Queer Art Honor Roll: Iran, Museum

I feel like it’s the end of the semester and I made the queer dean’s list. Why?

1. I’ve been nominated in the Fine Art category of the  Sepas Award, alongside the incredibly talented Tara Inanloo in London! The Sepas Award is organized in Toronto   and

“honours an Iranian individual or an organization whose work has needed an appreciation toward securing the full enjoyment of the culture and human rights of Iranian queer communities and motivate others to get involved and be proud.”

2.  A photo of my Head to the Hills exhibit from the first Pop Up Museum of Queer History is featured on the front page of their website. You should check it out, and if you’re in NYC- drop by their new show: Pop-up Soho.

Summer Update: Bitch Magazine, Artisphere, SF Bay Guardian, Interfaith

Where has the summer gone?

I have been all over the US, involved with many projects. Here’s a taste of what’s been happening:

SUMMER ISSUE OF BITCH MAGAZINE

I have 2 pieces in the most recent issue of  feminist pop-culture magazine Bitch! You can find my interview with Altercation, Big Freedia‘s backup dancer & a short snippet about magical artist Monica Canilao. Support the magazine and buy the issue directly from them.

ARTISPHERE

June 18th, I performed to a full house with Regie Cabico as part of Sulu DC‘s Gay and Fillipino Pride event at the awe-inspiring Artisphere in Rosslyn.

SF BAY GUARDIAN

May 19-21st, I was part of Lowbrow Society’s Great Expectations experience performance installation extravaganza, which was a San Francisco Bay Guardian pick of the week. If you missed the event, more photos can be found here.

INTERFAITH

As a queer Iranian artist with a secular Muslim background, I was invited by  a friend to attend an afternoon of speeches by the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, including a certain charismatic Eboo Patel from the Interfaith Youth Core.  Since many religious groups have a history of prejudice when it comes to LGBTQ folks- this conference was an opportunity to meet a few current leaders and question how they plan to create faith-based projects that are safe for all faiths (including humanist/spiritual), genders, and sexual identities.