On August 29, the Howard County Arts Council (HCAC) opens two new exhibits at the Howard County Center for the Arts: Geometric Aljamía: A Cultural Transliteration and Source Material.

Since ancient times, geometric perfection (circle, square, and triangle) has been thought to convey sacred and secular truths by reflecting the fractal interconnections of the natural world. The artists in this exhibit explore geometry as a fundamental aspect of art and as a way to communicate universal ideas across cultures. Aljamía is a medieval Spanish word that refers to Romance languages written in Arabic script. This transliteration contributed to the dissemination of the Arabic language and Islamic influences throughout the Iberian Peninsula and beyond. By understanding the arts as a transliteration of one form of thinking to another and addressing the fundamental patterns embedded in visual art, Geometric Aljamía revisits the ongoing impact of Islamic art, science, and philosophy throughout the world today.

The artists featured in Geometric Aljamía are Mohammed Saleh Amin, Jorge Benitez, Reni Gower, Hanane Korchi, Tamin Sahebzada, and Julia Townsend.

To commemorate Governor Hogan’s proclamation of 2020 as the Year of the Woman, Source Material showcases artwork by four female artists: Maremi Andreozzi, Suzanne Herbert-Forton, Kayla Bennett, and Jess Bee. Through diverse materials, each artist incorporates colorful textures and patterns to explore themes from history and religion to poetry and dreams.

Both exhibits will be on display from August 29 through October 3. A virtual reception will be held on Friday, September 11 from 6-7PM in conjunction with the Arts Council’s Road to the Arts weekend.

Beginning September 1, the Arts Council’s gallery hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1pm-7pm and Saturdays from 10am-2pm. NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, gallery hours are subject to change; please call 410-313-ARTS (2787) or visit hocoarts.org to verify hours before visiting.

To learn more about HCAC programs and exhibits, call 410-313-ARTS (2787) or visit hocoarts.org.

Learn More
Add to Calendar 20200911 America/New_York Geometric Aljamía: A Cultural Transliteration || Source Material