On Nov. 6, feelings of pessimism, nervousness, and division lingered in the minds of millions of progressive-minded Americans following the election of Donald Trump; however, at the Dearborn Fine Arts Club at the Arab-American National Museum on the following Wednesday night, the atmosphere was that of warmth, hopefulness, and collaboration. Aya Hassan, the founder of the Dearborn Fine Arts Club, prioritizes providing a supportive community for emerging local artists to share their rich, artistic visions with one another.

Hassan, a twenty-four year old Palestinian artist who moved to the U.S in 2017, founded the club earlier this year. The club has gained traction in the last several months, as artists of various backgrounds pour into the museum every Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. for what is essentially a celebration of local creatives.

Hassan has yearned for an artistic community of her own after being associated with several local art organizations, such as the Breakfast Club of Detroit and Lions and Rabbits based in Grand Rapids. “One day I was driving by the Arab American National Museum, and I immediately knew in my heart that this was the place for it (the Fine Arts Club). I immediately stopped in with a box of donuts, and I asked for the director’s information, and here we are,” Hassan smiled.

After connecting with many artists over the years, Hassan grew frustrated with gifted individuals unable to make a name for themselves due to being underprivileged. “I think capitalism creates a funnel that gives some of the same, well known artists opportunities, and leaves out all the other artists that are trying to emerge. It leaves them with less opportunities and less capabilities to succeed. I’m thinking about those artists that have the same love for art as me but who are not very social and cannot connect with the decision makers to get to that position. Artists are not sales people,” Hassan reflected.

Each meeting begins with newcomers going on-stage to introduce themselves as well as giving a brief synopsis of their art. Since it was my first time attending, I was urged to go on stage to introduce myself. I feared there would be a letdown upon announcing I was not an artist, but rather a writer for Henry Ford College’s ”Mirror News,” simply reporting on this event. Instead, I was received with warmth and friendliness from all members.

Another newcomer that evening was Doralatris Pope or “Dora,” a twenty-four year old acrylic painter who showed her piece, “Grounded,” that night; the piece features a young woman wearing a bright pink bikini, stretching her back in nature in front of a flowing river and picturesque, purplish mountains. “She was just getting away from the stress of the world. I believe that nature is really healing, It’s free. It’s so free. It really does make you feel like you’re escaping the reality of the world,” Pope said. The artist incorporates elements of realism into her art, but wouldn’t label her style as that. Rather, she feels that an “innovative style” is more appropriate wording. Pope also expressed enthusiasm about joining the Dearborn Fine Arts Club. “Everyone made it so welcoming and comfortable for me to do that (share artwork), even though this my first time.”

Twenty-seven year old abstract artist, Lamar Burgess, expresses intimate feelings in his artwork. “There’s nothing that I can really put on paper, but how I feel; my feelings don’t have a mind.” Burgess prefers to leave his artwork up for interpretation, inspiring viewers to derive their own meaning from it. “You see what you see, and get inspiration out of it, whether that’s inspiration, love, hate, it’s a feeling, and that’s all I care about.” However, Burgess is not interested in making a profit. Because of how personal his art is, Burgess only feels comfortable giving it to people he knows will feel inspired and cherish it.

Growing up in Detroit and attending Detroit Public Schools, Burgess felt that he couldn’t show vulnerability, and was often teased at school for his preoccupation with drawing.

Burgess credits his girlfriend, Destiny Rodgers, who is also a part of the Dearborn Fine Arts Club for inspiring him to pursue art and bringing his “inner child” out. “I’m here today because of her,” he reflects.

Naomi Sharpe, interviewed by Mirror News layout editor, Alejandro Bueno, is a twenty-three year old artist, as well as a student at Henry Ford College. Sharpe describes her medium as “eclectic.” Right now, she is focusing on painting, but she plans to begin working with clay. Sharpe, who also grew up in Detroit and still resides there, wasn’t familiar with Arab-American culture but has developed a deep appreciation for it since joining the Dearborn Fine Arts Club. Sharpe considers herself as naturally introverted and independent, and joining this community of artists has forced her outside her comfort zone. “I appreciate how the club is showing me how unhealthy that response to discomfort can be and how necessary it is for me as a human person, foremost then as an artist, to connect with people to express myself and not to keep it bottled up or just keep it only for my viewing pleasure,” she states.

Sharpe also touches on the struggles female artists face: “Misogyny is really unchecked in the artist community. It doesn’t really matter how talented you are. After a certain while, when you’re a woman, it’s clear that [recognition] only applies to men in a lot of ways.” Sharpe observed that it can be fairly easy for male artists to be considered “artistic geniuses,” but if women call themselves that, they are dismissed as full of themselves. Despite these setbacks, Sharpe remains confident in her work, saying, “art is a recording of existence.” Sharpe encourages artists as well as non-artists to attend the club’s meetings, “We’re very warm, we’re very welcoming, and we are very diverse. I value diversity so much: the diversity of people, diversity of mindsets and cultures; it is so integral to your development as a human being.” Sharpe adds, “If you’re not an artist, I feel like it’s only a matter of when you start identifying yourself as an artist, because I truly believe that everyone has the potential to be an artist.”

The Dearborn Fine Arts Club meets every Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. in the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Refreshments and food are provided by local vendors. Hassan believes in the importance of supporting local businesses.