BY CYBELE POLICASTRO

This week Bleecker Street Beat meets up with Zahra Jlayer, one of the Chashasa artists being hosted by Arts Brookfield at 350 Bleecker.  She and artist Howard Gladstone will create and display new work during a month long residency.

BSB: Where are you from originally and what brought you to New York?

I am from Iran originally and I came to New York after my husband started his residency training in New York.

BSB: I understand that you in addition to being a visual artist, are a Physician Pathologist and former Medical Examiner. Can you tell me a little bit about your art background?

I grew up in an artistic environment. My dad was a self-taught artist and poet and he was my inspiration to fall in love with art. Before moving to the United States,  painting in a traditional way, was my hobby but I hardly found time to spend on painting while I was in medical school.

Following my graduation from pathology residency here in New York I found more time to go back to my passion. Working with microscope and looking at the human body at cellular level became my inspiration for the world of “abstract art”. After my dad passed away, going back to the canvas and paint made me feel closer to him. First I used pour painting as a way of self expression by translating my emotions to the colors and print them on canvas. Then I noticed strong emotional responses in the viewers.

That was the time I started to search the cause of this strong emotional responses and I found my answer in Dr. Eric Kandel’s book "Reductionism in Art and Brain Science. Color has an extraordinary ability to elicit strong emotional responses whether used alone or in combination of lines and forms.

BSB: Can you describe how the pop-up gallery located at 350 Bleecker came about? 

Arts Brookfield hosts Chashama at 350 Bleecker Street, and I had the pleasure of working with Chashama organization and performing live pour painting at their Chashama gala. I also have been a participant in their space to create and present program. 

BSB:  Can you tell us a little bit about the focus of the exhibition?

The focus of exhibition is interactive art. I am doing paint pouring during the day and people who passing by show a lot of interest to the paint pouring. Howard Gladstone, who I am sharing the space with, will be sketching visitors and chatting with them and at the end asking them to write something about the conversation on their portraits.  

BSB: What kind of response have you had so far from the local community as well as tourists walking in?

People's responses are so encouraging both from the community as well as tourists. Neighbors are so excited about the pop-up exhibit and talk about it to other neighbors and bring other family members to visit. Tourists come in taking the cards and they leave their email address for us to notify them about our next show. We have gotten a lot of positive feedback so far.

This pop-up gallery located at 350 Bleecker on the corner of West 10th Street is open until Aug 7th, 2018.

Artists Reception: Saturday July 28 th, 2-5 PM.

Closing reception: Sunday Aug 5th 2-5 PM.

About Zahra Jlayer
Zahra Jlayer is a physician pathologist currently residing in New York. Zahra grew up in an artistic environment: her dad was a self-taught artist and poet, and inspired by him, Zahra fell in love with painting.

For further information about Zahra, please visit her website: http://www.zahrajlayer.com/

About Howard Gladstone

Howard Gladstone is known for creating innovative programs that enable artists and cultural institutions to work together.  He convened two conferences and co-founded a coalition in Chicago, to link independent producers with Public Television and emerging technologies, and empower its more than 500 members to voice commentary on issues that are often overlooked by mainstream media.

In New York City, he founded and directed the Portrait Project, to bring together accomplished painters and sculptors to portray one another and provide opportunities to collectively exhibit their work.

For further information about Howard, please visit his website: http://www.howardgladstone.net