YouTube // Score!

I've just found this video on YouTube and it makes a grrreat companion to Sign at Ground Zero (the impetus for this project). By showing from someone else's point of view, it really helps put the day/video in context. You can even see some of the same people in both videos!! Go internet!

(also, someone's pix here.) 


....click here for full article/permalink.


Beautiful Things // Iran Darroudi

Luminary Iran Darroudi
(Thanks to iranian.com for inspiring the post!)-- click through her paintings here. 


....click here for full article/permalink.


Mainstreamedia // NYTimes

A friend of mine sent this to me today. An article in New York Times about Iranian artists and the new market door that is Dubai, UAE. 


....click here for full article/permalink.


Iran's Culture Cops // Short Documentary

Kouross Esmaeli is a New York filmmaker who has contributed a few doc pieces to Current TV's repertoire. His 'Tomato Unrest in Iran' was my first media experience of everyday Iranians.

This one, Iran's Culture Cops, seems refreshingly transparent as he was granted unheard of access to the group on the condition that he not manipulate their words.



I bet their words and intentions, if not actions, probably resonate with a number of people- and the insight this video brings is beyond compare. Nice one, Kouross. 


....click here for full article/permalink.


blogging bloggers bloggingly blogged

I hate to be too terribly meta, but I thought it'd be worth mentioning that this blog got a shout out from Global Voices blog, via the Pars Arts blog. See? Upon further investigation, I've decided that Global Voices rocks. 


....click here for full article/permalink.


Biennial Tehran // Berlin, Germany

(pictured: Dario Fariello, Italian performance artist adds to Polish cellist KOSTJA PICUNDA 84 's aural offerings)

I had the opportunity to be a resident artist @ Taktkunstprojektraum in Berlin while Biennial Tehran opened in select venues across the city. Both the residency and the exhibition proved to be legendary international creative ventures that will be forever carved into my own personal timeline... Beyond that, as far as this project is concerned, it was crucial for me to interact with Iranian artists away from the rules of an Islamic society.

@ Biennial Tehran, I met up with the curator, who I'd also visited while in Tehran. Our second encounter was decidedly more relaxed. Artists from Iran, Germany, Italy, France, Turkey, Australia, Serbia, Poland and other environs descended on Berlin in an unquestionably celebratory tone. It almost felt like a reunion of people who hadn't met yet. I had a piece in the show that needed particular curatorial attention and I was especially pleased at the way it was displayed, re: the lighting tricks required for the full effect of the ink variations. My opening was on Day 3 @ Wallywoods and that night has definitely made my Top Ten life experiences list. (Re: Wallywoods: "This underground artspace, freshly relocated to a derelict GDR "Kulturhaus" in Berlin Weissensee is the closest thing to Warhol's Factory to be found in the city. Its director, British artist Paul Woods, heads about 150 maladjusted unrecognized local talents.") The atmosphere was charged as people poured in from the streets to see Iranian bands play and drink and smoke without repercussion.

The other Biennial events, held at Kunstlerhaus Bethanien, West Germany and Ich Orya, also hosted musicians, 2D, and audio/visual installations/performances. Their next station is Belgrade and I'm already looking at flights to Serbia-- meeting Iranian artists out of their element is almost as rewarding as meeting them in Tehran.

@ the Takt residency I was able to screen my "Sign at Ground Zero" piece (along with showing a handful of other digital works) to a very receptive and interactive audience at their Open Studios. My colleagues hailed from the US, UK, Canada, Azerbaijan, Mexico, Italy and Serbia. 


....click here for full article/permalink.


ParsArts.com - Feature!

Head on over to ParsArts.com to read the article! 


....click here for full article/permalink.


the Reviews are in...

It seems that our presentation @ Cloud Club, Boston was verrry well received despite our lofty goal of covering an epic week in only a few hours. I just wanted to share some of that feedback- !


"I personally found the underground / progressive scene in Tehran to be of particular interest - fascinating that you guys were able to find it and gain access the way you did. And really valuable for Americans to see Iranian civilians as culturally alive and separate from their government, some pockets of them subverting the norms of their society. The presentation itself was unpretentious, yes, and refreshingly open-hearted, without self-conscious analysis / deconstruction or pomo irony chic that remains so pervasive in artistic circles. Also valuable is giving people the space to process information individually; we (westerners, Americans) are perpetually told what to think about the world and ourselves by the media. But I think what's actually important / universal transcends that sort of grasping."

"I have hugenormous respect and admiration for what you are doing and think it makes great art AND entertainment AND education AND fun hooray!"

