Amir Salamat • Press

News release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Santa Monica, CA---An exhibit at the non-profit center, Aeen-e-Iran Society, in Santa Monica will be hosting an exhibit featuring the works of Iranian born artist Amir Salamat, in time for the Persian New Year, on March 21st, 2006.  The art will remain on display for 4 months at the Society through

July 2006, and will feature pieces that represent the changing face of Persian mores.

"Many people tell me that they see messaging in my art, and I suppose they refer to the religious subtext present in some of my work, as well as representations of commonly accepted symbolism" explains Amir Salamat, the artist. "However, very often, their interpretations and mine will vary, and that's Ok. Art is what you want it to be."

Much of Salamat's earlier work does in fact include religious symbols, interspersed with swords and daggers, and both Latin and Persian handwritten text. While the words and sentences are often gibberish at first glance, the images are mainly representative of Christian and Islamic faiths and are not limited to obvious artifact, but often do seem to tell a story, for instance with the heads of Islamic clerics and veiled faceless women.  Faceless women, both Eastern and Western, are a recurring theme in this collection, as are unidentifiable, bodies, whose genders are sometimes unclear and sometimes underscored with highly stylized body parts that remove all doubt as to their masculinity.

"All in all this is a very interesting collection from a very interesting artist" says Laleh Shahparaki, the spokesperson for the Aeen-E-Iran Society. "We are very pleased to be representing Mr. Salamat's work, and exposing edgy Iranian talent, specially at a time when our culture has been diminished by a mainstream society that dismisses our country as the axis of Evil, and it's people collectively as 'terrorists'. It is always good to have a reminder, even among ourselves of the rich and wonderful talent of our own traditional and emerging artists."

The Aeen E Iran Society is located in Santa Monica CA and is dedicated to the furthering of Persian Culture; Art, poetry and Philosophy. 

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News release

San Francisco, CA - Iranian American artist, Amir Salamat has been included for exhibit at ArtFest's 3rd annual Spectra Ball, in San Francisco, Sat April 8th, 2006.   Among the pieces to be displayed will be his painting titled "Support our OOPS" which poignantly depicts the "human Pyramid" incident in Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison and unbalanced love which is a painting based on emotional involvement of each person in a relationship.

"I chose these two peices for this event because of the timely nature of the "Human Pyramid" and the Iraq war, and of course the theme of love for the unbalanced love piece can be  universal.  I felt these two pieces may have a wide enough appeal for the 2000 or so folks expected to attend Artsfest and as a bay area artist for over 25 years, I'm happy to be a part of it." 

These pieces are valued between $1000 & $4000, and will be included in the silent auction at Artsfest on April 8th.  For more information on the works of Amir Salamat, please call 650-759-5509.

"We are very pleased to showcase Amir Salamat's work" says ArstFest Art Curator Will Chase.  "While preparing to hang all the artwork in preparation of the Spectra Ball, I had the luxury of enjoying Amir's paintings, "George, Dick and Donald" and "Face" hanging on my own private wall for a period of time. I consider this to be one of the perks of my job." 

Chase continues: ":ArtSFest was borne to ensure that our civic culture of creativity thrives and reaches broader audiences here and across the world.  To that end, the ArtSFest mission is to cultivate the next generation of the arts in the San Francisco Bay Area."

As a unifying non-profit organization, ArtSFest engages corporations, businesses, media and community partners through programs that champion all the arts, expand audiences for arts presenters and strengthen the connections between arts community members to one another.

And the ArtSFest Spectra Ball is in their own words: "A dazzling, spirit-lifting, hip-shaking, awe-inspiring celebration of the Bay Area arts community--a symphony of theatrical, dance, circus and musical performances, and two floors highlighted with extraordinary art exhibits and installations."

 For more information on Artsfest, the spectra ball, becoming a member, donations and upcoming events go to www.artsfestsf.org/ or Phone:   415-561-7802.