Date/Time
Date(s) - 06/27/2026
9:30 am - 6:00 pm

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Location
Diyanet Center of America

Categories

Cost:
$236.60 USD
Contact Person:
Reed Society for the Sacred Arts
Email:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arabesque-pattern-and-plaster-carving-with-adam-williamson-tickets-1987161978972?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Website:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arabesque-pattern-and-plaster-carving-with-adam-williamson-tickets-1987161978972?aff=ebdssbdestsearch#organizer-card
Phone:

Organization:
The Reed Society

Moroccan Stucco Patterns
Participants will draw a biomorphic stucco rosette inspired by the Bou Inania Madrasa (1356), Fez, learning how carved plaster decoration is designed specifically for architectural surfaces.

Arabesque Patterns (Islimi & Rumi)
This session explores the Islimi arabesque tradition, with a focus on the Rumi family of motifs. Participants will learn how vegetal forms interlock, branch, and repeat, creating dynamic yet controlled compositions.

Geometric Persian Patterns
A more advanced geometric session focusing on 5- and 10-fold symmetry, commonly found in medieval Persian architecture. Participants will learn to construct complex polygonal systems and understand their structural logic.

The second day will feature:

Plaster Carving

A full-day, hands-on workshop introducing traditional plaster carving techniques. Participants will work with cast plaster panels and carve either a geometric or biomorphic pattern of their choice, using traditional tools and methods.

Adam is a leading specialist in geometric and biomorphic (Arabesque) pattern, a traditional cursive art form that can be found universally. The visual crystallisation of movement, biomorphs express the archetypal cycles inherent in nature, from plant growth, sound vibrations and oceanic currents to the expansion of galaxies.

Adam co-runs immersive study trips to locations all over the world. In 2022 his book “Profound Patterns” was published, he has also contributed chapters to the best selling Thames and Hudson book Arts and Crafts of the Islamic Lands and is currently working on an extensive manual on biomorphic pattern.

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The Reed Society for the Sacred Arts (RSSA) works with a global network of artists and musicians to nurture the cultural, intellectual, and spiritual wisdom woven into sacred art forms. The Reed Society’s work serves not only as a platform for cultural preservation but also as a source of healing and reconnection for diverse populations, particularly diaspora communities, immigrants, and refugees seeking to engage with their heritage.
In collaboration with leading artists and institutions, our organization curates a rich array of programs — including hands-on workshops, immersive retreats, musical performances, academic lectures, and exhibitions. The Reed Society’s work spans disciplines such as Arabic and Ottoman calligraphy, Islamic illumination (tazhib/tehzib), sacred geometry, and traditional music forms such as Qawwali and Sufi-inspired vocal traditions.

The Reed Society has partnered with organizations such as the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, The Walters Art Museum, The Kennedy Center, and major universities including Harvard, George Washington University and Stanford.

Keep the connection alive — Join our newsletter for upcoming Reed Society programs and events.
For questions or to register, please contact: admin@reedsociety.org