UCCC To Host Glass Sculptures Express the 99 Most Beautiful Names of God

The Utah Cultural Celebration Center will present a new exhibit featuring the glass artwork of BYU art instructor Andrew Kosorok. The sculptures, each of which represents the "most beautiful" names of God in the Qur'an, will be on display with other art, including paintings, fabrics and other items reflecting the Muslim faith.

WHEN: Exhibit:
Sept 1 - October 11, 2011
Mon - Thurs, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and by arrangement

Opening Reception:
September 1, 2011
6 - 8 p.m.

WHERE: Utah Cultural Celebration Center
1355 West 3100 South
West Valley City, UT 84119

WHO: Everyone is invited to the opening reception and exhibit free of charge.

WHY: From the artist and exhibit curator:

"Following the terrible events of 9/11, one of the many faiths sheltered in the US, Islam, suddenly became a frightening mystery, and it became important to heal my own ignorance about this major world religion. Religious traditions are intended to help the faithful to become better people and to lead them into a better world; Islam is no different. I am a Christian, not a Muslim, and I determined to learn about a faith so misrepresented as to no longer be recognizable to its faithful practitioners.
In the US, Islam is commonly understood through lenses of partial and poor information. As I began to learn more about this faith, I discovered the tradition of the 99 Most Beautiful Names from the Qur'an; the 99 Names are an index of God's infinite characteristics, simplified for the benefit of mortal minds. These are attributes of God that help the faithful navigate their place in the universe relative to God, and provide direction for worship and emulation. They form a practical point from which to start the exploration of another faith.

My personal response to each Name - a synthesis of research and discussion with members of Sunni, Shi'a, and Sufi communities - is sculpted with cold-worked flat glass, a traditionally Occidental medium. The sculptures are built with three primary considerations in their design: architectural form, medieval bookbinding techniques, and awareness of mathematical and spatial geometry. One point I learned as an artist is that in Islam, rather than in my own Christian tradition, it is inappropriate to represent God as having human form, so the sculptures are symbolic abstractions rather than illustrations. In addition to being a tangible record of my personal journey towards understanding, the project is designed to provide a positive, non-confrontational environment to learn about a misunderstood and poorly represented portion of our American neighborhood and the world stage. There will be a total of 100 sculptures, projected to be finished by the close of 2012.

As the works are completed, they are displayed in a variety of venues including church and community groups, community art centers, libraries, and traditional galleries, in groups of 5 to 13 works. At each exhibit, I speak about the genesis of the project and my intent, and an invited member of the local Muslim community speaks about the personal meaning of the 99 Most Beautiful Names and what it means to be Muslim; after which, patrons are invited to ask questions. The exhibitions are documented online so members of the international community are able to see the progress of the project and interest in the ongoing process.

It is my hope that the project will help provide an environment of civility and sincere dialog, where differences are addressed with dignity, and we work together to build the open community we desire for our children and our future."

For more information about this exhibit or other events at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center call 801-965-5100 or visit culturalcelebration.org

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