Can you believe it’s August already? It’s amazing how time flies by, alhamdullilah, and before we know it it’ll be 2025! It’s important to take a moment to appreciate all of the blessings we’ve received this past month and I wanted to share that with you.
To Know One Another with Sibok Shahid of SWAM Dojo
Last Saturday, July 27, we had a fantastic To Know One Another gathering with Sibok Shahid Najee-ullah, Head Instructor at the renowned SWAM Martial Arts Dojo in Jamaica, Queens. Mashallah we had a great turn out and amazing, enriching conversation. Thank you so much to everyone who joined us and for those who couldn’t make it, you can watch a recording of my conversation with Sibok Shahid on my website. It’s a bit of a long video so make yourself a cup of tea and settle down for an exciting watch!
My recent work, “The Clinic,” part of my exhibition “Close to Home,” draws inspiration from my visit to the SWAM Dojo during their martial arts clinic in the summer of 2023. Founded in 1977 by Sijo Abdul Mutakabbir, SWAM Dojo has been a beacon of discipline, respect, and community upliftment. The dojo upholds many of my personal values and it’s a privilege to be able to share this with you through my art. You can read about my visit to the dojo in summer of 2023 to celebrate the renaming of a street in Jamaica, Queens, after the dojo to honor its contributions to the local community.
Upcoming Close to Home Programming
To Know One Another will be back for 3 gatherings in September on the 13th, 20th, and 28th. Those are all the dates we have left so if you’ve been meaning to join us but haven’t been able to yet, so make sure you mark your calendar in advance!
I’m delighted to share with you more of the upcoming Close to Home programming inshallah. Alongside To Know One Another, September will also include a second iteration of On Place and Process: In Situ Artist Fellows in the Studio with myself, Cameron A. Granger, and Catalina Schliebener Muñoz. On September 22nd, we will be discussing our fellowship, artistic process, and the work we did at the museum that culminated in our ongoing exhibitions. You can RSVP here.
Exciting Events in October and November
I also have an exciting on site and online program so you’re able to join us wherever you are!
On September 8th, from 12 to 2pm EST there will be an online verbal tour of my Close to Home along with Catalina Schliebener Muñoz Buenos Vecinos, Cameron A. Granger 9999, which you can RSVP for here.
On October 12, from 1 to 4pm EST at Queens Museum we’ll be joined by Hisham Aidi and Umar Sheikh Tahir for a film screening and discussion. Hisham Aidi is a Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, and Umar S. Tahir is a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies (MESAAS), Columbia University, working on West African postclassical Islamic intellectual history.
On November 12th at 12pm EST, we’ll have Cairo and Pan Africanism, an online conversation with Kribsoo Diallo and Mohamed Yehia. Kribsoo Diallo is a Cairo-based Pan-Africanist researcher in political science related to African affairs, and Mohamed Yehia is a history researcher and educator within the arts and culture domain, joined various projects in Egypt with a primary objective of decentralizing and democratizing access to knowledge production in the social sciences and humanities.
Press and Media Coverage of Close to Home
Finally, I want to highlight Close to Home‘s feature in Musee Magazine. The reception of the exhibition has been exciting and it has kept its momentum, alhamdullilah.
I’m currently developing a press list and I would love to know if you have any suggestions for writers, bloggers, journalists (print or traditional), or podcasters you think I should reach out to share the Close to Home exhibition with. You can send me their contact information, or you could send them mine (studio@nsengaknight.com) or Heryte T. Tequame, Director of Communications and Digital Projects at Queens Museum at (press@queensmuseum.org).
I have made the press release of Close to Home available on my site and if you’d like to receive the press kit, just reply to this email.
Fine Art Open Edition Prints
I’m delighted to be able to offer my artworks to you as high quality open edition prints for sale through Saatchi Art. You can browse the selection online and choose the size and print material that works best for no matter where you might be reading this from!
If you’re interested in my Signed Limited Edition prints or my original artworks then reach out to me directly by sending an email to studio@nsengaknight.com
