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I am finding one of the most delightful side benefits of being an artist is connection to people of similar cultural background. It can be easy to feel isolated in the Northwest as an Egyptian American, but through my art, I have found in the last few years, that I'm not alone. The last show, "Authentic Hybrids," yielded new connections in Portland and throughout the U.S. I am now finding there are many Middle Eastern artists in this area, many working through the same cultural and creative concerns that I am. I feel truly blessed to have the medium of visual art as a communication and connection tool. Artists unite! 
James Lavadour
| Posted at 01:53 PM on April 09, 2009 |
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I had the pleasure of hearing one of my favorite living artists speak at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River last night. James Lavadour is a painter from the Umatilla Reservation in Oregon. He presented down to earth background on his life on the Umatilla reservation. I was impressed with his authenticity and richness of ideas. He chooses not to use petroglyphs because they are not a part of his personal history but instead responds to the land itself where he grew up and lives. I could relate in terms of my cultural heritage. Althought half Egyptian, I avoid using stereotypical Egyptian images such as heiroglyphics. His work achieves everything I hope to achieve someday. I find his paintings to be pure sensory experience,full of light and a true reflection of this geographical region. I left the evening inspired! You can view his work at the following site: http://www.pdxcontemporaryart.com/lavadour
