Music for the Eyes

An artistic and spiritual retreat anchored in three traditions of Arabic calligraphy:

West African, Ottoman and Persian

October 4-7, 2024

Abiquiu, New Mexico

Calligraphy is music for the eyes…

Arabic calligraphy as practiced around the world transcends the simple act of writing. As one early writer said of calligraphy, “If it was a flower, it would be a rose, if a metal, gold.” Another said, “The pen is the ambassador of intelligence, the messenger of thought, and interpreter for the mind.” This spiritual and artistic practice imbues the written word with life and beauty, so both the calligrapher and viewer alike may begin to embody the words and letters, their expression, and ultimately their meanings.

What earlier appreciation for this practice has failed to fully embrace is that all throughout the world the richness of Islamic calligraphy has flourished, in different regions that are both at the center and the periphery of Islam, with different schools finding their roots in the spirituality and the unique practice of Islam in each region. Today the Reed Society for the Sacred Arts and the West African Calligraphy Institute invite you to discover the diversity of the calligraphic form, to learn from practitioners, both of traditional schools and those at the frontiers of Islam, and to join a growing community of people who seek to increase human understanding and compassion through artistic expression. If, in the words of the American calligrapher, Mohamed Zakariya,“calligraphy is music for the eyes,” then we invite you to join us this October in Abiquiu, New Mexico for a beautiful symphony.

Fallou Fall
Bahman Panahi
Nuria Garcia Masip

The West African Calligraphy Institute and Reed Society for the Sacred Arts invite YOU to…

Spend time with award winning artists and scholars who will be your instructor and share their unique perspectives on art and spirituality and guide you with hands on experience in exploring different calligraphy styles and scripts…

Step into the sacred space of Dar al Islam, an American Islamic sacred space dreamed and designed by the internationally renowned architect, Hassan Al Fathy. Al Fathy wrote the book Architecture for the Poor and was consciously trying to create structures that seamlessly melded with the nature and environment of the each place...

Explore the landscape that drew Georgia Okeefe to this very area, leaving behind the bustle of city life to settle into a reverential rapport with the mountains, the rocks, the moon and the sky of Abiquiu and create paintings that are part of the American canon…

And to enjoy the company of seekers who understand the intersectionality of spirituality and art and have an unforgettable weekend, one that you will carry with you forever.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

  • 7 PM: sunset prayer

    8 PM: welcome dinner

  • 6 AM: dawn prayer/meditation

    7:30 AM: hike in plaza blanca

    9 AM: breakfast

    10:30 AM -12:30 PM: session with Artist #1

    1 PM: lunch

    2-4 PM: session with Artist #1

    5-7 PM: hike/archery

    7:30 PM: dinner

    9-10 PM: fireside gathering

    10:30 PM: lights out

  • 6 AM: dawn prayer/meditation

    7:30 AM: hike

    9 AM: breakfast

    10:30 AM -12:30 PM: session with Artist #2

    1 PM: lunch

    2-4 PM: session with Artist #2

    5-7 PM: hike/archery

    7:30 PM: dinner

    9-10 PM: fireside gathering

    10:30 PM: lights out

  • 6 AM: dawn prayer/meditation

    7:30 AM: hike

    9 AM: breakfast

    10:30 AM -12:30 PM: session with Artist #3

    1 PM: lunch

    2-4 PM: session with Artist #3

    5-7 PM: dinner/departure

    (Departures will be Sunday afternoon or Monday morning. Accommodations are available until Monday at noon)

THE RETREAT CENTER

A sacred landscape

Dar Al Islam is a retreat center situated on 1,600 acres in Abiquiu, New Mexico. The landscape is dramatic and awe inspiring and utterly different than the rest of the United States.

Designed by Egyptian architect Hasan Fathy and completed in 1981, the campus is anchored by its Nubian inspired mosque and includes a library, lecture hall, dorm spaces, and multiple courtyards. Dar Al Islam is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating a harmonious, integrated society through their mission and vision.

