Arab American Heritage Month 2025

FEATURE EVENT

Monday, April 14 | 6:30 - 7:30 PM | Downtown Library
Arabiqa: Arab Music, Dance, & Culture with Karim Nagi
Arabiqa shares music and dance from around the Arab world. Performer Karim Nagi leads this interactive performance, showing multiple instruments, participatory dance styles, costumes, geography and language. This family-oriented community event will help everyone enjoy the beautiful culture of the Arab world.

MORE WAYS TO EXPLORE ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Arabic Poetry (She'er) with the Arab American Advisory Group
Of all art forms in the Arab world, poetry is arguably the most esteemed. As a vehicle of expression, the various forms of Arabic poetry have been a means to record and retell history, and have been a reflection of traditions, culture, and identity in the Arab world. Poems reflecting the diversity of Arab culture and history will be read and celebrated.

Author Event | Noura's Extraordinary Superpower with Reda A. Taleb
Join author Reda Taleb for a reading and discussion of her book: Noura's Extraordinary Superpower: A Book for Youth with Incarcerated Young Ones and How to Activate the Innate Superpower of Empathy for Healing.

The Living Lines: History of the Art of Arabic/Islamic Calligraphy
Dr. Nihad Dukhan discusses the history, development, and styles of Arabic/Islamic calligraphy from the seventh century up to the Ottoman Empire. His lecture also touches on the philosophical aspect of it, and its intimate relationship to Qur’anic writing. A brief description of the origins of the Arabic script is given. Aesthetic appreciation of the art and its intricate geometry, rhythm, and visual impact. My original concept of “Calligraphy-Dominated Culture” is outlined. Special attention is given to the three founding masters and the circle and rhombic dot measurement system. Training and the extraordinary master-pupil relationship, as well as the calligraphic Ijazah, are highlighted.

Hands-On Session: Production of Arabic Calligraphy Specimen 
Dr. Nihad Dukhan demonstrates the complete technique for producing a finished piece of Arabic calligraphy. Materials and instruments include specially-sized Ahar paper, traditional ink made from soot, inkwell with leeqa (silk), reed pens and sharpening tools, as well as a writing board with leather. The process of writing starts with selecting a text and a calligraphy style then moves into sketching, refining, and re-evaluation, before it is finally penned. Correcting techniques are shown. Arabic calligraphy finishing using gold leaf, geometric and vegetal patterns, and marble (ebru) papers are described. Actual finished and framed pieces are shown.

ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH QUOTE OF THE DAY
Watch a quote come to life as AADL staff use their skills to make powerful words pretty.