Eid al-Adha Women’s Celebration, 2020

These images are part of an ongoing project to highlight Muslim women in the Bay Area. Eid al-Adha is one of two significant holidays for Muslims- it is considered the holiest. It is known as the “Day of Sacrifice” and it is normally celebrated at Mosques and in homes. This year, due to Covid-19 restrictions, normal gatherings were not possible, so this group of women organized a gathering in a Santa Clara park. In keeping with tradition, they wore their finest clothes and brought large amounts of food to share. Part of the festivities involved one woman, Fathima, applying henna to the hands of the other women. The use of henna was encouraged by the Prophet Mohammad (saws) and is often used for celebrations of Eid and weddings, pregnancy and birth. Designs reflect the aesthetics of Islamic art, particularly geometrical floral or vegetal designs in a repetition known as the arabesque. I extended the abstract nature of these designs by "inverting" some of the images into negatives, making them a more integrated part of the textile designs in the background. Henna artists are appreciated for their ability to create community and celebrate beauty.