"Well I think one thing you had going for you is the sort of unpretentious and unassuming way you've gone into this whole thing. Keep it simple. There was just something I liked about the whole idea of this cool, smart, attractive young American lady going to Iran and coming back to Boston to tell all of her freaky drunko cross-dressing artist friends what she saw. That's the way these things should be done, IMHO. There's too much "expert analysis" and political spin on everything you hear about the Middle East these days."



Loves it. 


....click here for full article/permalink.


Hypernova // Music Video

Indie-Rock phenoms Hypernova, whom I met in NYC fresh off the boat from Iran, have released their first music video. They've come far since playing in the basements of Tehran, and if you're quick you could catch them as they finish up their US tour with Sisters of Mercy. HypernovaMusic.com





....click here for full article/permalink.


Unconditional Love Shirts // REISSUE

Back, by popular demand.
And as seen on TV! (BBC, really)
Unconditional Love Tshirts on American Apparel heather tri-blend.

Pre-orders by November 28 // $23
AFTER November 28 // $28
BEST. HOLIDAY GIFT. EVER.

------> Click here to get to the order page.

lovevolution.org/teeshirt.html 


....click here for full article/permalink.


Picture Show // Boston

Despite growing up in Illinois and now living in New York, going to Boston still feels like home. This project was conceived at boston art/space Cloud Club (where Michael and I lived/met) and the 9/11 video screened first at sister art/space Pan 9. So, it was a no brainer that our first Picture Show should be to our favorite hometown crowd @ Cloud Club.

It was a super fantabulous FULL HOUSE.

The night opened with funnyman Mehran Khaghani then croooooner Lands took us through intermission. We found out that we have waaay too much to say for one evening. eeesh.

public video selections from the evening:


Waiting for Azad // Iranian Artists Forum from brianna olson on Vimeo.


Mellat Park // Northern Tehran from brianna olson on Vimeo.


Guts // Pariyoush in Tehran from brianna olson on Vimeo. 


....click here for full article/permalink.


Life Goes on in Tehran - October Feature

A little something I wrote up about our trip was featured in Life Goes on in Tehran. Head over there to check it out .

Also, bonus points if you find Michael in one of the photos. 


....click here for full article/permalink.


Pariyoush Ganji

Pariyoush Ganji is a internationally renowned painter, lecturer and instructor at Tehran University.

Meeting her was the highlight of the trip, and this moment, even more so than holding up "Unconditional Love is Global Security" at Azadi Monument, represented the fulfillment of the hopes I had for this project.

She welcomed us into her home and studio and I told her the story of my path to her house-- from "Sign at Ground Zero" to landing in Tehran two years later. She lauded me and the concept enough to make me blush. "Guts" she says, "You've got real guts" and goes on to discuss her concern that my generation and the generations after me have no philosophy and as a result, no spark behind their actions or art. It's clear that I've made an impression on her and she gave me temporary license to sing my own praises, which felt cathartic-- all the while with Michael at my side. He gushes when he tells the story and describes the whole experience as the passing of a torch.





....click here for full article/permalink.


Prohibited information, connections

This must be one of the more frustrating consequences of the Iranian government. 

No Facebook. 

No MySpace. 

No Craigslist.

No YouTube.

(New York Times is available, Huffington Post is not)

Blogger is definitely allowed and utilized by Iranians. 

Apparently, they have a super high number of bloggers. 

I was able to update my facebook status and post blogs via email. I love technology.  




....click here for full article/permalink.


Vahid Sharifian = Persian Andy Warhol

      
Vahid is a legacy in his own mind and all the curators are catching on.
Michael and I had a chance to hang with him at his show (see Day 5) and at his studio (with Ali Ettehad, see Day 8).

Google him for his 'Waiting for Jeff Koons' and 'Bush Distance Family' pieces.

On our last day, Michael shot a video portrait of him, which I can't wait to see.


The background on his PC's desktop was an amazing reminder of the power of the image and the internet. Americans!




....click here for full article/permalink.


Hijab, scarves, modesty, oppression

"Hijab" is the name for modest dress-- I've been using the term to mean 'headscarf' but thats incorrect. Because a few verses of the Quran calls for it, and Iran is an Islamic Republic, a woman must cover her head and hide her figure in Iran. Only her hands, feet, and face can be seen. (Score one for foot fetishists). Standard is the manteau (jacket) very similar to any H&M, Anne Taylor, or whathaveyou spring jacket. It is usual to see muted colors-- tan, black, navy. There is also the chador-- (literally: tent) a giant piece of fabric, usually black, which is sort of like a cape. Women will wear either a manteau, a chador, or both.



