NH CHRONICLE - WMUR NEWS

February 11th, 2020

WHY WE ARE FIRST - PART 2

Some of the things that make the New Hampshire Primary one-of-a-kind. Artists who have their own take on the primary. Thomas Devaney and Somayeh Kashi are artists, they decide to collaborate for a project called “We The People”.

https://www.wmur.com/article/tuesday-february-11th-why-we-are-first-part-2/30896039

CREATIVE GUTS

February 2020

CREATIVE GUTS PODCAST

In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Sarah Wrightsman sit down with photographer, oil painter, and art educator Somayeh Kashi. Somayeh’s name may sound familiar if you’re in the Concord, NH area and recall her photo project, “Diversity in the 603”. Over the summer of 2019, Somayeh, alongside a group of high school students, interviewed and photographed nearly 100 individuals. While the subjects were diverse in age, gender, and ethnicity, “Diversity in the 603” demonstrated how much we all have in common. Somayeh, who is Iranian-American, tells the powerful story that inspired the project and the technical difficulties along the way! You’ll also hear the serendipitous way Somayeh fell in love with painting, and meet her creative — and incredibly busy — family. Her husband, a drummer in a metal band; her daughter, a full-fledged theater geek; and her son who, to everyone’s surprise, somehow likes sports. Somayeh’s story is beautifully told, and we’re pleased to help her share it.

This interview and more are available on all major podcast platforms! Here's a quick link for you: https://podcasts.apple.com/…/po…/somayeh-kashi/id1471280833…

INSIDE OUT

Summer 2019

INSIDE OUT PROJECT CONCORD

#DIVERSITYINTHE603

Inside Out is "a global participatory art project with the potential to change the world." Giving everyone "the opportunity to share their portrait and make a statement for what they stand for. It is a global platform for people to share their untold stories and transform messages of personal identity into works of public art."

Our theme is #Diversityinthe603 and our goal is to showcase the beautiful diversity of the Capital Region while highlighting the many commonalities we share when it comes to our values and our hopes and dreams.

Over the summer, Somayeh Kashi, an art teacher from Rundlett Middle School, gathered up a group of students and together they interviewed and photographed nearly 100 individuals. The subjects were all ages, ethnicities, genders, and came from many backgrounds, but all had *at least* one thing in common: they chose to live here in the Capital Region of the Granite State. The stories that were told illuminated many more commonalities among the diverse group, reinforcing the fact that we have far more similarities than differences.

The portrait photos are 36" x 52" and will be on display throughout the storefronts in downtown Concord, at Rundlett Middle School, and the large focused installation will be on the exterior wall of a building in downtown Concord. Most photos have a QR code that links to audio of each person's interview.

PRESS

New photo project brings diverse faces and stories to Concord Multicultural Festival

https://www.concordmonitor.com/Concord-multicultural-festival-preview-28423319

New Photo Project Brought Diverse Stories to Festival

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-hampshire/articles/2019-09-24/new-photo-project-brought-diverse-stories-to-festival

PATTERNS OF INFLUENCE

7/16 – 8/10/2019

PAINTING CENTER NEW YORK

PATTERNS OF INFLUENCE: ARTISTS WHO TEACH

Pleased to announce that I have been accepted into this group exhibition at the Painting Center ( New York)

Patterns of Influence: Artists Who Teach

Curated by Andrea Kantrowitz, Sue Collier and Barbara Laube

How does your artistic practice inform your teaching practice? How does observing and nurturing your student’s artistic growth and development impact your own art?

Statement: To me, art is not something I set aside time to practice each day. It is a way of life and how I interact with the world around me. I apply this playfulness and create an environment in my classroom that encourages innovation, critical thinking and challenges students to pause and question the world around them.

The Painting Center presents Patterns of Influence, a group exhibition that brings together diverse works by 45 contemporary artists who teach in settings ranging from preschools to high schools, community centers, prisons and universities. Their art and teaching practices influence each other in myriad ways as well, competing for time and attention, but also energizing and inspiring each other. Patterns of Influence manifest in dense and layered materials and images; both abstract and representational. In bronze relief, wood, glass, paper, or oils on canvas, each work records a personal journey of discovery. Underlying the rich variety of the artworks in this exhibition is a palpable delight in art making that mirrors the mutual give and take of student and teacher. Artist Marta Cabral explains, “I listen to my students and help them figure out ways of relating to the world. In the studio, I try to do the same, by exploring and listening to materials.”

These artists are reminded by their students to stay attentive and open to experience and to others. Even in the most abstract pieces, there is a shared sense of human presence, relatedness and adventure that animates the work. Artist and pre-school teacher Brittany Miller writes, “I’m going to keep trying to uncover the unknown… following the children wherever they lead me. That’s the most exciting thing about teaching, and about making art--we don’t know where we are going yet.”

Artists include: Peter Bonner, Alexandra Rutsch Brock, Marta Cabral, Dionsio Cortes, Carlo D'Anselmi, Adrian Deva, Alanna Dunn, Anne Finkelstein, Andrew Fish, Celia Gerard, Gregory Gomez, Mary Hafeli, Fiona Halse, Vic Honigsfeld, Joseph Iacona, Leeah Joo, Melissa Joseph, Somayeh Kashi, Franziska Klotzler, Erin Koch Smith, Melanie Kozol, Judith Kruger, Eunji Lee, Bonnie Levine, William Low, Deborah Lutz, Karen McGarry, Samantha Melvin, Edmund Merricle, Brittany Miller, Patricia Miranda, Kayla Mohammadi, Katherine Mojzsis, Alan Montgomery, Indira Morre, Lotte Petricone, Jessica Poser, Lisa Pressman, Julia Rooney, Jo Ann Rothschild, Dena Schutzer, Reuben Sinha, Susan Stillman, Jamie Treacy, Deborah Winarski.

Exhibition Dates: July 16 – August 10, 2019

Opening Reception: Thursday, July 18, 6 - 8 pm

Panel discussion: 10 August 2019

Exhibition and location details: The Painting Center, 547 West 27th Street, suite 500, New York, NY 212-343-1060

Hrs: Tuesday – Saturday 11am – 6pm

More information

https://www.thepaintingcenter.org/patterns-of-influence