Artist Ayesha Gamiet will be running a six-week Slough course on Islamic Art at the West Wing Arts Centre, starting on September 23 from 6.30pm.
The Slough course will focus on the art of Islamic manuscript illumination and give an introduction to Islamic art and design. It aims to give students a practical introduction to the fundamental principals of geometry and arabesque design.
Slough Students will be given practical instruction on creating their own works of Islamic art, demonstrations of paper preparation, gold work, and illumination styles and techniques, and informal one-to-one sessions. They will also be given short illustrated talks outlining the history of the art and design and other practical topics.
Ayesha’s work will also be exhibited at the West Wing throughout September.
Ayesha said: “The profound beauty of sacred and traditional arts has enriched my life so greatly and has inspired me. I feel very privileged to be able to share what I’ve learnt with my community.
“While growing up, there were no opportunities for me to be able to learn more about these traditional crafts, so I hope these classes will inspire others to pursue their creative ambitions, and add to Slough’s rich cultural and artistic heritage."
Ayesha was a participant on the 2009 Community Arts Training Scheme (CATS) run by the Community Arts team at Slough Borough Council. The training offers a step-by-step guide to running arts projects in the community and Ayesha used the knowledge she gained to develop the course.
Rebecca Cairns, community arts manager for Slough Borough Council, said: “This is a great example of our diverse community and how we can learn about traditions.
“CATS itself, has been running in Slough for more than 15 years and it’s great to see the skills learnt on the course being put into practice. Ayesha’s work is beautiful and this course is a real opportunity for anyone with an interest in Islamic art to find out more.”
To book a place on the course, email islamic.art.slough@googlemail.com.
To find out more about the Community Arts Training Scheme, contact Louise O’Dwyer-Barnard on 01753 875667.
Slough Borough Council
