ST. PAUL — Originally constructed in 1922 to cater to the burgeoning Irish immigrant community, St. John’s Catholic Church has been repurposed into the Darul Uloom Center for Islam. When artist Mohamud Mumin, who was invited to speak at my visual culture class at Macalester College, invited me to his new exhibition, I was eager to attend. Guided by my GPS, I found myself at a location resembling a church with a school adjacent. Mumin greeted me at the school entrance, and stepping inside, I was struck by a sense of nostalgia, surrounded by the familiar wooden and brickwork reminiscent of my childhood Irish American connections.
This space, once a nurturing ground for Irish immigrants, is now being revitalized by Somali immigrants. The exhibition titled “Anomalous Expansion” at Darul Uloom, meaning “House of Knowledge” in Arabic, showcases diverse expressions of Somali American identity through various art forms. Organized collaboratively by Mumin, Kaamil Haider, and others, the exhibition features works by six Somali artists, blending cultural narratives and contemporary art within the historical setting of the former Catholic school.
Ifrah Magan, a doctoral candidate researching Somali refugee resettlement, addressed the audience during the opening, highlighting the artists’ roles in navigating complex identity symbols amidst a challenging socio-political landscape. The artists, including Mumin and Haider, elaborated on their experiences as Somali Minnesotans, emphasizing the significance of hosting the exhibition within a community-supported space to foster dialogue around contemporary art.
Discussing the exhibition’s title, Mumin explained it as a metaphor for change, akin to water freezing while sustaining life beneath. This deviation from norms, both in artistic collaboration and the blending of mosque and art, underscores their mission to control and narrate their own stories. The venue, previously a church, now embodies a new chapter of cultural and artistic convergence.
The exhibition, running until October 8 at the Darul Uloom Islamic Center, showcases the potential for art to transcend traditional boundaries, inviting both Somalis and the wider community to engage with and appreciate the narratives conveyed through these artistic expressions.
