My Background
Education
2016 – 2019
Master of Fine Arts,
OCAD University
Thesis: Depression Behind the Agreeable Silence: Women, Migration and Self-Censorship
Supervisor: Dr. Linda Carreiro
2007 – 2009
Master of Design,
York University
Thesis: Contradictions and Paradoxes: Political Censorship and Visual Representation of Women in Contemporary Iran
Supervisor: Professor Michael Longford
1995 – 1999
Bachelor of Arts,
Azad University of Art and Architecture
Thesis: An Analysis of Image and Imagination in Persian Contemporary Poetry
Supervisor: Professor Omid Ebrahim
Teaching
and
Research Interests
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Critical Visual thinking (Studio-based)
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Digital Art (Adobe products, Studio-based)
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Feminism and visual communication
Teaching
Experience
2023 - Present
Editorial Design Studio Instructor, OCAD University
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Developed the course outline, and lesson plans.
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Taught principals of design ( theory, Typography, golden Ratio, Gestalt Theory, griding system, and layout Design).
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Taught advance methods of Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign as main tools for creating editorial design materials.
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Taught the difference between using principal of design for print. V.s screen-based design.
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Designed quizzes and studio projects for the students to evaluate both theoretical and studio based practice of the subject.
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Graded, provided constructive feedbacks.
2022 – Present
Art and Design Instructor, Canada Contemporary School of Art
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Teaching various classes at the CCSA as well as other schools including TFS (Canada’s International School), Cresswood School,
Mooredale School under the CCSA supervision. Some of the classes
include the following: -
Drawing and Painting: Teaching various artistic techniques based on
the students’ preferred medium including but not limited to oil colour,
watercolour, acrylic, pastel, and India ink. -
Architecture: Encouraging students to develop problem-solving with
the key concepts within the architectural process such as drawing,
structure design, graphics, modeling, etc. -
Animation: Visual storytelling through craft making, character design,
stage design, time-lapse photography, and digital editing. -
Sci-Art: merge art and science via hands-on art-based projects rootedin scientific exploration and understanding.
2019 – 2022
Visual Art Instructor, FH International High School
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Developed a course binder including a course outline, lesson plans,
curriculum tracker, student attendance, and assessment form -
Evaluated student progress and the ability to meet course standards
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Planed and developed lessons covering various dimensions of visual arts and graphic design including but not limited to: history of art, undaments of design, basic knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, familiarity with contemporary art, Canadian art, and Indigenous art
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Utilized educational equipment, such as materials, books, and other learning aids
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Encouraged the development of problem solving, logical reasoning, and flexible thinking skills
2007 – 2009
Teaching Assistant, York University
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Taught Introduction to Design to more than 70 students
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Helped student to work with Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign.
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Stimulated students’ awareness of the power of visual images, creative concepts, typography, and design as a cultural commodity and business tools
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Graded students’ design projects and artifacts
Visual
Research Experience
2018 – Present
Visual Researcher, University of Toronto (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education)
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Research and design for the Youth, War, and Migration Project
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Working on the informational/educational materials for the art project on violence against women in refugee camps
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Create promotional materials including but not limited to the website, cover designs, and conference/seminar programs
2017 – 19
Graduate Student, OCAD University
Theoretical and Visual research about the life of political prisons from Iran:
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Created an animation that illustrates a poem by Saeed Yousef’s a former political prisoner from Iran
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Created a series of ten paintings that tells the story of the harsh situation of the political prisoners in Iran
2008 – 09
Visual Researcher, Ryerson University (Center for Learning Technology)
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Created an innovative visual language of pictograms for deaf and hard of hearing audiences to provide an understanding of the various aspects of music such as pitch, velocity and intensity
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Annotated songs and television programming with visual descriptors to assist in the creation of emotive subtitles
Publication
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Lives Lost: In Search of a New Tomorrow. Book Illustration (used pseudonym Ava Raha), Trace Press, 2019
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IAMD Course Credit: Year End Exhibition Catalogue 2017
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Elaine Fleck’s Catalogue of Contemporary Fine Art, Accurate Impressions Ltd. VOL 1 ISSUE 1 FALL 2009
Exhibition
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Dec 2022 - Patching Seas of War: Convivial Culture and the Joy of Defiance, William Doo Auditorium, Toronto
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Jun 2022 - listening and making: a (Zoom) call and response, Textile Museum of Canada, Toronto
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Feb 2022 - Reverie, Riverdale Hub, Toronto
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Apr 2019 - Agreeable Silence, OCAD Graduate Gallery, Toronto
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Nov 2017 - Trace, OCAD Graduate Gallery, Toronto
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Apr 2017 - Course Credit, Graduate Gallery, Toronto
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May 2010 - Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, Nobody will Walk on the Forbidden Fruit, Queen Gallery, Toronto
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Sep 2009 - Nuit Blanche Toronto, Elaine Fleck Gallery, Toronto
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Nov 2016 - Humanalia, OCAD Graduate Gallery
Apr 2011 - Lines of Resistance: Prison Art from Middle East, Beit Zatoun
Jun 2010 - Talking prison: Creating art making justice, Hart House Theatre, Universityof Toronto
Conference and Presentation
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2022 - Presenter
Patching Seas of War: Convivial Culture and the Joy of Defiance, Organized by Jackman Humanities Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto -
2019 - Guest speaker
Text and Image: (PRNT-3003) Studio Course, OCAD University, Toronto
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2016 - Guest speaker
Women and Revolution: The Art of Resistance in the Middle East, IOSE, Toronto
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2010 - Presenter
Dissent: The Politics and Poetics of Women’s Resistance, Organized by Women & Gender Institute New College, University of Toronto, Toronto
Honors
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2016 - Graduate Scholarship (CRCP)
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2016 - Charles Pachter Bursary
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2017 - Canada Student Grant
Volunteer Work
2009 – Present
Women Political Prisoners: A collaborative work with Dr. Shahrzad Mojab, a group of professional artists, and former political prisoners from Middle East. Through this continues project we have represented the stories and memories of the former political prisoners in various form of art in different public events.
Other Courses
2014 – 2015
UX Design Certificate – George Brown Collage
2011
Fashion photography course – George Brown Collage
2009 – 2011
Painting and drawing course – George Brown Collage
2006
HTML and Adobe Flash course – George Brown Collage