MPV and The Arts MPV establishes and nurtures vibrant progressive Muslim communities. We do this by creating opportunities for religious discourse, volunteer and community activities, and cultural events bringing together the arts, spirituality and social activism. "Yusuf and the Lotus Flower - Poetry" by Doyali Farah Islam From the Back Cover: "In this first collection from a discerning Canadian voice, Doyali Farah Islam draws you toward the same gentle listening place from which her verses pour. Islam bares her inner journey of daily meditation and prayer – decanting in the process, from poet-self to page, bold images, fluid linguistic turns, delightful double meanings, startling word play, deep thought, and small insights. Rooted in sacred stories, in the Qur’anic concept of the Day of Alast (the Day of the Primordial Covenant), and in remembrance of the Divine, Yusuf and the Lotus Flower embraces Abrahamic and Indic orientations without exoticizing either. Yusuf (Joseph) is a figure common to Judeo-Christian and Islamic narratives. He is especially beloved by Sufis. The lotus is common to Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Sikh, and yogic philosophy. In distinct ways, both motifs symbolize beautiful tenacity throughout hardship. Intone these poems. They will call back to you." http://doyalifarahislam.com/poetry-book/  "Final Flight from Sanaa" by Qais Ghanem - Blazing the trail to open discussions about sexuality in the Muslim community and in the Muslim world.
 "Taqwacore - The Birth of Punk Islam" A documentary film, directed by Canadian, Omar Majeed, is based on the novel "The Taqwacores", by Michael Muhammed Knight. The viewer travels with Knight on a journey, which begins when he talks about his initial conversion to Islam a decade ago and the lessons he learned from austere, militant, conservative Islamists. These lessons led him to ultimately abandon Islam. Then, we follow Knight on a new journey, amidst young North American, first generation South Asian and Arab Muslim punk rockers, where he finds Islam once again, but this time, the path of Islam chosen by him is paved with love and enlightenment. The film also shows the difficulties faced by the musicians. We watch as their tour bus searched by police in major American cities. We watch while they are pulled off the stage by ISNA, when organizers insist that a woman's singing voice is un-Islamic. We watch while the band searches and finds an audience in Lahore, Pakistan. A must see. |
 "Muslims?!" - A photographic exhibit by Asif Rehman. Ottawa Photographer Asif Rehman takes what is invisible and makes its visible showing ordinary people doing ordinary and not so ordinary things and those ordinary people just happen to be Muslims. Check it out here:
 "Undesirables - The History of the Komagatu" by Ali Kazimi In 1914 376 South Asian British subjects arrived at Vancouver Harbour on the ship called the Komagata Maru. Never allowed to dock, after six months the ship was turned back, its inhabitants declared to be a threat to the morals and safety of Canadians. Though the Canadian governent has issued an official apology, it remains a piece of history few Canadians know about. We thank Ali Kazimi for sharing with the world what he learned about this hidden part of Canadian history, which sheds so much light on not only what happened then, but how we came to be what we are today and how the rhetoric of politicians does not always change. We will not forget. “We do not live in the past, but the past in us.” – Ulrich Phillips For the facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.305102962840452.95751.305102902840458&type=1#!/pages/Undesirables-by-Ali-Kazimi/305102902840458  Six Metres of Pavement - by Farzana Doctor As a novelist from both Canada's Muslim community and a member of Canada's lgbt community Farzana Doctor's main characters often encompass the diversity of those communities. In the result, Farzana Doctor has become a model to our youth, our elders and everyone in between by revealing all that was previously hidden inside both communities, with depth, respect and courage. Doctor shows what it's like to be Muslim in Canada as it exists outside the boundaries of the local mosque and what its like to be queer in Canada when one is born into a community in which one must reckon with the shackles of honour and shame. For Edward Brown's review of Six Metres of Pavement in yesterday's Globe and Mail, please go to the following link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/six-metres-of-pavement-by-farzana-doctor/article1961849/  "A Jihad for Love" - By film maker Parvez Sharma explores what it's like for Queer Muslims who struggle to leave their homes and families in Muslim countries. A must see - especially for those of us who wonder why we must speak up for lgbtq Muslims. This is why. A beautiful portrait of our brothers and sisters and their quest for a decent life free from oppression. For the facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.305102962840452.95751.305102902840458&type=1#!/pages/A-Jihad-for-Love/112855655393019  "Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet", directed and produced by Alex Kronemer and Michael Wolfe, was shown on Saturday, November 13th, 2010 at 7:00 pm and is an incredible portrait of our Prophet - a patient mild man and leader who is very misunderstood in our time - by Muslims and non Muslims like. Kronemar and Wolfe along with ordinary Muslims and extraordinary biographers paint the picture of the man who really lived and breathed and struggled against patriarchy and greed in his time. For more information on the film, please see http://www.pbs.org/muhammad/index.shtml or contact us. |
