NUR LIGHT - The Essence Art Exhibition May 13 to May 29 Opening celebration: May 13 at 6:30pm Roundhouse Community Centre 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver tel 604.713-1800 http://www.roundhouse.ca/index.php A Roundhouse Partnership Allah is the Light Of the heavens and the earth The likeness of His Light is as a niche Wherein is a lamp - the lamp is in a glass The glass as it were a brightly shining star Kindled from a blessed Tree An Olive neither of the East nor of the West Whose oil is well-nigh luminous Though no fire touched it Light upon Light Allah guides to His Light Whom He Wills (Qur'an 24:35) Inspired by the mystical verse on light in the Qur'an (24:35), the exhibition NUR: Light - The Essence seeks to explore the multifaceted notion of light in both its popular and mystical forms - especially within a contemporary context. . Light, in both its physical and esoteric forms is a shared motif to many faiths and philosophies, and is prevalent as a symbol of 'the good" in popular culture. Light, in poetry, philosophy and visual arts in the Islamic tradition (though not exclusive to it), is an intricately layered reality, metaphor and symbol, is not literally perceptible to the eye, but rather, concealed within the core of being itself. It is this symbolic illumination that gradually reveals the essence of things . The world seen through such a prism, becomes a series of veils to be uncovered by both outward and inward exploration, rational and intuitive intellection. In such a process of unveiling, there is a constant 'shrinking' of space between the macro and the micro, assimilation of the profound and the prosaic Curated by Amyn Sunderji and Jabbar al-Janabi, this exhibition is a collaboration of the artists from the Ismaili*, Iraqi and Iranian communities and features the work of: Amir Ali Alibhai Jabbar Al Janabi Sherazad Jamal Pari Azarm Mohamed Somani Rozita Moini Shirazi Rubina Rajan Riyadh Hashim Alia Noormohamed Nabil Adnan Naznin Virji-Babul Farida Mawji Join us at 2pm May 23rd for a dance journey through south and central Asia featuring Sitara and at 7pm on May 28th for music and performance in celebration of light, with Serwan Yamolky, Ibrahim Hanna, Sufi dancer Tanya Evanson, and much much more. In conjunction with the exhibition Riyadh Hashim will offer workshops on Islamic Calligraphy Inspired by Light? In collaboration with the exhibition Nur: Light - The Essence, World Poetry presents a Create a Poem space in the exhibition from 2-5 pm on weekdays and 1-4 pm on weekends. World Poetry Volunteers will be on hand to support your muse and get you writing. Selected local poets will be contacted to read their poems at the World Poetry Extravaganza on May 25. * "The Shia Ismaili Muslims are a community of ethnically and culturally diverse peoples living in over 25 countries around the world, united in their allegiance to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan as the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader), and direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family). "