Khamsa: The 5 Stages of Grief
Khamsa, the Arabic word for “five,” is a multimedia art exhibition showcasing twenty Black, Muslim, Immigrant, and Refugee visual artists and musicians traversing the five stages of grief. Khamsa will immerse participants within the heart and mind of the project through a musical and visual journey of the five stages of grief. The exhibition will be paired with a hip hop album release with music by the featured music artists.
Khamsa aims to address the different forms and contexts of grief, weaving both personal and universal experiences of loss. From the personal pain of losing a loved one, to the toll of Islamophobia and prejudice, Khamsa will draw in each and every one of us while bringing the stories and experiences of Black, Muslim, Immigrant, and Refugee artists to the forefront. Khamsa is a project to find harmony in our shared stories, bridging differences in cultures, beliefs, and history.
Location: Aggregate Space Gallery, 1255 26th ST #101, Oakland, Entrance on Union St
Exhibition Dates: Sep 2 – Oct 15, 2022
Gallery Hours: Saturdays 1 – 5 PM and by appointment
Opening Reception: Sep 2, 2022 from 6 – 9 PM
Oakland First Friday: Oct 7, 2022 from 6 – 9 PM
Closing Reception: Oct 15, 2022 from 6 – 9pm
Live Music at Oakland First Friday
Join us for live musical and spoken word performances from Khamsa’s upcoming hip hop album. This evening will feature performances by music artists Spote Breeze, D. Lee, Gavin Grant, and spoken word artist Abbas Mohamed. Get an exclusive first listen to the album while experiencing Khamsa’s visual art gallery. Yeeshaan’s Grubb will be serving up delicious halaal food.
Space is limited and RSVP through Eventbrite is required.
Doors open at 6 PM, with performances beginning at 6:30 PM.
This video was created by Meriam Salem. Follow them on Instagram.
This sneak peak is presented by Meriam Salem. Follow them on Instagram.
Khamsa: the Podcast
Check out our podcast on Spotify for the latest episodes!
Guled Muse // Khamsa Lead Artist
Guled Muse is a music producer and community organizer. His work includes community leadership in the Mission District of San Francisco and in Oakland, which includes movements around issues such as gentrification, promotion of the arts and diversity. He has founded and coordinated events including ‘Skate with Beats’ and ‘Not 4 Sale’, which highlighted the essence of Bay Area energy by promoting female, Latina DJs. Originally from Somalia, Guled moved to the US at the age of ten, and has lived in the Bay Area for over 20 years.
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Abbas Mohamed // Khamsa Art Director and Producer
Abbas Mohamed is poet, cultural producer, and the Executive Director of GAMA: Gathering All Muslim Artists, an organization he co-founded in 2016 to support and empower artists in the global Muslim community. Through GAMA, he has overseen close to 100 art-centered community events in the Bay Area, New York, and Detroit, as well as leading an artist retreat in Hawaii for 10 GAMA artists. He is also the creative director of Halalfest, Inc, co-hosts The Artistic Foodies podcast and has recently seen his work published in “A Kaleidoscope of Stories”, an anthology of Muslim Poets in the English language.
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Khamsa Collaborating Artists
Zara
pAS dOO
Fahd Butt
Sydequest
Bryan C. Simmons
Meriam Salem
aboveclouds
Gavin Grant
Nabi Haider Ali
Gazelle Samizay
Nu Nasa
Keyvan Shovir
D. Lee
Romina Zabihian
Spote Breeze
Cheflee
Mani Draper
Shaghayegh Cyrous
Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please reach out to Michelle at michelle@artogether.org with your questions.
This project is made possible with support from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, the GAMA Collective, and Aggregate Space Gallery.
