Islam in Rhode Island

RISD Museum
and The City of Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
2017-2019

In 2017 and 2018 Meehan received commissions from the RISD Museum and the City of Providence to create public art that would consider the presence of Islam in Rhode Island communities – its long historical roots, its contemporary face, and the cultural preconceptions and social conflict embedded in the current political climate.

For the RISD Museum, Meehan created “Imam Alli-Owe” from a portrait of a beloved leader on the Nigerian Muslim community in Rhode Island. The 21-foot piece graced the entrance of the museum for one year, and was a springboard for public programming around the potential for art to dislodge false preconceptions and foster human connection.

In the Providence, Meehan created “Bidur,” a public art collaboration with the first family to come to Rhode Island as refugees from the war in Syria. During their conversation about Bidur’s decision to allow Meehan to portray a portrait of her in the public square at 31-feet high, Bidur said “We should all be able to live together – Christian, Muslim, Jew.” Her friend added: “If I take off my hijab, or I take off my clothes, what is the change in me? My heart is my heart. Your heart is your heart.”

Read Meehan’s extended writing about her work with Bidur and Imam Allie-Owe in the links provided.

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