Kansas City Art Museum Offers an Engaging Look at Islamic Art Through the Ages

KANSAS CITY STAR
By Alice Thorson

Shirin Neshat, Iranian, b. 1957. Stories of Martydom (detail), 1994.
Black and white RC print and ink. Photo by permission of the artist and lender.

TOPEKA---Although Americans’ relationship with Islam is often fraught with fear and suspicion, a small but highly engaging exhibit at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art offers multiple points of positive contact, from the sheer beauty of historical works to the abhorrence of violence expressed in contemporary pieces. Called “Echoes: Islamic Art and Contemporary Artists,” the exhibit brings the culture of Islam to life with stellar objects, striking pairings, moving images and music. [link] 

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: “Echoes: Islamic Art and Contemporary Artists” (Ends April 27), 4525 Oak St., Kansas City, MO; (816) 751-1278, nelson-atkins.org