I (Bahereh Khodadoost) am an artist/ writer/ multi-cultural educator, and a rostered artist. I have been a  professional clay artist since 1985, grew up in Iran, and moved to this country in 1979, with a degree in Literature. I am bilingual and educated in the Persian language as well as the English language. I have studied primarily Literature and Art in various schools in America, such as: ALFRED UNIVERSITY (NY), PITTSBURG ST. UNV. (KS), UNV. OF GEORGIA, CROWDER COLLEGE (MO). Conducted classes at studio and in various schools. My work is greatly inspired by my life-long exposure to diversity, from which I have applied my unified approach. My clay work reflects my background and varied interests. From calligraphy to hairstyling, to designing, to cooking, to knitting, to sewing, to painting, etc.... It simply shows my different dimensions, as diverse as it may come across, it is focused in terms of basic principles and philosophy in life. I don’t consider myself purely a Persian artist, but a multi-cultural artist influenced by my background. You find an essence of Persian art and culture in my work, but my work does not present itself as Persian art. It is a marriage between East and West.

     I am  a “Libra” and the sense of harmony and balance seems to be embedded in me. Along with my never ending longing for beauty in general, I have searched to bring these attributes together in various aspects of my life, Art, of course, is a large part of this basic principle. I have always appreciated the blending of grace and strength, and of simplicity and complexity. I also enjoy the blending of functionality in a decorative object. I get the utmost satisfaction from my art work when it fulfills both of these aspects fully.

     I have always been attracted to SYMBOLISM, whether in poetry, art, cultures, and nature. I have also been attracted to imagery, whether abstract, representational, or symbolic. Calligraphy plays a strong role in my art work as well. These interests are the reason for the presence of symbolic images in my work. I carve images, used as stamps on my clay pieces; or, at times, used as models for my slip cast pieces. These carved images, for the most part, when used in multiples, produce wonderful complex patterns, and become simply design motifs.

     The quality of the lines is quite important to me. It is the combination of softness and strength in lines used with integrity that are most important in my work.

     I have a multi-cultural attitude with a unified approach. I find a common denominator in various subjects. I am interested to make positive changes in the society. My main interest in teaching “CLAY” is to help people by having first minds-on, Hearts-on, and then hands-on experience, to appreciate LIFE more fully. Only when an individual understands and values her/his culture, can s/he appreciate other’s. As a creative person and a writer, I have always been aware of the importance of the preservation of individuality and creativity.

     I would like to use art to keep my SOUL ALIVE! To bring some understanding, beauty, and harmony (and some harMONEY!) to the world. To reach a larger population of people esp. CHILDREN; helping them to connect and stay in contact with their inner being, and stay in contact with their best tools, their  IMAGINATION! I want them to know that they have the right in believing in themselves, and in stretching their imaginations as far as they can, and being limited only by their own imaginations and nothing else. They should be encouraged to DREAM, and pursue their dreams, and make their dreams realities!

My Personal Belief: I believe in the unity,  beauty, purity, and the universality of the Rainbow & the Butterfly,  and what they represent. I believe that we are all connected to Nature; we share its forms, shapes, colors, textures, and its essence/ its spirits, FLIGHT!

I strongly believe that only a HEARTizen can heal the world!

And you are ONE!

“Persian English Connections &  A Taste of Persian Culture/ Persian Language & Writing class by Bahereh  

“PERSIA”/”IRAN”- A country in SW Asia, south of Caspian sea. Its name was officially changed to Iran in 1935. Persian is a branch of the Indo-European Languages.

“Persian” is a branch of the Indo-European Languages.  

This class is about connecting the dots between the Persian & the English languages!

All Age Groups!

Minimum of 6 students.

Bring your IMAGINATION & your ENTHUSIASM, and Bahereh will GUARANTEE your Fun in learning a foreign yet familiar language through a series of ‘GAMES’!

The SUBJECT is SERIOUS, The APPROACH is NOT!

