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Jun 23

Iran Today

Posted on June 23, 2009 | 0 Comments

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At the temporary grave of Ayatollah Khomeini,1989

Twenty years ago this month, in June 1989, I was in Iran photographing the mourning for Ayatollah Khomeini. Ten years ago I covered the reform movement when it was in power under President Mohammed Khatami. Iran has shifted from right to left and back again, but always within the context of an Islamic state. As I write this Iran is passing through dramatic social upheaval again with a moderate opposition movement taking to the streets to contest recent elections favoring the conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the conservatives crack down.

The stakes for the future of the Islamic Republic are high and the outcome is uncertain at this time. Read more about my experiences in Iran from my fall 2008 post: http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/photography/windowsofthesoul/iran. And view my photos from Iran:

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Men standing near a painting of Ayatollah Khomeini

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Boy kissing a portrait of Ayatollah Khomeini

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Blood of a sacrificed lamb streaks a north Tehran street on the day of mourning for Imam Hussain and the peak of the month of Muharram.

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Imam Mosque, Isfahan, Iran

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Actress on a movie set, Kish Island, Iran

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Women weaving a rug, Heris, Iran

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Young couple on Khajou Bridge, Isfahan, Iran

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A 17-year-old Kurdish bride at Zarivar Lake, Iran

Jun 04

Windows of the Soul on NY Times Lens

Posted on June 4, 2009 | 0 Comments

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Dear Friends and Colleagues, Check out today's New York Times feature about Windows of the Soul: My Journeys in the Muslim World.

Click here: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/

MULTIMEDIA | June 04, 2009
Lens: Showcase: Taking Risks
By James Estrin
Alexandra Avakian takes chances. She faced down militias in Somalia and covered riots and conflict in Gaza, Lebanon and the Caucasus to make the photographs in her book, "Windows of the Soul: My Journeys in the Muslim World" (Focal Point/National Geographic, 2008).
Source: lens.blogs.nytimes.com

May 11

New DVD, Exhibit News, and More

Posted on May 11, 2009 | 0 Comments

Dear Readers/Viewers,

Windows of the Soul news includes:

The launch of a new NG Live! DVD in The Photographers series of my slide lecture (and Sam Abell's) at the National Geographic Society, and it includes up close and personal interviews. Learn more and buy the DVD here.

The Windows of the Soul photo exhibit will premier at the 21st edition of the International Festival of Photojournalism Visa Pour L'Image in Perpignan, France.
The dates are August 29th to September 13th. Find out more here.

Windows of the Soul is excerpted in the spring issue of Sarah Lawrence Magazine - read more here.

The Armenian Reporter did an in-depth interview, reprinted here.

On April 9th my photos from mass graves in Syria were shown as a slide show in New York at Columbia University during a forum on the Armenian Genocide moderated by New York Times reporter Andrea Kannapell, featuring Professor Taner Akcam and lawyer Mark Geragos.

Arizona was lovely, moody and beautiful; saw lots coyotes, deer, and other fauna and flora such as Saguaro cactus and plentiful desert spring flowers. Took a trip with my family all the way down to Nogales where we stayed at a gorgeous 300 year old cattle ranch, now an inn. Here is the ranch on a National Geographic map.

Then at the Tucson Festival of Books, I did two slide show/book talks and two signings for The Center for Middle Eastern Studies and the BookStore, University of Arizona, Tucson.

Amanda Shauger of KXCI public radio talked at length with me about the book - hear the interview here.

I did a live segment on KOLD TV and was also interviewed by Tony Paniagua on KUAZ public radio station.


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While I was in Arizona, a pow wow took place at the Tohono O'odham reservation. I felt lucky, as I have long been interested in photographing there. Above is a photo of some Native American dancers text messaging behind the San Xavier Church. Thanks and until next time!

Mar 06

Slideshows in the Desert

Posted on March 6, 2009 | 0 Comments

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Gaza City

This weekend I'm off to the Arizona desert for photography, work, and fun. Later next week I will be at the Tucson Festival of Books in Arizona.

On Thursday, March 12 at 6:30, The University of Arizona's Center for Middle East Studies and the U.A. School of Journalism are co-sponsoring my book slideshow/talk. Learn more at www.cmes.arizona.edu/calendar.

And I'll do it again in slightly different form for the Festival at the University of Arizona Bookstore on Saturday, March 14 at 2:30 pm, where I will also be signing books. Learn more at www.uofabookstores.com/uaz/TFOB/default.asp.

Well, Chicago was wonderful. On February 19, I gave my brand new Windows of the Soul slide show/talk for a sensitive and deep audience of art and book lovers and others at FLATFILEgalleries. I showed 70 slides and told some of the edgiest and most compelling stories from my book in a personal tour of Windows of the Soul: My Journeys in the Muslim World.

Susan Aurinko, the gallery owner/director, photographer and poet also read two beautiful poems by Nadia Anjoman, the late Afghan poet. Please read them here on the UniVerse website: www.universeofpoetry.org/Afghanistan.shtml.

Richard Fammeree and Francesco Levato of UniVerse read poems that night. Francesco's was harrowing: an unrelenting, personal view of war that doesn't let you off the hook and as it shouldn't. (War Rug: www.francescolevato.com). Fammeree's poetry had a gentler view with visions of ancient world and the differences and similarities between us.

Also on February 19, I sat for an in-depth interview about my book and life on Chicago Public Radio's Worldview with the excellent host Jerome McDonnell. You can listen to the interview here.

Will write to you again after Arizona!

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On Saturday, February 21 at 8 a.m. (EST) and Sunday, February 22 at 12 a.m. and 1 p.m. (EST), CSPAN2's Book TV featured Alexandra's NG Live! 10/08 slide show and book talk at the National Geographic Society.

On Thursday, February 19, Alexandra and Windows of the Soul were featured in an in-depth interview on Worldview with Jerome McDonnell on Chicago Public Radio, and at a slide show and book signing at FLATEFILEgalleries in Chicago.

Voice of America TV, Radio and website covered Avakian and Windows of the Soul last month, and again on February 21 & February. 22 on the V.O.A. program Conference USA.

For Avakian's blog, gallery, bio, book and more visit blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/photography/windowsofthesoul.


CONTACT:
Jeffrey D. Smith

jeffreysmith@contactpressimages.com
Contact Press Images, Inc.
341 West 38th Street -7th fl
New York, NY 10018
Phone: 212-695-7874 or 7875
Fax: 212-695-7768

About This Blog

Alexandra Avakian
As a young photojournalist Alexandra Avakian was fascinated with revolution and the fight for freedom—even dreaming, many times, that she worked in a strife-torn city. She has braved bullets and hostility to photograph stories of searing conflict and bring them to the world. Going far beyond the brief news reports that most of us see, Avakian shares a richer, wider view of the Muslim world through her extraordinary storytelling and photographs—all beautifully showcased in Windows of the Soul, and highlighted here in this blog.
Read Alexandra's Bio
Visit photography.nationalgeographic.com

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