{"id":2394,"date":"2019-09-14T00:22:34","date_gmt":"2019-09-13T21:22:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/?p=2394"},"modified":"2019-09-14T00:22:34","modified_gmt":"2019-09-13T21:22:34","slug":"halal-metropolis-explores-past-present-and-future-muslim-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/halal-metropolis-explores-past-present-and-future-muslim-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Halal Metropolis Explores Past, Present, and Future Muslim Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Simon Albaugh<\/strong>
\nYAN – Hamtramck<\/strong><\/p>\n

At Bank Suey Community Space, Halal Metropolis is exploring the identities and expressions of Islam in Metro Detroit. As a traveling archival, art and fashion exhibition, its stated goal is to explore Metro Detroit\u2019s expressions of Muslim Identity in the past, present and future.<\/p>\n

The exhibition is lead by Sally Howell, Ph.D from the University of Michigan Dearborn\u2019s Center for Arab American Studies. Curation of the exhibition comes from Osman Khan, Associate Professor at Stamps School of Art and Design \u2013 Part of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor.<\/p>\n

Archival Research was done by Asma Baban and marketing for the event is lead by Fatimah Al-Rasool.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is letting us imagine what the American Muslim is in 2050,\u201d Khan said. \u201cBecause now we can invent what we want to be, what the symbols are, what will be the garb.\u201d<\/p>\n

The basis for the show is imagining what a utopia would look like when it\u2019s centered around Muslim Culture. The show draws on past representations of Muslim-American populations in Southeast Michigan and works to create a conversation around what a better future could look like.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an idea for what a Halal Metropolis is,\u201d Khan said. \u201cIn some places, it\u2019s a feared notion. Some places it\u2019s home \u2013 the desire to be home. And what makes this comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Displaying her work is Zarinah El-Amin \u2013 A designer of headscarves and coverings for the many cultures and religions that intersect around what she calls \u201cwrapping\u201d or head covering.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the African-American Muslim community, when a lot of the Muslims came into Islam, they began to adopt head covering,\u201d El-Amin said. \u201cBut they made it their own style. So it wasn\u2019t like the Arab style, it wasn\u2019t like an African style. It was an African-American Muslim Style.\u201d<\/p>\n

El-Amin works with material from all over the world to imagine new and exciting ways to display head covering.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs time went on, I loved the aesthetics of it,\u201d El-Amin said. \u201cI loved the feeling. I love the individuality, because you can wrap a multitude of ways, because it\u2019s like an art. And I always said it\u2019s something that takes me to a new spiritual level.\u201d
\nThe visual art is multi-faceted. Architectural sketches for re-imagined monuments are drawn by a Bosnian artist who \u201cmodestly proposes\u201d new ways of seeing the spaces that are at the center of culture. And photography centered around expression of Muslim Identity is prominently displayed next to it.<\/p>\n

Yemeni furniture loaned by Best Deals Furniture of Hamtramck is also be a part of the exhibition.<\/p>\n

At the root of Halal Metropolis is the history of Muslim visibility in America. Islam has been a part of the Southeast Michigan culture since the late 1800s. But because Hamtramck doesn\u2019t have any facilities or centers that highlight the history of its immigrant populations, Halal Metropolis is working to bring that history to its exhibition.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the Bangladeshis and the Yemenis came into two different ends of the city and created this new economy, that\u2019s when they became a part of the city,\u201d Asma Baban said. \u201cSo that\u2019s why we\u2019re having this exhibition is so you can see how that happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

The history of Hamtramck\u2019s Muslim community is an important one. Transitioning from a vastly polish enclave of Detroit to the first city to elect a Muslim-majority city council is just one of the important aspects of the community\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it was amazing,\u201d said Courtney, who came to the exhibition. \u201cI think it puts everything happening in America in perspective.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI like to the diversity,\u201d said Amaal. \u201cWhen we go to our Mosques, we see Middle Eastern and Bengali people. But here, everyone enjoying it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The exhibition has been traveling throughout Southeast Michigan. At previous stops, Halal Metropolis has worked to highlight the history of the Muslim communities that come to see it. As the exhibition progresses, the art, presentation and the tone of the exhibit will change with the traditions and attitudes toward Islam in its new settings.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWhile we are moving, and different iterations of the projects are changing, It\u2019s not just the internal aspects of the exhibit,\u201d Fatimah Al-Rasool said. \u201cit\u2019s also the response and outreach. Because this is Hamtramck\u2019s community. And we want to showcase them. Not our work.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

By creating this dialogue with the communities, the hope is that halal Metropolis can explore a sense of visibility around the diverse cultures that are practiced every day throughout America.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is this visibility all about? What does it mean to Muslims and non-Muslims?\u201d Sally Howell said. \u201cHow was it created, not just by the Muslim community, but in dialogue with the rest of society? And where\u2019s it going? How is it transforming Detroit?\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Throughout the month-long exhibition, the organizers will hold a community event showcasing dialogues and conversations around the theme of a Halal Metropolis. Performers, artists and scholars will present their work at these events.<\/p>\n

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