Please note: In this class, not only you are allowed to pass notes rather you are encouraged to do so as long as your notes be written in PERSIAN! But you must share your notes with Bahereh the Instructor for further explanations and evaluations!!! Talking in class is encouraged just as much, only in PERSIAN, please!

Bahereh is an artist/ educator. She is bilingual and educated in the Persian language as well as the English language.  She grew up in Iran, and moved to this country in 1979. She has studied primarily Literature and Art in various schools. She has a multi-cultural attitude with a unified approach which is quite apparent in many aspects of her life.  

Bahereh  (610)863-3362  E-Mail: bahereh@HEARTizen.com   Website: www.HEARTizen.com

Education:

Crowder College / NEOSHO, MISSOURI, Art History, Spring 1992.

Crowder College / NEOSHO, MISSOURI, Accounting, Fall 1990.

ALFRED UNIVERSITY- SCHOOL OF CERAMIC DESIGN/ ALFRED, NEW YORK, Student of special Studies. September 1, 1987- August 1, 1988.

PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY/ PITTSBURG, KANSAS, Graduate Studies- Art. Fall 1986- Spring 1987.

CROWDER COLLEGE/ NEOSHO, MISSOURI, Studio Arts, Spring 1985- Spring 1986.

SPRINGFIELD BEAUTY ACADEMY/ SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, Student of Cosmetology. October 1982- July 1983.

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA / ATHENS, GEORGIA, Graduate Studies- Literature. Fall 1979- Summer 1981.

SHIRAZ PAHLAVI UNIVERSITY / SHIRAZ, IRAN, Graduate Studies- Library Science. Spring 1978.

PARS COLLEGE / TEHRAN, IRAN, BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE- English Literature. 1967-1972.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

November 2000- Present  Independent Artist working out of my house as a full-time Clay Artist.

January 2001- August 2001 Fine Art Silk Screen Assistant- Karl & Gail, Inc. Pen Argyl, PA
Paper handling, press printing.

June 1992- Nov.2000  ARTIST/CO-OWNER/OPERATOR OF GINGER BLUE CLAY ART STUDIO/ PEN ARGYL, PA. Designing and installing Public Art projects. Design and production of limited edition and one-of-a kind clay objects, including coil, slab, and wheel-thrown, techniques. Also, design and production of hand-pressed and slip-cast bas-relief and hand decorated terra cotta tiles. Studio offers seminars/workshops/classes. Additional responsibilities are accounting, billing, and filing, and PR.

July 1992-December 1993  DESIGN TECHNICS/ PEN ARGYL, PA.
ARTIST FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS/ HAND PAINTER- CERAMIC TILE.
Custom brush decoration of terra cotta and porcelain ceramic tile (Over-glaze china paint, glaze on bisque, glaze on glaze.)

1990-July 1992  ARTIST/CO-OWNER/OPERATOR OF THE GINGER BLUE STUDIO, NOEL, MO.  Responsibilities included graphic desgning for several mediums, such as commercial off-set and silk -screen printing, also assisting in commercial and fine art video production.

1985- July 1992  ARTIST/CO-OWNER/OPERATOR OF THE GINGER BLUE POTTERY STUDIO/ NOEL, MO. Responsibilities include design, production, packaging, and marketing of cone 6 oxidation porcelain and majolica stoneware, and raku clay art objects including jewelry. Additional responsibilities were accounting, billing, and filing.

Aug. 1987-July 1988  CERAMIC MOLD DESIGNER/ MOLD-MAKER, Alfred, NY- Studied with Wallace Higgins, master mold maker and retired professor of Industrial ceramic design at Alfred University School of Ceramic Engineering and Design. Alfred, NY.

1991- 1992  CHARLIE’S SHEAR MAGIC / NOEL, MO. HAIRSTYLIST

1990- 1991  POGUE FARMS / ANDERSON, MO. BOOK-KEEPER

Sept. 1987-Dec. 1988  MOTTAHEDEH CO. / NEW YORK, NEW YORK. Studied at Alfred University to prepare to produce porcelain reproductions in Macau, China.

