Support Bekir Salim's Museum Project

Crafting a Legacy: Celebrating 33 Muslim Explorers Through Art

My name is Bekir Salim. I am a painter living in America. I am waiting for your support for a small part of my museum project.

I'm not making a profit when I'm doing this job. My only desire is to keep my painting studio alive and use it for this job.

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Dear Friends,

We are thrilled to announce one of the three major museum exhibits in our series: “33 Muslim Pioneers in Science and Art” At the entrance of this section in our museum complex, we plan to install a stunning mural on the lobby wall, measuring 200 x 300 inches (5m x 7.70m). We invite you to join us in bringing this valuable piece of art to life.

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Project Description

In today’s world, the rich history and significant contributions of Muslim scholars and explorers are often overlooked. We believe it’s time to highlight these achievements and share their inspiring stories with a wider audience.

Art serves as a universal language that transcends cultural barriers and speaks directly to the human spirit. A painting, a poem, or a melody can convey more than volumes of text, making it the ideal medium to tell these untold stories.

Between 1509 and 1511, during the Renaissance, the renowned Italian painter Raphael produced the magnificent fresco “The School of Athens” on a library wall in the Vatican. This artwork, measuring 200 x 300 inches (5m x 7.70m), symbolically portrays some of history’s most famous philosophers and mathematicians, their significance reflected in their attire, posture, and colors. However, aside from Ibn Rushd (Averroes), no Muslim scholar is represented.

Yet, many foundational contributions to science and exploration were made by Muslim scholars. Their stories deserve to be told and celebrated.

Our Response: We aim to compose a mural of the same size, entirely handcrafted, featuring the “33 Muslim Pioneers in Science and Art”, carefully selected by experts from hundreds of candidates.

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Project Timeline and Needs

• Duration: 18 months

o First 3 months: Detailed research and sketching

o Next 15 months: Design of the mural

• Team Requirements:

o Assistant painter

o Designer

o High-ceilinged studio equipped with necessary materials

• Financial Need: $15,800 per month

o Total: $284,400.00 over 18 months

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How You Can Help

1. Contributions between $1 and $1,000

o Become a cherished part of this meaningful project.

2. Contributions of $1,000

o Receive a 21 x 70 inch (53cm x 178cm) museum-quality canvas print of the “Sultanate of Sevr” painting.

3. Contributions of $5,000

o Receive the “Sultanate of Sevr” print

o Plus a museum-quality canvas print of the original mural we will compose, at one-third of its original size.

4. Contributions of $10,000 or more

o Your name will be permanently commemorated on a brass plaque beside the mural

o Plus receive the gifts from the previous tiers.

5. Tax Deductibility

o All contributions will be formalized with invoices and are tax-deductible.

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Your support will help us share the rich heritage and lasting impact of Muslim explorers with the world, fostering understanding and appreciation through the universal language of art.

Thank you for being a part of this journey.

Kind regards,

Bekir Salim