Lots of Lists #3

Making it all make sense

Dear One,

The last two weeks have stretched me so far in different directions of the emotional spectrum that it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed every day 🙂

From Israel’s bombardment of my father’s hometown of Tehran, to Iran’s retaliatory bombardment of my grandfather’s hometown of Haifa, and America’s instrumental role in it all has made me feel like I’m losing so many parts of myself before I’ve ever gotten to get to know them. Conversely, this past weekend was the end of an era of my involvement with Black Image Center. We wrapped our California Coast In Color artist residency with a final showcase at REI (which you can still go see at the Marina Del Rey Location!) and that marks the end of the last program that I will be heavily involved in. I’m not leaving the org (my baby!), but my involvement is going to look really different moving forward. After my break I’ll just be focused on my duties as a board member and stepping away from my ED role.

I’m mainly really excited to start a new chapter of my career but I’ll have to admit that I’m a bit afraid of “getting back out there.” I’ve dedicated so much to BIC over the last five years, and it feels a bit like I just graduated from high school without having committed to a college yet. I need the summer break but I’m also eager to get clear about my next steps.

My New “Thing(s)”

Somehow we’re already halfway through 2025 and I’m 4 months away from turning 30, which is definitely contributing to the way all these transitions feel. Life is ever-changing and my taste, my body, and my sensibilities are ever-developing. Here are a few things that are new in my life-

1. Matcha Americanos: Who needs milk in their matcha? Not me anymore! My new go-to order is a matcha americano, which is essentially a matcha latte with water instead of milk. If the cafe has cold foam I’ll add that too. It’s divine, thank me later!

2. Acid Reflux: New body, who dis? I’ve never had acid reflux until about six months ago. What’s that all about? Couldn’t tell you but I’m chalking it up to almost being 30.

3. Long walks: At the beginning of this year, I decided that I wouldn’t let living in a car-centric city stop me from getting my steps in every day. Part of this was due to the LA wildfires because during the fires I was so heartbroken that I couldn’t take advantage of the beautiful land that I live on. After the fires were over, I felt a newfound sense of motivation to get outside every day which prompted my daily long walks!

My Favorite Black Image Center Programs

Endings always make me feel extremely nostalgic. As I wrapped my last program at Black Image Center, I’ve been reflecting on some of my favorite things we’ve done over the last five (!) years-

1. The first Black Family Archive: Our very first in-person event was a weekend-long pop-up with the theme of the Black Family Archive. We did so much in one weekend, it was insane… and then we moved into our brick-and-mortar about six months later and did an insane amount of stuff in our three years there as well. It’s giving If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. Now can you see why I’m obsessed with my break?

2. Jazz Nights: Our jazz nights not only had some of my favorite flyers but also some of the best vibes. LA needs more live jazz!

3. California Coast In Color: All of these unprecedented times remind me of why artists need to be creating now more than ever, in order to be at the forefront of movements for change, telling the truth. Each of the artists in this cohort integrated a call to action in their artist statement, a testament to the power of blending activism and storytelling. I am so proud of the work that it took to design this program and the group that answered the call!

4. Lighting Workshops with Lance: These workshops are always bangers! They always sold out incredibly fast which, to me, was such a testament to how many people want to learn about the art of lighting. Our instructor Lance is one of the best teachers we’ve ever had and he was alway so generous with his time and knowledge.

Lots of Grants

As of today (June 24, 2025) there are six opportunities with open applications from Lots Of Lists #2.

These days, I can’t help but think about when I was awarded the Google Image Equity fellowship right before the murder of Mahsa Amini in Iran. I felt such a dissonance around developing my work while people in my homeland were getting killed for protesting for their human rights. At the same time, I was doing The Artist’s Way which eventually helped me see that my work as inseparable from the protests in Iran, rather than at odds with them. I write more about this here, but I bring this up because lately I’ve heard that same voice creeping in, whispering about how my work and life here in sunny LA is unimportant compared to the struggles of those in Iran or Gaza. The voice tells me that I shouldn’t bother creating anything at all, because nothing matters. It’s so enticing, but at the end of the day it’s wrong. So much of being an artist is pushing past any sneaky messaging that discourages you from doing your job- creating art. I think this is why I’m so passionate about encouraging other artists to apply for opportunities like the one I was afforded, which ended up being one of the biggest blessings of my life once I stopped listening to the voice that told me it was unimportant.

This week’s roundup of grants came so easily! Ever since I’ve put it out there that I’m putting together a list of opportunities for artists for this newsletter, the universe has been putting grants, residencies, and fellowships right in front of me. Listed in order of deadline, this roundup includes opportunities for research, mentorship, funding, and development. If you ever want an extra set of eyes on a grant application or creative project, don’t hesitate to pick my brain.

Enjoy :)