1986- 1987  REGIS HAIRSTYLISTS / PITTSBURG, KS. Hairstylist

1985- 1986  CHARLIE’S SHEAR MAGIC / NOEL, MO. Hairstylist

1984- 1984  GREAT EXPECTATIONS / TULSA, OK. Hairstylist

1983- 1984  LEITA’S / SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI. Hairstylist

1976- 1978  NAWNAHALAN CO. / TEHRAN, IRAN. Secretary

1976- 1976  P.L.M. CO. / TEHRAN, IRAN. Secretary
(French hotel, restaurant, and recreation company).

1974- 1975  PARS COLLEGE / TEHRAN, IRAN. Secretary

1972- 1973  IRANINAN BANK / TEHRAN, IRAN. Clerk/Book-keeper
 

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCES:

LIBRARIAN ASSISTANT, University of GA.- Athens, GA 1981-1982.

LIBRARIAN ASSISTANT, Planning Organization Library- Tehran, Iran. 1978.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

- Juried Member of Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen (Craftspersons).
- Member of Monroe County Arts Council in Pennsylvania.
- Juried artist, since 1996 Directory of Pennsylvania artists & Folklorists.
- Juried artist, Lehigh Valley Arts Council in Pennsylvania.
- Juried artist of Pennsylvania-Made Crafts.

OTHER SKILLS:

WRITER: Writer of more than 50 articles in the English language, and some in the Persian language. These articles deal with Education, Social, Art and Language Issues from the philosophical as well as artistic standpoint.
 

KNOWLEDGE OF LANGUAGES:
         ENGLISH-  read , write, and understand easily; speak fluently.
         PERSIAN-  read, write, and understand easily; speak fluently.
          FRENCH-  read, write, and understand- fair; speak- not fluently.

TYPING: English and Persian.

CALLIGRAPHY: ENGLISH, PERSIAN, AND HEBREW.

PRODUCTION of fired clay buttons with various textures for “BLUE FISH”     CLOTHING  COMPANY in Frenchtown, NJ.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

ARTS IN RESIDENCY:
- Bangor Area High School, Bangor, PA

“ Introduction of  Middle Eastern Culture, The connection between the Middle Eastern and the Celtic cultures with the emphasis on the Essence of All Cultures”

- Pleasant Valley Elementary School. Nov. 1998.
“ Nature & ‘U’, The Essence of All Cultures”
- Resica Elementary School. May-June 1998.
“ People, Rocks, Clay, and Life/ Making of Clay Tablets/ Your thoughts on Clay”
- Stroudsburg Middle School. March 1998.
“ Culture of ‘U’/ Creating Your Own Imaginary Environment”
- East Stroudsburg Univ. Fine Arts Ceramic Studio.  March 12, 1998.
“ People, Rocks, Clay, and Life”
 
RAKU CLAY WORKSHOPS, several Studio workshops given by Bahereh Khodadoost and Walter Heath. Summer 1997, Spring-Summer 1998.

RAKU FIRING WORKSHOP, several Raku workshops given by Bahereh Khodadoost and Walter Heath, to various schools and groups. 1997-1998.

SEMINAR, in-service seminar given by Bahereh Khodadoost and Walter Heath to Stroudsburg Area School District art teachers. Spring 1997.

FIELD TRIPS, several hands-on clay experiences given to area Girl Scout Troops, schools, and other groups. Spring 1997- Summer 1998.

CLASS-ROOM WORKSHOPS, a series of Multi-Cultural and Clay class-room workshops for Plainfield Elementary school and Immaculate Conception Catholic school. 1996-1998.
FIELD TRIPS/CLASS-ROOM WORKSHOPS, a series of clay experiences for pre-school children from Love to Learn Pre-school. 1992-1995.