Variation is found in head coverings-- but never once did I see a woman with her face covered.

There is a clear narrative in the covering of my head over the course of the trip. I had already purchased my robe and headpiece in the Islamic part of Brooklyn. The (muslim) guy who worked there clearly knew nothing about Iran- he told Michael that he needed to buy a long robe (long robes are a Sunni Muslim thing, Iran is a Shiite country).



When I first got there, the whole thing was a novelty, but over the course of the first day I began to feel terribly unhappy. It was only a few women that made me the most uncomfortable-- the ones in all black, looking me up and down, not even cracking a smile. I had posed as a Muslim but not acted like one. My body language was slightly open, my camera was in my hands, I was casually strolling through the bazaar. This was my first experience of how a society polices itself- if I were Iranian and had to deal with this daily, my spirit would be bruised a bit and I would likely start avoiding eye contact and keep my gaze down... eventually I'd be so bitter that I'd start scowling at anyone I thought was enjoying life more than me. And the cycle continues...



Fortunately, I understand that the key to letting the world know that I'm not Iranian (therefore shouldn't be judged by the same rules) is a different outfit. I start with a shiny scarf. Continue with a lush, pearl one. And finish with a new manteau and pashmina. My outlook shifted with every change in attire.



My penultimate experience with hijab was at a "cultural center" where chadors are required. This 'chador' was little more than a bed sheet that I was to hold closed with one arm. I was quite tired from running around all day, but this was our chance to have tea with a Mullah so I stuck with it. As we were leaving we posed for group photos-- after the first two photos, the Mullah's assistant asked me (very politely) to close my chador as my manteau was showing. I almost started laughing/crying at the display of clownishness. My respect for the whole thing was lost in that instant.




....click here for full article/permalink.


Life Goes on in Tehran (.com)

On Day 4, we spent the night out with Azad who publishes lifegoesonintehran.com , a super-sweet photoblog about (you guessed it) life in Tehran. To add to the awesomeness, all photos are from his cameraphone.

If you visit his site, you definitely won't be disappointed. 


....click here for full article/permalink.


Unconditional Love is Global

It is official.

'Unconditional Love is Global Security', as a concept, has gone from New York to Tehran and back again. 

Let me tell you, because I was asked, there is an abundance of love over there. Everyone we met was hospitable enough to make us blush. As a general rule, the instant someone found out we were Americans they wanted us to know that they love Americans-- and that they think our Presidents (Bush and Ahmadinejad) are cut from the same cloth.  

... more to come. 

 




....click here for full article/permalink.


Day 8: Tehran - Artmaking

Our last day was spent making a little art and tending to a few last visits.

The last gallery was Aaran Art Gallery, where we met with Nazila Noebashari (whose run her gallery for over 20 years now) and saw the current show (and featured photographer Kamran Adle). We also got to see work from Ali Ettehad, a fella we met the night before when we had a visit with Vahid Sharifian.

 

We already excited for our show and tell whence we return.

 

 

 

 




....click here for full article/permalink.


Day 7: Tehran - Mohsen II and a secular world

Our new translator/guide is Mohsen, not to be confused with our last guide Mohsen [I refer you to Avatar the Last Airbender: City of Walls and Secrets' character 'Joo Dee'] New Mohsen is very (very) excited to help us out. He's been jailed for years (and lashed x20... possession of alcohol) and still stands. He immediately gives us the inside scoop the political history that he was very much a part of (a Fine Arts student at Tehran University-- demonstrating against the shah) and he explains that the world is full of 3 kinds of people. 1) Fanactics 2) Super Fanatics and 3) Extreme Super Fanatics. Like many we've met around here-- he doesn't believe in religion (though he later admits, while his friend laughs, to feeling a metaphysical connection between him and a "higher" power).

 

After showing us his bookstore, Mohsen took us to have lunch with Pariyoush Ganji, a painter / lecturer / professor (and former classmate of Mohsen) that was also witness to the Revolution. Her place and her studio were amazing. She spoke of generations of artists, was totally into this trip/project, and offered to help in anyway she could. She even quoted Jesus (and made a point to mention that she was secular) when she encouraged me to continue 'striving through narrow doors'.

 

After a day of satellite television, jokes about creationists and Sunni v. Shiites, it was another day of reinforcing that Iran has many many many faces.




....click here for full article/permalink.