An artist's view of the Quran
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"The Word of God: Sandow Birk's American Quran" juxtaposes with its English translation and supporting artwork. -
"The Word of God: Sandow Birk's American Quran" at the Warhol Museum. Sandow Birk, American Qur''an Sura 19 (a), 2010, Courtesy of P.P.O.W Gallery, NY and Catharine Clark Gallery, San Francisco. -
Shiva Ahmadi's "Oil Barrel #7"
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Long before an attention-seeking Florida pastor publicly burned Islam's holy book, artist Sandow Birk began wondering about the contents of the Quran, so much in the news after the Sept. 11 attacks but little known in Western culture.
The Florida incident generated violent response half-way around the world. Mr. Birk's musings generated an ongoing project to copy all of the book's chapters and surround them with paintings.
After the wars began in Afghanistan and Iraq, there was "so much American debate about Islam -- how threatening is it?" he said. He went to a bookstore and bought four English versions of the Quran and began to read them.
Mr. Birk, who grew up in Los Angeles, has been a lifelong surfer and has followed the waves across the world, including along the coasts of countries with large Muslim populations such as Morocco, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. During surfing trips, he investigated the culture, ate the food, toured the architecture including mosques, and heard the call to prayer.
Where: The Andy Warhol Museum.
When: Through May 1.
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sunday and until 10 p.m. Fridays.
Admission: $15; seniors $9; students and ages 3-18, $8; half-price 5-10 p.m. Fridays.
Information: www.warhol.org or 412-237-8300.
Related exhibition: "Dis[Locating] Culture: Contemporary Islamic Art in America," featuring nine artists, opens with a reception 5- 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Michael Berger Gallery, 30 S. Sixth St., South Side (free, public; the exhibition continues through July 30; 412-441-4282 or www.MichaelBergerGallery.com).
"Public debate in the U.S. about Islam wasn't really reconciling with my experience of it," Mr. Birk said.
Five years ago, he began a series of paintings that combine the hand-written words of the Quran with gouache paintings of scenes from contemporary American life. Works completed as of December are in the exhibition "The Word of God: Sandow Birk's American Qur'an" at The Andy Warhol Museum on the North Side. A related symposium, ecumenical event and opening reception for an Islamic art exhibition at Michael Berger Gallery will take place this weekend.
First Published April 13, 2011 12:00 am
