After returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 1999, with Surah Rahman (The Merciful Benefactor, Chapter 55 in the Qur'an) ringing in her ears and tugging at her heart, artist Ann Saunders found herself constantly asking the question that appears as a refrain throughout the surah, "Which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?" With a renewed commitment to Islam and to her work, and a stronger sense of urgency to fully realize her God-given talents, Hajjah Saunders then set about creating a body of artwork through which she could reverence her Creator. Deciding to devote herself full-time to making art, the Chicago native left her position as Principal of Clara Muhammad School in southeast Washington, DC and found studio space so that she could immerse herself in what she considers her personal jihad (struggle).
Sister Ann's education as an artist began at age five when she began studying, on and off, at the Art Institute of Chicago on Saturdays until graduating from high school. She then attended the American College in Paris for two years before going to the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Afterwards, she worked as a graphic designer for some time before pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts degree at Syracuse University in New York State.
Upon completion of her Masters, Sister Ann worked at Syracuse University as the promotions coordinator for the Division of Summer Sessions. In 1986, she joined the faculty of The School of Art and Design at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC), becoming tenured in 1993. Among her many accomplishments at SIUC, she established, directed and coordinated the "Learning Through Design" project. From 1993 until 1998, she served as Resource Faculty to the national project, "The Role of the Arts in Unifying the High School Curriculum," sponsored by the College Board and the Getty Education Institute for the Arts. She left the school as an Associate Professor in 1997 to join the administrative staff of Clara Muhammad School.
Hajjah Saunders' work includes mixed media drawings, paintings and constructions - all of which are inspired by her personal study of the Qur'an, Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Qur'anic Arabic. Although contemporary, her work draws primarily upon the traditions and influences of Islamic and African art; however, it reflects those of western and other cultures as well. The artist's most recent work presents "the prayer rug" and simplified "pages of the Qur'an" as visual metaphors for "opportunity." Frequently, she combines the prayer rug with a presentation of the alternation of night and day, representing the five daily prayers of Muslims. The subject matter of her work seeks to reflect both the majesty of The Creator and the fragility of the creation, and the balance inherent in the Islamic faith.
Saunders uses a variety of art methods in an effort to uplift and inspire the spirit of her viewers, and provide them with an opportunity to reflect. The size of her work varies, but usually ranges from six by nine inches to three-and-a-half by four feet.
Currently, artist Saunders' work can be seen at
the Art-O-Matic 2000 exhibition, in the historic department store building
located at 4500 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. through October
29th. The exhibition, which features over 600 artists from the Washington,
D.C. metropolitan area, is free and open to the public from noon until 10
p.m. on Wednesdays through Sundays. The displayed works include the visual
and performing arts, and the sacred as well as the secular (and, Sister
Ann warns for those who might be a bit conservative, a few that are far
from sacred). Information on the exhibit and its exhibitors can be
obtained by visiting the Art-O-Matic web site at www.artomatic.org .
Hajjah Saunders' will give an "Artist's Talk" at the exhibit on Saturday, October 21st at 3 p.m. on her endeavor to synthesize the influences of Islam with her western education. Most of work is for sale. You can make arrangements to see more of her work, make purchases or arrange for private showings by writing her at:
hajjah@art-from-reality.com
