EAC Installation - First stages

I had the sketch, the idea, the vision and most importunely the approval to go ahead with my installation for the opening ceremony of Evanston Art Center (EAC)'s new location. Now it was time to make it happen. The theme is Hybrid's Paradise and as always my aim was to share my culture. My installation proposal consists of glass blocks which you see everywhere in Chicago mixed with Farsi calligraphy of Rumi Poetry and Persian and Islamic architectural designs.

I need to add that this is one of the installations I will have at EAC . The other one will be part of the same project but with completely different material. With these installations I aim to combine some part of both cultures of East and West.

After many trips to Home Depot (I can say I have hit most of their Chicago locations!) I got all the materials I needed. I did some testing obviously prior to get them all and worked my way through the process.

The blocks are not that light so to have 5 rows to 5 blocks each is not the easiest job to do. I am getting closer to the final stages and will post more images as we get closer to the event but the final creation will be revealed only on June 14th 2015 during the official opening ceremony of the new home for EAC.

Once again I can not mention how thrilled I am to be part of these amazing group of artists. More photos and updates coming up within the next few days. You will see the progress. You can also follow me on Instagram, Twitter and FaceBook.

Art Dubai 2015; stay tuned for news and images live from Dubai!

Art Dubai is the leading international art fair in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. The ninth edition of the art fair will be taking place in Dubai- UAE on March 18-21. Over the last eight years, Art Dubai has become a cornerstone of the region's booming contemporary art community. Recognized as one of the most globalized meeting points in the art world today, Art Dubai places an emphasis on maintaining its intimate, human, scale while foregrounding quality and diversity.

As mentioned on GQ online on a review on Art Dubai 2014, the view among the collectors, dealers and hangers-on appeared to be that the fair was strong on regional art. Iranian artists have been the premier-league players from the Middle East for a few years now, perhaps made all the more tantalising because they are "other" ; Persian, not Arab; from a large country with more than two thousand years of cultural heritage but now which right now is largely closed to cultural interchange; Middle Eastern and Islamic but also Caucasian and Silk Route. This year's Art Dubai is expected to have more than 80 galleries showcasing their artists.

Stay tuned as photos and updates will be coming up during and post this amazing event along with some exciting news.

Photo:Getty Images for Art Dubai 2014

Bucket Feet Event at Soho House Chicago

During Art week at Soho House Chicago, another fun event was held.  We were given a pair of white shoes to paint on! Thanks to Bucketfeet, A Chicago based Company which was launched in 2011 after two strangers met in Argentina - an artist and a backpacker -. A pair of hand-drawn shoes inspired the idea of the company and showed the power of art bringing people together. Soho house members were provided a pair of Bucketfeet shoes to design. Amazing music, great atmosphere, lots of creative people, that is just a recipe to create something fun. And this is the result! The shapes are all from Persian (Islamic) designs and the Farsi calligraphy is a Rumi poem which translates into "When I found love I became immortal". Art week at Soho House Chicago has been such a fun and amazing week with lots of different and fun activities which brings all art lovers together.