EXHIBITION EXPERIENCE:

PUBLIC ART PROJECT:

 WEONA PARK, Pen Argyl, Pa. June 1998. “Children of the World”  Playground Sculpture, designed by Bahereh  Khodadoost, and installed permanently by Ginger Blue Clay Art Studio artists, Bahereh Khodadoost & Walter Heath.

POCONO RECORD GALLERY, Stroudsburg, Pa. Fall 1998.”FLIGHT/ A Visual  Melody”

Blue Mountain Library, Pen Argyl, Pa. Fall 1998. “A Face in The Crowd”

EAST 2 WEST, work by Bahereh Khodadoost and Joni Maya Oye, Madelon Powers Gallery, Fine & Performing arts Center, East Stroudsburg University of PA, East Stroudsburg, Pa. March-April 1998.

POCONO CINEMA GALLERY, work by Bahereh Khodadoost and Walter Heath, East Stroudsburg, Pa. March-April 1998.

CATS’S PAW GALLERY, Jim thorpe, Pa. Fall 1997.

SKY TOP LODGE GALLERY, Sky Top, Pa. Spring 1997.

POCONO RECORD GALLERY, Stroudsburg, Pa. Summer 1997.

POCONO CINEMA GALLERY, East Stroudsburg, Pa. Summer 1997.

‘FACES AND FELINES’, a three-person exhibition of clay mask and cat images by Bahereh Khodadoost, walter Heath, and Sienna Mae Heath. White Birch Gallery. Easton, Pa. July 1997.

TWO-PERSON SHOW/ THE ANTOINE DUTOT MUSEUM AND GALLERY, an exhibition of clay objects by Bahereh Khodadoost and Walter Heath. Delaware water Gap, Pa. July 1997.

1997 CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS MUSICAL MOTIF SHOW/ THE ANTOINE DUTOT MUSEUM AND GALLERY, Delaware Water Gap, Pa. September 1997.

1996 CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS MUSICAL MOTIF SHOW/ THE ANTOINE DUTOT MUSEUM AND GALLERY, Delaware Water Gap, Pa. September 1996.

DESIGN TECHNICS DESIGNER SHOWROOM, NYC, NY, 1992-1993.

‘POTS AND PIXELS’, an exhibition of paintings, ceramics, and computer images by Walter Heath and Bahereh Khodadoost, Student Gallery, Alfred University / School of Ceramic Design, April 17-19, 1988, Alfred, New York.

‘CERAMIC EXHIBITION BY WALTER AND BAHEREH HEATH’, Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium Gallery, February 1987. Pittsburg, Ks.

CRAIN / WOLOV GALLERY, 1985-1986, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

THE SCULPTURE GALLERY, 1984-1986, Kansas City, Missouri.

THE CENTER ART GALLERY, 1985-1986. Tulsa, Oklahoma.

36th SPIVA ANNUAL / SO. MO. STATE COLLEGE, April 1986. Joplin, MO.

OWAG ART EXHIBIT / LONGWELL MUSEUM / CROWDER COLLEGE, 1986, Neosho, Missouri.

OWAG ART EXHIBIT / LONGWELL MUSEUM / CROWDER COLLEGE, 1985, Neosho, Missouri.

AWARDS:

FIRST PLACE AWARD- CRAFT:  MONROE COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL ANNUAL MEMBERS EXHIBITION 1997.

THIRD PLACE AWARD- ART SHOW: “SACRED MOUNTAIN” ANNUAL JURIED ART SHOW, JIM THORPE, PA. 1997.

SECOND PLACE O.W.A.G.- SCULPTURE/POTTERY-OZARK WRITERS AND ARTIST GUILD, CROWDER COLLEGE, MO. 1985.
 

CURRENT ART REPRESENTATIVES:

CLEO GALLERY, BETHLEHEM,  PA.

TURNING POINT GALLERY, MEDIA, PA.

ARTISANS GALLERY, LAHASKA, PA.

TIDELINE GALLERY, GREENVILLE, DE.

JAPAN ARTISAN GALLERY, NEW HOPE, PA.

