Haseeb Ahmed: The Common Sense September 8-29, 2007 opening reception Saturday, September 8, 6-10 pm
For one month Around the Coyote Gallery will be converted into a Mosque. The Mosque is placed in the public while the public will be drawn into the Mosque. In Islam any space is potentially a Mosque. This exhibition seeks to assess the viability of Islamic Practice in the American Context and the character of both.
Using a variety of techniques, the axis of the building will be shifted from cardinal grid to face the Kaaba—which, in Chicago, is northeast. The Mosque will be created out of common construction materials. A hypostyle arcade system like the one used in the first mosque, the home of the Prophet (P), will be created by exploding 2x4’s.The entire space will be domed over with Muqarnas, blocks resurrected with the help of advanced rapid prototyping machines to mediate the heavens and Earth. Split faced cinder blocks will be reverse engineered to make visible the original ideas inscribed into all matter which brings it into being— with the help of a CNC Router.
There is a saying of the Prophet (hadith) which states that for every place of worship constructed on Earth one just like it will be constructed in Heaven.
In addition to the installation the gallery will host Jumaah Khutba (lecture) and Salaat (prayers) every Friday of the month of September at 1:30pm. The performance of the lectures and prayers will be open to all who wish to attend. Events will be planned in accordance with the type of dialogue that develops- including film screenings and panel discussions.
Haseeb Ahmed is the principal builder, artist, and caretaker of the site. He is a native of Toledo, Ohio and will be receiving a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Architecture and a Bachelors of Arts in Visual and Critical Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In addition to this project Ahmed is working on a reading room, a critical and intellectual space, for the Downtown Islamic Center as a founding member of Studio Jeeraan. Haseeb Ahmed has exhibited in alternative and commercial galleries in the United States, Germany, Switzerland, and Israel.
2007 Muralist-in-Residence While our gallery becomes a place of worship, the entryway will also be undergoing a transformation by Around the Coyote's 2007 Muralist-in-Residence, Mike Nelson. Nelson’s mural deals with cycles and processes of fictional historical and scientific events.
RE:Action Reading Series The integration of literary and artistic visions provides the basis for the RE:Action Reading Series, curated by Margot Bordelon (Lookinglass Theatre) and J. Adams Oaks (Serendipity Theatre Collective). Using the artwork of Haseeb Ahmed as inspiration, four emerging writers will share works they created. Along with our curators, readers include Megan Stielstra and Ric Walker. September 8 at 7:30pm. Free.
3rd Thursday Playwrights Reading Series September will also see our 3rd Thursday Playwrights Reading Series. Curated by Megan Shuchman, the Playwrights Reading Series provides an opportunity for actors to workshop new plays in front of an audience. The 3rd Thursday Playwrights Reading Series also allows audience engagement with the work through a panel discussion with the director, playwright and actors following the reading. September 20, 7pm. Suggested donation $5. Peroni beer served.
WPBGA Second Saturday Gallery Walk In order to help the public experience all this, the Wicker Park Bucktown Gallery Association is holding a Second Saturday Gallery Walk on September 8, 2007 from 6-10 pm at multiple galleries throughout Wicker Park and Bucktown. For those not interested in walking to each gallery, we will have IGO Car Sharing shuttles ready to transport you from one stop to the next. The WPBGA unites the galleries in Wicker Park and Bucktown that works to promote the neighborhood as a destination for collectors and art world professionals through advertising, public programs and collaborative events, as well as working to add new galleries to the area. www.wpbga.com for maps and more information.
