Master Arabic calligrapher Pablo Casado will give a public lecture at 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 7.
The talk, “Preserving a Tradition,” will introduce the history of Arabic calligraphy and the ways this art is passed down from master to student. Casado also will give a demonstration of Arabic calligraphy.
The event will be held in Room 253 of John C. Hodges Library. It is free and open to the public.
While on campus, Casado also will hold a two-day Arabic calligraphy workshop for interested UT undergraduate students. Students will get an introduction to Arabic letters and their forms, and learn about some of the classical styles of Arabic calligraphy as well as the proper use of traditional materials to practice calligraphy. They will also learn about the traditional pedagogy of the Turkish and Arab calligraphic traditions.
Casado, a native of Madrid, Spain, trained in the Ottoman school of calligraphy, which traces its roots to the 16th century. He received his icazet, or calligraphy diploma, in the Sülüs and Nesih styles at the Center for Research of Islamic History, Art and Culture in Istanbul. His diploma was signed by Hassan Çelebi, Ferhat Kurlu, and Nuria García, who are among the most respected master calligraphers in the world.
UT’s Middle East Studies Program is hosting the event. It is co-sponsored by the School of Art; the Departments of Religious Studies, History, Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures, English, and Political Science; the Marco Institute for Medieval and Renaissance Studies; and the Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Program in Judaic Studies.
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CONTACT:
Christine Shepardson (865-974-2466, cshepard@utk.edu)
Lola Alapo (865-974-3993, lalapo@utk.edu)