Chronicle: Stories & Symbols of Culture & Connection

Description

The stories we tell & how we tell them have the ability to change our lives & make profound connections between people from diverse backgrounds. Artists James Groening, Nasim Motamedi & Saeideh Zomorrodishare stories of the land, identity, tradition & connection through dramatic & contemplative symbols & scenes. Presented by West Vancouver Community Arts Council & Kay Meek Arts Centre.

James Groening, aka Blue Sky, is a Burnaby-based Cree artist from the Kahkewistahaw First Nation. Adopted by his white grandparents during the Sixties Scoop, Groening was raised disconnected from his Kahkewistahaw roots. After meeting his family & learning of his heritage, James was inspired to pursue a journey of reclaiming his Indigeneity. Groening paints in the Woodland Art style with expressive designs & vibrant colours, depicting stories & legends from his rich cultural heritage. Led by artistic intuition & legends, Groening’s artwork documents his journey of healing & growth, as he attempts to revitalize his cultural identity through art making & knowledge sharing.

Nasim Motamedi, is a West Vancouver mixed media artist born in Iran. Motamedi uses classic Persian tiles as a motif to explore & document the architectural & cultural  heritage of Iran. Her latest work is inspired by the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, inscribing her thoughts with the disjointed Persian letters of Zan, Zendegi, & Azady within traditional tile designs. She pairs these with abstracted mixed media works reflecting on the politicization of women’s bodies through the image of head covering.

Saeideh Zomorrodi is an artist, illustrator & painter based in Vancouver, originally from Iran. In her paintings she depicts dramatic & evocative scenes from classic Iranian poetry by artists such as Hafiz, Saadi, Khayyam, & Rumi. Employing realistic depictions of people, places & scenes, Zomorrodi creates an alternately romantic & meditative atmosphere with rich lighting, billowing fabrics & emotive faces of her subjects as they enact & embody the essence of each poem.