LibGuides: Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys: Art Spots

Art Spots

The Islamic Art Spots are seven visual essays, presented in a series of short films designed to make art from Muslim societies an integral part of the Muslim Journeys experience. These films are best viewed using Internet Explorer.

The Art Spots were written and presented by D. Fairchild Ruggles, Professor of Art, Architecture, and Landscape History, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and produced by Twin Cities Public Television.

Calligraphy
This brief video describes the arts of Islamic calligraphy, the artistic practice of handwriting based on the Arabic script.
Mosques and Religious Architecture
This brief video describes the structure, architecture and decoration of mosques and other religious buildings and discusses their variations in Muslim societies across geography and time.
The Arts of Trade and Travel
The obligation to make the pilgrimage (known as the hajj) to Mecca, combined with the tradition of global trade in Muslim societies, makes international travel important in the lives of many Muslims. This brief video highlights the arts associated with these traditions of trade and travel.
Islamic Gardens
This brief video describes the forms, functions, features, and significance of the garden in Islamic societies, and the motif of gardens in various artistic genres.
Islamic Textiles
This brief video describes the arts of weaving, knotting, and dyeing fabrics, including patterned carpets, woven calligraphy and their uses in Muslim cultures at all levels of society.
Geometry
This brief video expores the effect of geometric lines and curves on ornamental design in Islamic art, and illlustrates how they also characterize the timeless, breathtaking architecture of the Muslim world.
The Arts of the Book and Miniature Painting
This brief video describes the Islamic arts of the book and book illustration in the form of miniature painting.