April 13, 2006

Women’s art exhibit attracts art lovers to Almaden Valley home

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

Pretty paintings of flowers displayed amidst gardens bursting with color were the main attraction at a weekend art show at an Almaden Valley home. These floral pieces were a mere sampling of a collection of work created by a group of seven local artists entitled “Art Through Women’s Eyes.”

Artists Victoria Ghahremani, Ida Samardar, Jeanne Carbone, Haleh Mahbod, Avideh Yaghmai-Samardar and Dokhie Faye Shehabi provided a visual feast at their “Celebrating Spring Through Women’s Eyes” exhibit. Photo by Lorraine Gabbert

At this intimate exhibit, art lovers had an opportunity to brush shoulders with the artists themselves, learning more about their creations.

Through their compelling work, artists Jeanne Carbone, Victoria Ghahremani, Haleh Mahbod, Akhtar Nazemi, Ida Samardar, Dokhie Faye Shehabi, and Avidéh Yaghmai-Samardar shared their love of creating with acrylics, ceramics, oil, photography and watercolor.

“These women all love what they’re doing,” said Jeanne Carbone (who goes under the pen name Jeanne Lewis as an Almaden Times Weekly staff writer), “and decided to join together and have a show.” This is the group’s third show since their inception in December, and the second three-generational venue.

Victoria Ghahremani began painting at age 14, and inspired her daughters, Haleh Mahbod and Avideh Yaghmai-Samardar, as well as her granddaughter, Ida Samardar, to paint. Mahbod remembers growing up in a home filled with her ‘mother’s beautiful art’ all around her.

Yaghmai-Samardar’s childhood memories of her mother include the two of them decorating the side of her homework with flowers. “It was our way of connecting and spending time together,” she says. With two girls of her own, Yaghami-Samardar is passing on her family’s love of art. She and her 6- and 3-year-old daughters can often be found in her studio, playing with clay, watercolors or acrylics.

Showing their work together gives her goose bumps. “I love seeing my mom’s beautiful work,” she says, “and to see Ida present her own … I just love it!” For the show, her daughter created acrylic ‘dot-dot’ art, a collection of colorful swirls featuring a heart motif. Painting since age 1, she couldn’t wait to display her work in a real exhibit. “Tomorrow’s my art show,” she informed her aunt. “I have to get up early!”

Jeanne Carbone, who also remembers drawing as a little girl, wanted to be an artist when she grew up. “I have always loved art,” she says, “and painted since a young child of 5, when I first drew an elephant that won a prize in my kindergarten.” She has taken art classes throughout her life and recently picked up her brushes again, creating pastel watercolor orchids and irises.

Carbone finds art is therapeutic and freeing. She urges people to not only follow, but grab hold of their dreams. “If you want to do something, do it now,” she says. “If not now, when?”

Six-year-old Ida Samardar was thrilled to exhibit her work at the show. Pictured: Acrylic dot-dot, “The Sun Warms our Hearts.”

For Mahbod, art captures a moment in time, telling a story about a feeling, place, or person through color and light. “This is experiencing art, and a way of life,” says Yaghmai-Samardar, “through a woman’s eyes.”

Faye Shehabi agrees. “When I’m painting, it’s like I’m out of this world,” she says. “I focus on what I’m doing, forgetting about the rest of the things in my life.” Shehabi has always appreciated art and enjoys teaching it to children. “Art is one of life’s most important things,” she says.

Shehabi finds beauty and solace in her work. Painting pictures of ancient buildings from her previous home in Iran, transports her to another place and time, drawing her closer to her vivid memories.

Yaghmai-Samardar’s ceramics of women in flowered dresses and flowing black hair are reminiscent of Frida Kahlo’s work, hinting at a dream-version of self. Mahbod’s acrylics and stunning nature photography also transcends the ordinary, capturing the imagination. “It’s a passion,” she says.

There are currently eight active artists involved in “Art Through Women’s Eyes,” with many more expressing interest. One of their goals is to encourage closet artists to display their work, allowing others to enjoy it.

To view samples from this exhibit, visit their Web site: www.artthroughwomenseyes.com.