GRASSROOTS HANDCRAFTS, NEWARK, DE.

DESIGNER CRAFTS ON MAIN, STROUDSBURG, PA.

CONNEXIONS GALLERY, EASTON, PA.

PERSONAL DATA:

         BORN: 10/11/1946 in Kerman, Iran.

         MARITAL STATUS: Married; one daughter.

         HEALTH: Excellent.
 

SOME ACTING EXPERIENCES:

- Summer 2001

“Desire Itself Is Movement”

a multi-media performance

on the Little Pond grounds

Nazareth, PA

July 8, 2001 at 4:30pm

Rain or Shine

Director/ Scenario, Jennie Gilrain

Designer/ Sculptor,  Martha Posner

Musical Director/ Cellist, Gwendoline Watson

Poetry by Carl Sandburg, Mirabai, Shakespeare,

Emily Dickinson and Sonia Sanchez

*Bahereh,Walter,& Sienna Mae were all involved in this play.

**********************************************************************************

- Summer 1999

  - Ginger Blue Studio of the Arts/ The HEARTizen Theatre Ensemble

Friday August 6th, 1999   10 a.m.-Noon

Friday August 6th, 1999    7pm-9pm.

Pen Argyl, PA

- Introduction

          - Bahereh, the Mama HEARTizen

          - Walter, Dr. Art E. Phakt, Ph.D.  Doctor of Phaktalogy

          - Chloe, Rabbit

          - Sienna Mae, Lily

- “FINDING THE ALieN IN ‘U’”  by: Bahereh

- ‘Ode to Joy’ played on the xylophone and the cello, by: Chloe & Sienna Mae

- ‘Lily’ Written by: Sienna Mae

                   Played by the HEARTizen Theatre Ensemble

- ‘Amazing Grace’ on the guitar, by: Sienna Mae

-  ‘Concentration/ Persian Dance’  by: the HEARTizen Theatre Ensemble

- ‘The Life of a Rabbit’  Written by: Chloe

                   Played by the HEARTizen Theatre Ensemble

- ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ played on the xylophone by Chloe

- ‘HEARTizen’ Prologue’ by: Bahereh

- ‘Golden Dream’ A Persian song on the piano, by: Sienna Mae

- ‘Mourning’ played on the xylophone by: Chloe

- HEARTizen! A summary. Written by: Bahereh

                   Played by the HEARTizen Theatre Ensemble

- ‘HEARTizen Anthem!’ by the HEARTizen Theatre Ensemble with the audience participation!

- ‘MEYE MystorEYE StorEYE’ Written by: Walter

Bubble Blowers are: Sienna Mae, Chloe, & Bahereh

- Cornish Dance, ‘Dance of Joy’ by: EVERYONE!

“It is the circle that unites us all!”  

* The HEARTizen Theatre Ensemble would like to thank everyone for being here, and for supporting our group.

* We will have autographs after the program

Donations Graciously Accepted

*********

**********************************************************************************  

- Summer 1998

- Ginger Blue Studio of the Arts/ The HEARTizen Theatre Ensemble

Presents:

HEARTizen meets Dr. Art E. Phakt “ Bahereh & Walter”

Children involved in the acting class were: Sienna Mae Heath, Hannah Hotz, and Heather and Vanessa Elphick. They acted in the small plays that were written by them.

Small stage production from our acting class.

Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998  from 10 a.m.-Noon

Ginger Blue Studio, 318 Applegate Ave.

Pen Argyl, PA

*****

On-going 1st Sunday of the Month

STUDIO OPEN HOUSE

OPEN STAGE/ Open Microphone!  

 Starting Sunday Nov.7th/ 1999!

2PM - 5PM

Ginger Blue ‘Clay’ Studio of the Arts

 in Pen Argyl

*********

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 (610)863-3362

Mailing Address: 423 Mountain Ave. Pen Argyl, Pa. 18072

please send e-mail to: bahereh@HEARTizen.com