See you at Art Basel Miami 2015

  Art Basel stages the world's premier modern and contemporary art fairs.  It is staged annually in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong. A driving force in supporting the role that galleries play in nurturing the careers of their artists, Art Basel frequently expands its platforms to include the newest developments in the visual arts.  Being able to visit Art Basel Miami has always been on top of my list and now It's with pleasure to announce that one of my pieces will be shown at Spectrum Miami during Art Basel 2015. Spectrum is a juried, contemporary art fair in the heart of Midtown Miami featuring an international slate of artists and galleries. It’s where contemporary meets extraordinary. My piece was chosen to be part of spectrum as part of a competition though Artavita online Magazine, which is part of the Worldwide Art Book company in Santa Barbara, CA. What better way to see Miami for the first time than being there doing Art Basel, see some amazing art pieces from all over the world, mingle with friends, connect with new ones. Mark your calendars and come look for my piece at Spectrum Miami tent, from 2-6 December 2015 located at 1700 NE 2nd ave, Miami - World Wide Art/Artavita, booth 520.

The title of this piece is a quote by Rumi "Close your eyes, fall in love, stay there" and it is 12x12 inches, mixed media on wood panel. Below is a brief statement on my art pieces.

"When I Found Love, I Became Immortal"-Rumi (13 CE)

In my pieces I merge traditional Iranian art forms with a contemporary sensibility. In combining Farsi calligraphy and Islamic architectural designs with mixed media (including resin and gold leaf) and bold lines and framing, I try to affirm the enduring aesthetic of a culture that is too often represented through the limited lenses of war and political turmoil. The meticulous composition of these works share the laconic beauty of Rumi's poetry, which ultimately works to create an emotionally resonant homage to tradition in the frenetic modern world.

Nostalgic memories of my beloved Iran remind me of who I am, and fortify my sense of cultural pride in a land that all too often depicts a most disconcerting and often polar-opposite reflection of my cherished motherland.

Whispering Walls Projects to be featured in Chicago Artists Month

WATCH THE INTRO HERE!

Chicago Artists Month is an initiative of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and special events that showcases the works of Chicago's independent artists and arts organizations. This year both events which I proposed will be part of this amazing event!  The 20th Annual Chicago Artists Month (CAM) will take place from October 1- November 15, 2015. Details on the events are available HERE.

This is an amazing opportunity to showcase art among other Chicago-based artists. As part of these events I will be showcasing installations and paintings with the theme of Whispering Walls. The theme is evolving as I keep working on it so I believe its mission has not been completed just yet. The positive feedback and interest received from the Whispering Walls installation at the Evanston Art Center was also another factor to continue on this subject.

There are some great ways for viewers to get involved with this project and I can not wait to share the details with you. For now just look for #WhisperingWalls and follow the details on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

And the walls continue to whisper...

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE - WHISPERING WALLS ShowPODs are a series of 7 exhibition spaces in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. Conceptualized by John Podmajersky III and created by the Chicago Arts District, ShowPODs create an instant art experience in a non-traditional space and can viewed by anyone at anytime during the life of its installation.

Each year six artists are selected to showcase their art and I am honored to have been selected for the fall exhibit. My aim remains the same; to share part of Persian - Iranian - culture which the vast majority may not be familiar with, therefore The Whispering Walls continues to close the gap between cultures and also to break down the traditional barrier between the Artist and Art enthusiasts. The exhibit will come to life via seven storefronts along Halsted Street in Pilsen. It will be comprised of mixed media, including: paintings, installations, sculpture and will be very experiential.

The sketches were fully a completed few weeks back and we are now in the preparation phase. I am blessed to have an amazing artist helping me out.  She has been my role model and the one person who really got me interested in art; my lovely mom, Nasrin Moghadam. Together we are now creating the first elements of the exhibit and there is a long way to go. The first stages of this project is coming together in Michigan. I couldn't really ask for more, having my mom here, listening to amazing music, the sound of wind blowing through the greenest leaves you could imagine...this is a little pieces of heaven for sure.

More detailed information and instruction coming soon on what to expect and also on how to get involved as a viewer. For now, just look out for more on #WhisperingWalls...