@ Our Best
Meet Fayeq Oweis: Graphic Designer, Linguist, and UI&U Graduate
Dr. Oweis works with Susan Green in his San Fransisco studio
Palestinian-born artist Fayeq Oweis was running a successful graphic design firm in San Francisco when he made a life-changing decision - to pursue a doctoral degree in interdisciplinary studies at Union Institute & University, combining his interests in Islamic art with his background in design.
"I chose Union because I was working fulltime running my own business and I lacked the time and resources to go to a traditional university," he said. A friend recommended UI&U, and Oweis said, "I'm very glad he did."
That decision put Oweis on a new path toward a future, making major contributions to the Arab American community in the United States - not just as an artist, but as a writer, educator, and linguist.
"Without my education at Union, I would not have had the authority and the experience to write my books or to teach," he said. Oweis earned his Ph.D. in 2001. His dissertation focused on the unifying elements in Islamic art, including the use of Arabic script as an art form.
With his mural of Edward Said in the background,
Dr. Oweis speaks at San Francisco State University
Today, his murals and calligraphy grace the exterior entryway to the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. A mural honoring Edward Said, the outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights, which he co-designed and painted alongside Jewish-American artist Susan Greene, is featured at the Cesar Chavez Student Union Center at San Francisco State University. A professor of Arabic Language and Culture at Santa Clara University, Oweis is also the author of two books, A Pocket Guide to Arab Script (Hippocrene Books, July 2005) and the recently published Encyclopedia of Arab American Artists (Greenwood Press, December 2007).
"The works of many of the artists featured in the book appear in museums and galleries around the world but have never been featured in a reference book," says Oweis, of the Encyclopedia of Arab American Artists. The 350-page book profiles about 100 artists of Arab heritage living in the United States. For it, Oweis conducted interviews with the artists to provide a personal look into their creative processes and experiences.
"It is necessary to feature the art of Arab Americans here in the States because it shows a connection to a rich culture and heritage. It is an alternative to what the media shows, which often associates that culture with violence. Art shows a different side," said Oweis, who was raised in Ramallah, a city in the West Bank. He moved to California when he was 18.
An original painting by Fayeq Oweis
In addition to teaching at Santa Clara University, Oweis is a community activist and a president of ZAWAYA, a San Francisco-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Arab art and culture. He is also working on a new book on Arab calligraphy and has conducted a number of calligraphy workshops around the country. In the future, he plans to continue teaching - especially as the field of ethnic studies and Arab American studies continue to expand.
"We are a unique community," said Oweis, of Arab Americans living in the United States. "In many ways we are caught between two different worlds, and as our community grows, our art will have a larger impact and influence."
For more information, and to see the artwork of Oweis, visit his Web site at www.oweis.com.