque Workshop
Friday 8 August, 11am - 4pm

Building on the first day, geometric and arabesque artist Saba Rifat will undertake a day workshop inspired by Spirituality and principles of Balance, Harmony and Proportion found in nature, to produce visual Artwork that is, both beautiful and contemplative. She endeavours, through her work, to produce a visual space or void in which one is able to retreat for simple aesthetic pleasure or deeper reflection of its origin. This has been the inspiration behind the concept of Lightniche (Mihrab) Arts £20 Entry
 
Artist in Conversation
Photographic Essay of Iran
Saba Rifat
Friday 8 August, 5pm - 6pm
Visitors will also have the chance to see her photographic essay on Iran as part of the Artist in Conversation theme. Free Entry

Journey to Mecca (45mins)
In the footsteps of Ibn Battuta
Friday 8 August, 7pm to 7:45pm

One of the greatest travellers in human history, 21 year old law student Ibn Battuta set out alone to Mecca from Tangiers in 1325 and returned to Morocco almost 30 years later. This is the story of his first pilgrimage, book-ended with never-before seen documentary footage of the contemporary Hajj. Filmed for initial presentation in IMAX and other giant screen cinemas.
Narration by actor Ben Kingsley , Journey to Mecca won Le Prix Du Public Most Popular Film at Le Géode Film Festival, Paris, 2009, and a prize at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.

Live Urban Geometry Workshop 
Saturday 9 August, 11am to 4pm

Our final day will culminate with lead artist Iona Fournier-Tombs who will be creating a live Urban Geometric pattern installation on the pavements of Blackburn Is Open. This will be supported by public participation and designs created by visitors and members of the public during the day.

Other artists will be joining Iona to support her work through hands-on workshops and arrange an artist hangout for local talent.

The day will be complemented by a Middle Eastern lunch and light refreshments. £20 Entry
 
Artist in Conversation
Nomadic Culture & Transformative Arts
Iona Fournier-Tombs
Saturday 9 August, 5pm to 6pm
 
Iona will complete the day with her presentation as part of the Artist in Conversation theme on the subject of transformative arts and nomadic cultures. The day promises to be a perfect finale in promoting the diverse colours of Islamic art and bring communities together through inspirational people. Free Entry 

Henna hand painting
Saturday 9th August, 1pm to 3pm

Watch our talented henna artist design some simple yet exquisite designs for visitors using 100% natural henna.
This is a 'drop in' session and requires no booking. Visitors will be served on a first come first served basis.
£3 per person.
  

Film Waltz with Bashir (90mins) 
18 Certificate/English Subtitles
Saturday 9 August, 7pm to 8.30pm
 
Powerful anti-war animated documentary by Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman. The film explores a period in Folman's life when he was enlisted as a teenage soldier in the first Lebanon war in the early 1980s, during which time he was present at the massacre of Palestinian refugees by a Christian Phalangist militia. Looking back, Folman realises that he has blocked out practically all memories of this horrific event.

Resolving to face up to this missing chapter of his past, he embarks on a voyage of self-discovery involving interviews with old friends and former colleagues from around the world. As he delves deeper into the mystery, his dreams and memories begin to surface, and these are represented in the film's eerie and often surreal animated sequences.

It won a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, an NSFC Award for Best Film, a Cesar Award for Best Foreign Film, and an IDA Award for Feature Documentary, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, a BAFTA Award for best Film Not in the English Language and an Annie Award for Best Animated Feature. £3 Entry.

Screen Printing workshop with WEAVE
13 Town Hall Street, Blackburn BB2 1AG
Thursday 7 August to Saturday 9 August 2pm to 6pm

Visitors will have a fantastic opportunity to screen print traditional and contemporary patterns from Arabic script or Geometric design influenced by our lead artists on to tote bags and/or t-shirts.

WEAVE - Jack Godden and Sam Houghton met at university where the idea for their streetwear brand, Krosl, was born. The pair hit it off over a shared appreciation of good design, well-crafted clothing and accessories.

£5 Entry - Thursday Tote bags only
£20 Entry - Friday and Saturday
Price includes the supply of a tote bag or t-shirt

Call 01282 686650 to register for these events.