In May, Centrum was pleased to host Omid Shekari as part of its In the Making Residency series. In addition to installing two gallery spaces in Building 305, Shekari had a site-specific installation in Battery Kinzie, the large battery down by Point Wilson Lighthouse.
While in residency at Centrum, Shekari created several large-scale drawings and photos in dialogue with the historic construction of the Fort Worden Artillery Battery. The site is one example of the development of a military power in the wake of the colonization of the indigenous land in the area. The artworks on paper and fabric explore the notion of body in relation to institution, history, and geography. The works were on view in Building 305 and at Battery Kinzie on May 10th & 11th.
Omid Shekari is a visual artist based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He employs various approaches and methods of art making to explore his visual language within 2D and 3D spaces. His objects are attempts to understand and give forms to our complex social relations, specifically the relationship between repressed and repressor that has existedin our society and has been normalized under capitalism.
His artworks have been exhibited at the Sculpture Center in Cleveland, Wilmer JenningsGallery at Kenkeleba House and The Drawing Center in NYC; Texas A&M InternationalUniversity, Laredo, TX; Ohio State University (Urban Art Center), Akron Art Museum, Oberlin College (Baron Gallery) in Ohio; Marginal Utility Gallery, Philadelphia; Greenfield Community College, MA; Fleisher Art Memorial, PAFA Museum, Woodmere Art Museum,Gallery Joe, Philadelphia; Pelham Art Center, NY; and Azad Art Gallery in Tehran. Shekari received his BFA from Soore University in Tehran and his MFA from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. Shekari is currently an art faculty at the University of Pittsburgh.
Installation images at 305 & Battery kinzie