Another gem of the property is the geological landscape of the Plaza Blanca (White Place). The Plaza Blanca is a beautiful slot canyon, unlike any other in the Southwest, well know for its mystical desert beauty where our participants will hike in the mornings.

Getting There:

We suggest flying into Santa Fe (SAF) and taking an Uber or Lyft to the retreat center for about $100. You can also fly into Albuquerque (ABQ) and either 1) take an Uber to the retreat center for about $175 or take a shuttle bus from the airport to Santa Fe and then take an Uber from Santa Fe to the retreat center.

PLEASE NOTE: In September, we will reach out to participants to see if we can arrange a shuttle bus for our guests depending on everyone’s schedule.

MEET THE ARTISTS

Fallou Fall

Nuria Garcia Masip

Bahman Panahi

PRICING

  • $900

    includes program, meals, & lodging

  • $500

    includes program & meals

To reserve your spot, a nonrefundable $370 deposit is required

Payments will be asked to be completed by Sept. 1

FAQs

  • No it isn’t. We welcome people with all levels of calligraphy experience.

  • No, unfortunately it is for 18 and over.

  • We hope to arrange for transport from both Santa Fe and Albuquerque airports Thursday evening and Sunday afternoon, for a little less than the cost of an Uber ride.

  • Like a monastery. Austere and communal. Dormitory style (bunk beds) accommodations with separate halls for men and women and shared bathroom. Bedding will be basic, please consider bringing extra if you require more.

  • Unfortunately not, the instructors will be staying in the limited private bedrooms. There will be a few rooms available at the Abiquiu Inn, to be reserved at your own expense.

  • Sketch book and pencil 

    Towel

    Soap

    Toiletries

    Flashlight

    Hiking boots

    Water bottle

    Sunblock

    Clothes to layer

    Extra bedding

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Reed Society for Sacred Arts

The Reed Society for the Sacred Arts believes that art is born through a combination of inspiration, discipline, and a teacher who ignites a light in his/her students. The journey of an individual through the mastery of an art form should be appreciated in addition to any of their tangible products. We wish to shed light on the processes and inner-workings of sacred arts, as that is what gives them value.

Art cannot be called "sacred" just because the subject is "religious"; its formal execution must also echo spirituality. Our hope at RSSA is for individuals in the United States to be exposed to the art forms that have flourished for centuries founded on a science of subtleties. Through the hosting of events, workshops, lectures, performances, and exhibitions, our mission is to create a paradigm shift in how the public approaches Islamic art and music. RSSA aims to cultivate understanding of the sacred aspects of the artistic process from inspiration to execution.

Reed Society was founded in 2017 and received its 501c(3) status in 2018.

West African Calligraphy Institute

The West African Calligraphy Institute is a Senegalese nonprofit arts education organization working in Senegal, the United States, and beyond. Our mission in Senegal is community development, raising awareness of social issues, and the empowerment of young people, all through the cultural preservation of Arabic calligraphic forms indigenous to West Africa. We are building a research center, school, studio, and gallery space in Sangalkam, Sénégal near Dakar. The school will focus on passing knowledge to young people on the history and artistry of West African calligraphy, while the research center will serve as a base for researchers, artists, and calligraphers to produce academic and creative works in the region.

Our work abroad is guided by the teachings of the Senegalese sufi teacher and founder of the Mourid tariqa, Shaykh Amadou Bamba. His teachings center non-violence and love for Allah’s creation, increasing knowledge via education and travel, and a strong work ethic in service of one’s community and Allah. Our belief is that through sacred arts and cultural exchange, vis-à-vis calligraphy workshops, exhibitions, and lectures, and collaborations and community projects, we can increase consciousness of the diversity Islamic practice around the world and nurture inter-cultural understanding and peace for the benefit of all humanity.

The institute was formed in 2012 by internationally renowned artist and community activist Yelimane Fall.