A number of Islamic organizations in the Bay Area, including the much reported, the Zaytuna College in Berkeley, have changed their culture through movement. In January, the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California will open a new gallery in the center of the facility to showcase the works of Muslim artists.

Meanwhile, the cultural center in Oakland has decided to enhance their arts programs since six months ago as executive director said the agency, Ali Sheikholeslami. Institute in Oakland is routinely held titled "Islam and the Author" which invites the authors to discuss topics related to Islam.

"We want to break down common stereotypes and show the whole spectrum of Muslim reality," said director of development and promotion of cultural centers in Oakland, Jason van Boom.

One of the Muslim scholars behind the Zaytuna College, Hatem Bazian, the first liberal Muslim art institutions in the country, agrees that thought. "In American society, the expression of artists is a way to tell a story. So, Muslims began to describe their own narrative," he said.

Bazian said the ethnic mix and a large number of Native Americans are turning to Islam in the Muslim population in the Bay Area has created synergy. 'It can be seen from the art forms that break down ethnic boundaries, "he said. The population of Muslims in the Bay Area is estimated at 250 thousand people and is regarded as one of the most diverse communities in the U.S..

However, the effort was not always smooth. For the local Muslim American artists whose work is considered 'radical' by most conservative Muslims, bernarasi is not easy.

A number of the audience left the performance space, aka 'WO' on a show in early November at UC Berkeley. When the show was featuring drama titled "Hijabi Monologue".

"I need more time and energy to negotiate with the community whether it is music haram or not rather than the content of the story," said a native U.S. citizen who turned Muslim, Anas Canon. She was also the founder of record labels and talent scouts Muslim artists, Remarkable Current.

One of the difficulties he had faced when Remarkable Current which recently held a book signing with a DJ in Oakland. Debate was immediately sticking around women and men who dressed nearly alike and interact in one room together. A fiery comments on Facebook and even denounced the event has drawn hot comment from Muslims throughout the Bay Area.

No doubt, in the consciousness in the midst of controversy, such as construction proposals Muslim cultural center near ground zero, New York, some works of art from the second generation Muslims tinged with a sense of urgency.

"Our Narrative has been stolen," said Wajahat Ali. He refers to the depiction of the Muslim general who often displayed the American media. The tendency of parents to encourage their children into prestigious professions such as doctors, lawyers and businessmen, said he has lowered morale and creative voice.

But Palin is not the Bay Area Muslim artists to quickly create their own narratives. Ali works depicting the drama of modern Pakistani-American family, is now a famous literary magazine feature in the country, McSweeney.

Over the years Ali called the local art as a force 'latent' with the heartbeat that is ticking. But now Ali says "she started to dance."

Source:www.republika.co.id