The Diamond Jubilee is certainly a time for celebration, and the Jubilee Arts Festival is the perfect addition to this joyous year. On February 18, 2018, the Midwest Jubilee Arts Festival took place in Chicago, where numerous local Ismaili artists showcased their skills in the art gallery, film festival, and talent showcase. All artists participating were asked for their work to reflect one or more of four creative prompts: time, legacy, aspiration, and devotion. Artists were encouraged to have an open interpretation to these guidelines.
Over 90 artists of different ages, experience levels, and even individuals from outside of the U.S. performed at the talent showcase. From siblings Jazib and Shaya Tejani, at just 5 and 4 years old, performing a devotional poem to show their love for Hazar Imam, to the Glenview and Naperville Golden Clubs dancing on stage, it was evident that art can be appreciated at any age. Mustafa Sharba, who came from Syria, took the audience on a musical journey with his violin solo, and Seema Mithani transported spectators to Japan with her Sakura Japanese musical performance.
Rashida Samani performed a song with her husband, and her mesmerizing voice captivated the audience. When asked about the Festival, she said, “the age range here is amazing. The Festival has brought families and Jamats together.”
It was a family affair for Saaniya Rupani and her dad, Amin Rupani, who both demonstrated their love for the arts during the talent showcase. Amin Rupani is the producer and director of the short film, Boxes of Chocolates, and his daughter gave a vocal performance on stage. Saaniya has been singing since she was a little girl. She described her experience at the festival as amazing, because “our community appreciates the arts. I love that the community gave me a place to express myself.”
The art gallery featured original artwork in the areas of photography, canvas and paper media, graphic design, and three-dimensional art. Artists were evaluated on how their submission incorporates at least one of the four creative prompts. They were also judged on technical components of their art, such as creativity, composition, and appearance.
Yannick Bandali moved to Chicago from Brussels, Belgium, less than a year ago. The photographs he displayed were from a trip he took to India in 2012. He says the three photographs represent the physical world. “I live through my emotions, and I wanted to put them in the pictures. Each picture shows what you do with emotion.”
Hussain Shaikh of the Glenview Jamat, through three visually captivating works of art presented his talent for calligraphy, which he says he can do for hours and hours. Even younger artists such as Zoha Suteria, at only 9 years old, expressed her love of art exclaiming, “I like making art, because it’s fun!” Maha Meghani, a 13-year-old artist, displayed a painting depicting the rope of the Imamat, called The Illuminator. She said the Jubilee Arts Festival was a good opportunity to expand her skills as she has never participated in an art festival before. She explains, “I got a lot of feedback today. The Chicago Jamat has been very supportive. They encouraged me and helped me pick a category.”
The talent exhibited the cultural diversity of the Jamat as well as its unity. Although the Jubilee Arts Festival is a new program established this Diamond Jubilee year, it is intended to become a regular global event. After witnessing such incredible and thought-provoking expressions of art, this event will definitely be one to look forward to time and time again.
