Read Norma Smith Olson’s article “Powerful Portraits: Heba Amin gives faces to extraordinary Muslim women“.

“Halide Edib Adivar, Umm Kulthum, Arwa bint Ahmed al-Sulayhiyya, and Shirin Ebadi are names that may be unfamiliar to many in the United States. They are four women-a scholar, a musician, a queen and a Nobel Peace Prize winner-portrayed in the recently released book, “Extraordinary Women from the Muslim World.” 

It was a learning experience for this month’s cover artist Heba Amin, who painted 11 portraits for the book. “That’s what made this project exciting for me. It exposed me to these amazing women, many that I didn’t know about,” Amin said. In her research for the paintings, she found few pictures of the women. She had the challenge of conceptualizing their images-the perfect project for a women artist who focuses on the intellectual power of art.” [more]

Extraordinary Women From the Muslim World wins the 2009 Skipping Stones Honor Award for Multicultural and International Awareness. Here is a list of the 2009 winners.

Read Jeff Strickler’s Article “Putting a Face on Role Models” in the Star Tribune.

Minneapolis artist Heba Amin didn’t have to be asked twice if she wanted to illustrate a book on female Muslim heroes. Not only was it a chance to get a paycheck from her art after a decade spent earning three college degrees, but it was a project she wholeheartedly embraced.

“I’m very aware of cultural stereotypes,” she said. “The image of Muslim women in the United States is of veiled, oppressed people who have no voice. But in fact, Muslim women have a long history of remarkable achievements.” [more]

“Extraordinary Women From the Muslim World“ wins a 2008 Middle East Book Award in the category of Youth Non-Fiction. More information at: http://www.outreachworld.org/article.asp?articleid=121.

“Extraordinary Women from the Muslim World” has been awarded a National Best Books 2008 Award in the category of “Religion: Islam”. View complete listing: http://USABookNews.com/bestbooksawards2008.html

“Extraordinary Women from the Muslim World” has been awarded the Moonbeam Peacemaker Award!

About the award: The Moonbeam Peacemaker Award is established to honor the best book for promoting world peace and human tolerance in memory of Mattie J.T. Stepanek (1990-2004), whose poetry and messages of hope and peace have inspired millions of people around the world.

About Moonbeam: The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards are designed to honor the best children’s books, authors and illustrators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading.

http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1250

“Artist Heba Amin Explores Her Egyptian Heritage in America”
http://www.america.gov/st/diversity-english/2008/October/20081003125506maduobbA4.618472e-02.html?CP.rss=true

The article also debuted in America.gov’s publication, “Being Muslim in America“. Read the article “Young Muslims Make Their Mark: Artist Heba Amin“.

Encyclopedia of Arab American Artists: Artists of the American Mosaic by Fayeq S. Oweis

“Artists featured in the Encyclopedia range from 27-year-old painter and mixed media artist Heba Amin to 92-year-old self-taught woodworker and furniture designer Sam Maloof. In addition to individuals, two artist collectives, the House of Lebanon and the Arab Artists Collective–Detroit, also are profiled. Arranged alphabetically, the book includes artists’ biographies, 16 color images and 84 black-and-white photos. The artists’ works represent a wide variety of media, ranging from traditional painting and sculpture to modern digital art and installation pieces. War, occupation, childhood memories and the experiences of women in male-dominated societies are among the subjects that inspired the artists profiled in the book.”

For more information about the author and where to purchase the book go to http://www.oweis.com/artists.html