Works/San José

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press release September 15, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Calling into the Void Works/San Jose 30 North 3rd Street San Jose, CA 95112 (408) 295-8378 Exhibition Dates: September 29th- October 29, 2005 Reception: Friday, September 30th, 2005 7pm-9pm Special Event: Tuesday, September 27, 5-6pm Lectures at San Jose State University School of Art and Design by: Sara Raza on performance in contemporary Afghan and Iranian art; Reza Aramesh on his recent performance and installation work; Hasan Elahi, on privacy and identity in the age of Orwellian technology, as seen in his ongoing web project, "Tracking Transience." Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 12-4pm; Thursdays, 12-7pm Cost: Free Admission "Calling into the Void" examines the work of artists of Middle Eastern descent or Islamic culture who use contemporary Western esthetics and media to reflect on their condition as expatriates, voluntary or involuntary, and as artists straddling what are usually assumed to be diametrically opposed cultures. Islam¹s traditional proscription of figuration gave rise to a rich abstract decorative tradition that throve for centuries while Europe languished in feudal ignorance. This dazzling efflorescence of geometric and nature-derived imagery was considered by the West until recently to be primitive, and scorned with the Latin term horror vacui, fear of empty spaces (which, ironically, describes much medieval European work as well). Curator Nazanin Shenasa accepts the old label, but subverts its Eurocentric bias; she likens the urge to embellish with the exile¹s need to construct new identities in the strange new homeland. Putting down roots, constructing "a surrogate world" to replace the "void Š created through separation and displacement" is of course the common plight of all émigrés stirred into our American melting pot, multicultural stew or tossed salad (choose your metaphor). With this show we see a snapshot of that ongoing process of identity creation. The photography, video, performance and installation produced by these Eastern artists trained in the West provide a wider perspective for understanding the cultural differences and similarities between immigrants old and new. Exhibition and all events listed are open to the public and free. The artists include: Suha Araj, San Francisco visual and performing artist Reza Aramesh, London installation and performance artist and independent curator Hasan Elahi, digital media and installation artist and Rutgers University assistant professor Taraneh Hemami, San Francisco installation artist, visiting artist at California College of the Arts Hiba Kalache, Oakland installation artist Said Nuseibeh, San Francisco photographer Sara Raza, London arts writer and independent curator Nazanin H. Shenasa, Saratoga textile artist and independent curator Contact: Nazanin Shenasa, Curator 408-205-1972 nhshenasa@worldnet.att.net (photos available) DeWitt Cheng, Works/San José Publicity Coordinator 415-412-8499 (cell) acdcmr@earthlink.net Jennifer Levy, Works/San José Gallery Coordinator 408-295-8378 works_sj@yahoo.com Parking is available across the street in parking deck on North 3rd. Established in 1977, Works/San José is a non-profit, volunteer-run contemporary art and performance center dedicated to providing a venue for artists, ideas, and images that expand the scope of cultural and artistic experience.

works/san josé 451 south 1st street • san josé, california 95112• 408.286.6800 hours: t,w,f,sat 12pm - 4pm and th 12pm - 7pm Copyright © 2003/2007 works/san josé. All rights reserved.