Some Recent Highlights

It’s been a busy fulfilling first quarter with lots of successes. I have been laying the groundwork for this project over the last few months, and would like to thank you for all your support. The Hideaway made many great achievements in February and March. Starting with an interview during the performance Bitter/Sweet: The Artist at Work airing on the “KC Currents” show on KCUR 89.3FM. Charles Ferruzza, of The Pitch Weekly, also wrote a very helpful and informative article, introducing the Hideaway Project to our community.

To top it off in March, I got my first kiln and started to fire my own pots. A few weeks later, I acquired a wheel and threw for the first time ever. So I will be excited to introduce a new series of clay pots next month. I really enjoy the process and its meditative qualities. Again my heart felt thanks for all the great support.

Bitter/Sweet "The Artist at Work"

Life is complex, and made up in many different layers like an onion. If you take a big bite of a raw onion it will bring tears to your eyes, but if you take the time to sweat and sauté the onions in butter and olive oil add some salt, you can bring color and flavor into your life. No matter your circumstance you can live like a king if you know how to be creative in the kitchen.

The Hideaway presented its first event today, Bitter/Sweet “The Artist at Work” I chose to prepare Morg Tanoori and Morg Fessenjan as the main entrée as they are both dishes that many Iranian families prepare for their guests. We had a great night! The dialogue was encouraging, as the patrons got to know each other while enjoying a four-course meal. I got good feedback and a chance to explain how this project works, The Hideaway facilitates The Artist Sustainability Project, it is my hope to build a network of sustainable studios that allow artists a pedestal to stand on. In these recession times, “The Artist at Work” is my effort to reinvent modes of survival; drawing attention to the way we make ends meet, while we pursue our passion.

"Bad Luck" 84" x 79"

For those who are unfamiliar with my work I have included an image that inspired one of the prints gifted to The Hideaway Patrons this month. The life sized drawing from my "Love and War" series was recently on display in a solo show at the Flood Fine Art Center in Asheville, NC. If you would like to see this work in person, the drawing is being shown in Kansas City at the Kemper East 200 E. 44th Street Near KCAI until March.

Delivered in Clay Pots

This month all orders were delivered in handmade clay pots inspired by ancient Persian pre-wheel pottery.

From January's Prix Fix Menu

Organic chicken stew with sauteed garlic, onion,raisons, potatoes, and spices served over sour barberry saffron infused basmati rice along with mast kiar and fresh herbs.

3 prints gifted to Hideaway Patrons in January

I went way back for my inspiration on this piece "I was gone but now, I'm here" is a print I made in attempts to create a contemporary primitive impression, inspired by the first self portrait, extended further in my treatment of the sculptures of clay pots, inspired by ancient Persian pre-wheel pottery. "Hot Dog" (center) is from a series of drawings, which are studies for a sculpture of a food cart... more on that in the months to come.

Thanks for your support!

Many in our community have helped to make this possible; I send my most sincere thanks to you. KC Metro Ceramics, Arts Incubator, Index Restaurant Supply, Utrecht, Denise Hosack, Brock DeBoer, Ehsan Avazpour, Travis DiGirolamo, Jessica Owings, Kate Hackman, Sarah Vandersall, and Jennifer Maloney. I wish to express my gratitude to you. Thank you as well to the many Patrons of The Hideaway. In purchasing my food you have already played a vital role in the conception of this artistic experiment, and it is my hope that you will continue to choose to be a part of it.

Nothin' to it but to do it...

I FOUND A PLACE TO FIRE MY POTS! WHICH IS GREAT NEWS BUT THE POTS WERE IN MY CAR ALL NIGHT, SO THEY WERE FROZEN WHEN I BROUGHT THEM INTO KC METRO CERAMICS I STARTED GLAZING THEM TOO FAST AND MOST OF THEM CRACKED. THERMAL SHOCK ...I SHOULD HAVE KNOW BETTER. SO MY SCULPTURES OF ANCIENT PERSIAN POTTERY TURNED TO RUINS. NOTHING COMES EASY; YOU JUST DUST YOUR SELF OFF AND KEEP GOING, NO BIG DEAL. More pictures soon.

My parents cookbook from 1984

THE SOURCE OF MANY OF MY RECIPES

The inspiration for many of my recipes come from a little cookbook my parents wrote in 1984 called simply "Eastern Cuisine - The Most Delicious Recipes in the World." At the time they had just opened a Middle Eastern Food Market in Jefferson City, Missouri. Their business venture only lasted six months, but the cookbook has stayed with me to this day.

January 2010 the 1st month

As a visual artist who holds a deep love for food and cooking, I can’t help but to approach this business endeavor as a creative work in progress. While many artists are feeling like space invaders not able to find a good home for their work I want to draw attention to these recession times and how we are being pulled from our studios in order to make ends meet. Called “Cé nest pas un a restaurant,” the work is inspired by the Magritte painting, “This is not a pipe.” I will take something we all know and change the context in order to start a dialogue. Rather than calling it a job I choose to see it as a work of art. This artistic project that I have been calling The Hideaway is my effort to reinvent modes of survival and shift perspective about the current economic situation. Along with this comes opportunity to collaborate creatively with my community. The work starts as a food delivery service and will manifest into a sculpture of a restaurant.

Handmade clay pots will be made to deliver gifts of food and art to the patrons of The Hideaway. Evolving as time goes by, the first menu will offer a prix fix menu with a choice of Morg Fessanjan or Morg Tanoori. Inspired by my own family recipe, both are dishes that Iranian families share with their guests and take great pride in.

Space Invader: An Artist Sustainability Project

The Hideaway; facilitates the Space Invader Program: An Artist Sustainability Project the experience is one that is constantly evolving, the first incarnation of the restaurant was a food delivery service in Asheville, NC, acquiring over 70 patrons in the first week nearly 200 patrons in the first month.

Once I acquire 250 patrons in Kansas City I will be able to give a $1000 grant to a local artist each month along with access to a studio and two assistants, a materials budget, and free food. Their task is to create an art object in edition of 250. The art objects given to the Hideaway Patrons expands the artist’s network and introduces them to potential collectors. It also helps to get the fire going presenting the idea of multiples to the artist and how they can get “the art” to the people. I think all artists should be printmakers; it opens them up to a broad collector base, which is a key to "sustaining" an artistic lifestyle.

In addition to the twelve mini-residencies to local artists, once a year an artist in residence will receive a furnished apartment near downtown and the use of a large studio for 11 weeks as well as an opportunity to exhibit their work in the gallery at the end of their stay. The residency is designed to provide the artist an inspiring and supportive environment for individual and /or collaborative new work.

The Space Invader Artist in Residence Program is intended to foster artistic development and support arts education in the Crossroads Arts District of downtown Kansas City.

Add your comments... Post a review here!

Just as an artist draws up plans or studies of a final piece, each week that I continue this process I seek to gain constructive criticism and commentary from you, my peers. That being said, I welcome any and all feedback you have about the food you purchased and tasted.

Thank you again for your support, I look forward to your comments and ongoing participation in this project. Please feel free to pass the word to your friends.