Brush & Being | The Art of Miniature

An Afternoon to Support and Engage with Sufi Arts, Culture and Knowledge

Join us for an intimate and enriching afternoon in Toronto, coinciding with UNESCO’s International Day of Islamic Art. This event combines a guided miniature painting workshop, meaningful conversation, live music, and a silent auction of original works.

Facilitated by Tazeen Qayyum, guests will be introduced to the history and aesthetics of Persian and South Asian miniature traditions. Participants will work with traditional materials, and create their own guided composition to take home. No prior art experience is required.

The program also includes a reception with hors d’oeuvres, live music, and a standing luncheon service of sandwiches, tea, coffee, and desserts.

About the Artist

Tazeen Qayyum (she/her) is a Pakistani-Canadian multidisciplinary artist based in Oakville. Trained as a miniature painter in the South Asian and Persian traditions, she has expanded her practice to include drawing, installation, sculpture, video, and performance. Her work often engages with themes of belonging and displacement within socio-political contexts, serving as a way to navigate identity and beliefs while living in the diaspora.

Qayyum’s art has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the Bangkok Biennale (Thailand), Karachi Biennale (Pakistan), the South Asia Institute (Chicago), the National Gallery of Pakistan, the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum (Japan), the Museo Diocesano (Milan), the Textile Museum (Toronto), the Robert McLaughlin Gallery (Oshawa), and the Art Gallery of Windsor, among many others. Alongside her studio practice, Qayyum teaches workshops in traditional miniature painting. She is the co-founder of Art Address, an interactive space for artistic discourse in Oakville (est. 2018). She currently serves on the Arts Council at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, and has previously served on the Board of Directors of Oakville Galleries and the Advisory Board of the Blackwood Gallery.

Supporting CFSACK

The Canadian Friends of Sufi Arts, Culture, and Knowledge (CFSACK) is a federal not-for-profit and CRA-designated charity committed to broadening public appreciation of Sufi history, art, and culture. Your attendance directly supports:

• Scholarships & Research Awards: Fostering academic work on Sufi arts and culture.

• Public Workshops & Cultural Showcases: Creating immersive experiences that illuminate Sufi traditions.

• Community Engagement: Partnering with institutions like the Musée d’Art et de Culture Soufis MTO™ (MACS MTO) to make Sufi heritage accessible to all.

Your participation supports CFSACK’s mission to broaden public knowledge and appreciation of Sufi arts, culture, and knowledge. Proceeds from this fundraiser help fund educational programs, scholarships, and collaborative projects with institutions like the Musée d’Art et de Culture Soufis MTO™ (MACS MTO), the world’s first museum dedicated to Sufi art and cultural practices.

By attending, you help ensure that Sufi arts and knowledge continue to inspire and engage new generations.

Sponsorship & VIP Attendance Opportunities

Gold Sponsor – $11,000 Donation

• Seven VIP tickets with priority and reserved seating

• Prominent On-Site Recognition

• Acknowledgment During the Program by Hosts

• Private group photo

• $9,600 of your contribution is tax-deductible*

  
  

Silver Sponsor – $5,500 Donation

• Four VIP tickets with priority, reserved seating

• On-Site & Program Recognition

• Acknowledgment During the Program by Hosts

• Group photo opportunity

• $4,700 of your contribution is tax-deductible*

  
  

Friends of Sufi Arts, Culture and Knowledge – $1,100 Donation

• One VIP ticket with priority, reserved seating

• Program Recognition

• Thank-You Mention During the Program by Hosts

• $900 of your contribution is tax-deductible*

  
  

Reserve Your Tickets or Sponsorship

Reserve your seat, immerse yourself in timeless poetry, and connect with fellow guests who share a passion for the power of art and poetry. You can reserve tickets using the web form below and pay with credit card, or select offline payment and complete your order by phoning 778-872-0255 or emailing info@cfsack.org to get instructions for cheque and direct deposit payments.

*The tax-deductible amounts noted above are estimates based on the fair market value of goods and services received. This is not professional tax advice. For specific questions about the deductibility of your donation, please consult your accountant or a qualified tax professional.

Image: "Laila and Majnun in School", Folio 129 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art