Form & Meaning: Storytelling Through Letters

REGISTER Setareh Ghoreishi will lead a workshop introducing you to ancient and non-Latin scripts (with visual references to Farsi and Cuneiform). Explore language beyond its literal translation by exploring the vis......More

REGISTER Setareh Ghoreishi will lead a workshop introducing you to ancient and non-Latin scripts (with visual references to Farsi and Cuneiform). Explore language beyond its literal translation by exploring the visual form. You will be encouraged to create your own abstract letterforms or symbols inspired by your personal stories, identities, or cultural background. We will express these invented languages through collage or other physical compositions.  This workshop encourages you to see typography not just as a technical skill, but as a way to engage with visual forms, culture and identity. This community-centered experience will demonstrate that communication is most powerful when it’s inclusive, reflective, and open to reinterpretation. All experience levels are welcome. All materials supplied. Appropriate for artists, designers, and community members of all backgrounds.  Partial scholarships available by request to [email protected].    Biography Setareh Ghoreishi (Michigan) is deeply rooted in the relationship between language, culture, and identity—particularly how these forces intersect through typography. She is a graphic designer and multidisciplinary digital media artist. After receiving her B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Art in Tehran, Iran, she migrated to the United States where she currently lives. In her work, she investigates cultural disparities, most specifically between the United States and Iran. "I am fascinated by the way visual language can act as a vessel for memory, a tool for storytelling, and a bridge across cultural and linguistic boundaries," Setareh elaborates. "Typography, for me, is not just a system of design and letters; it is a living form that carries emotion, history, and context." After moving to the United States, Setareh continued her education and acquired an MFA in Graphic Design from Florida Atlantic University and an MFA in Art and Technology from the University of Florida. This led her to make video art installation and use digital technology to explore the role of visual design in the interaction of cultural and social issues. Through the lens of her own experience, each country's cultural and social relationships are examined.  

Surel's Place, 212 E 33rd St, Garden City, ID 83714, USA

LETTERS ACROSS TIME: LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND STORYTELLING

Setareh Ghoreishi's work as a designer and visual artist focuses on language, identity, and storytelling through writing systems—particularly non-Latin scripts. This project explores the intersection of ancient and contemporary writing systems through typographic e......More

Setareh Ghoreishi's work as a designer and visual artist focuses on language, identity, and storytelling through writing systems—particularly non-Latin scripts. This project explores the intersection of ancient and contemporary writing systems through typographic experimentation.  During the residency,  Setareh Ghoreishi focused on developing a new body of work centered around a self-invented typeface that blends characteristics of Farsi, English, and Cuneiform scripts. This process involves hand sketching, digital font design, and using experimental materials such as wood, plexiglass, and printmaking techniques. The result is a series of typographic compositions that invite viewers to reflect on cultural hybridity and communication. The work investigates how language shapes identity, preserves culture, and visually communicates across boundaries. Biography: Setareh Ghoreishi (Michigan) is deeply rooted in the relationship between language, culture, and identity—particularly how these forces intersect through typography. She is a graphic designer and multidisciplinary digital media artist. After receiving her B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Art in Tehran, Iran, she migrated to the United States where she currently lives. In her work, she investigates cultural disparities, most specifically between the United States and Iran. "I am fascinated by the way visual language can act as a vessel for memory, a tool for storytelling, and a bridge across cultural and linguistic boundaries," Setareh elaborates. "Typography, for me, is not just a system of design and letters; it is a living form that carries emotion, history, and context." After moving to the United States, Setareh continued her education and acquired an MFA in Graphic Design from Florida Atlantic University and an MFA in Art and Technology from the University of Florida. This led her to make video art installation and use digital technology to explore the role of visual design in the interaction of cultural and social issues. Through the lens of her own experience, each country's cultural and social relationships are examined.

Surel's Place, 212 E 33rd St, Garden City, ID 83714, USA

Embodied Solo Storytelling

REGISTER This immersive workshop, led by multidisciplinary performer Andrea Parson, invites participants to explore the rich intersection of movement and language as tools for personal storyte......More

REGISTER This immersive workshop, led by multidisciplinary performer Andrea Parson, invites participants to explore the rich intersection of movement and language as tools for personal storytelling. Through guided physical play, creative writing, and structured improvisation, participants will discover how their bodies and words can work together to express inner truths, lived experiences, and imaginative narratives. Open to anyone ages 13 and up, this workshop fosters a supportive, collaborative environment where each voice—and each body—has space to be heard. Ages 13 & up. All experience levels are welcome.  Partial scholarships available by request to [email protected].    Biography Andrea Parson (OR) is a multidisciplinary theater artist born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon.  Andrea pursued dance training at the Joffrey Ballet School, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and Loyola Marymount University, where she earned a BA in Dance in 2009. Following graduation, she joined Northwest Dance Project in Portland, Oregon, where she was awarded the Princess Grace Dance Fellowship in 2010. Over 11 years with the company, she performed nationally and internationally, garnering acclaim for her portrayal of dramatic characters such as Hedda Gabler and Carmen. Now based in Portland, Andrea creates and performs original solo and ensemble work that merges contemporary dance, physical theater, storytelling, and humor. Her recent award -winning solo, You Can’t Be Serious, was presented at BodyVox Dance Center (2023), Oregon Fringe Festival (2024), and Hollywood Fringe Festival (2024). Andrea presented You Can’t Be Serious at the Fall United Solo Festival 2024 in New York City where she received an award for best physical theater.  

Surel's Place

Workshop: Painting the Essentials

Painting the Essentials Ages 16 & up Max participants: 12 Register Here Workshop description: This workshop with Hector Beven introduces participants to the power of simplification in painting. We begin with short examples from artists who inspire Hector, sho......More

Painting the Essentials Ages 16 & up Max participants: 12 Register Here Workshop description: This workshop with Hector Beven introduces participants to the power of simplification in painting. We begin with short examples from artists who inspire Hector, showing how complexity can be distilled into clear forms and gestures. Hector will demonstrate his process of breaking down a busy scene into bold, manageable shapes. Participants will practice with provided reference subjects, then choose their own to paint, working alongside Hector to create a small artwork.  All experience levels are welcome. Materials provided. Partial scholarships available by request to [email protected].  BIOGRAPHY Hector Beven (Oklahoma) is a painter whose work explores the immediacy and depth of oil painting. Raised in Houston, Texas, his creative journey began with photography and a lifelong passion for expression through making. Initially studying engineering at The University of Tulsa, he soon shifted to visual art, studying painting under the mentorship of professor Mark Lewis. He later attended the Mount Gretna School of Art’s intensive program, where he developed a deep appreciation for plein air painting and direct engagement with the landscape. After graduating, he worked at Pierson Gallery, a space dedicated to the historical art of Oklahoma and the surrounding region. There, he gained a strong knowledge of and admiration for often-overlooked artists of the Midwest and Southwest. This connection to the past is evident in his work, blending historical influence with his own distinctive perspective and modern sensibility. After a hiatus, Hector returned to painting with renewed commitment. He is currently working on paintings that emphasize the personality of the natural world through his own romantic lens, striving to deepen the connection between his viewers and the living landscapes around them. His work parallels his long-standing interest in environmental stewardship, echoing the time he dedicates to conservation and rewilding efforts.

Surel's Place

First Friday

First Friday

First Friday