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An American Artist Immortalizes Neda
09-Oct-2009
One dreadful day, the bullet of a henchman of tyranny pierced the young heart of Neda Agha Sultan, and she collapsed on the pavement, gasped for air as her crimson blood painted the black asphalt. Her music teacher along with a young doctor tried desperately to revive her. They kept frantically telling her not to be afraid, not to be afraid. The music teacher was witnessing the death of his young student and all he could do was to breathe encouragement in the vain hope of keeping her alive. Her mouth began to spurt blood and her eyes rolled to the side. As people crowded around her in screams and wails, she stared peacefully into the cell phone camera that captured the final moments of her life.
Neda, the young and beautiful freedom-loving Iranian music student was slain in cold-blood by the current Islamic regime in Iran. Almost instantly, Neda became, not only the divine call of the Iranian revolution, but she symbolized the call for liberty around the world.
Like millions of people around the globe who were profoundly saddened by the untimely death of a young and innocent Iranian woman, the Master Sculptor, Paula Slater, was also deeply affected by the death of Neda on that graphic video. In fact, waves of human soul cried out loud for the injustice in Iran.
This was the moment of unity, people of all races, classes and nationalities became one people and one voice in expressing their revulsion at the barbarity of a murdering regime and its savage henchmen.
No sooner the final shovels of dirt covered the precious body of Neda that on the other side of the world Paula—a distinguished artist and daughter of humanity – devoted endless hours sculpting a bust of the murdered young woman.
No one commissioned this talented artist, no one even asked her to do the magnificent work of immortalizing Neda. The sensitive artist later reported: “My schedule was packed with Public Art commissions to complete, but I was so saddened by the tragic events in Iran that I needed to turn the pain I felt into art before I could proceed with my other sculpting projects.”
“Paula Slater is a full-time professional sculptor and has been awarded many important commissioned monuments and prestigious bronze portraits installed throughout the United States and Canada. Believing in the old-world ideal of 'nothing rushed or left undone', she gives the time needed to bring each exquisite detail to life. This generous giving of time is rare in the art world today, setting her sumptuous sculptures apart and elevating the demand for her fine art ever higher.”
She started to sculpt a life size portrait bust of Neda, also known as “The Angel of Iran,” based on the photo that was released the day of her murder. It was the photo with the veil. She presented the first bronze bust at a rally, organized by a group called “United 4 Iran,” on the steps of San Francisco City Hall. It was Paula’s divine call. She wanted to memorialize the fallen Persian martyr. Only the spark of talent and genius can produce beauty and true art of lasting value.
The second portrait bust of Neda— she says, “It is the face on the other side of the coin.” The first sculpture was a historical portrait of Neda "Angel of Iran". It showed a strong and proud Neda whose spirit could not be broken by an oppressive dictatorship under which she lived and died. However, this second sculpture is of Neda "the Angel of Freedom" with her hair uncovered, and she is radiating the hope of her people for a free Iran.
In an interview with Radio Free Europe, Paula was asked how she came up with the idea of making a sculpture in Neda's honor: “Well, you know, I saw the videotape of the shooting of Neda and it just touched me so deeply. It was like a shot to the heart. And what I do when I'm feeling a lot of pain is sculpt, and I thought I just needed to sculpt her. I need to turn this pain that I'm feeling into art and I just wanted to sculpt her portrait and to show my solidarity with the people in Iran,” she replied.
Slater goes on to say, “I am normally a commission sculptor, however, I chose to sculpt the first portrait of Neda and to donate it so that we could have a memorial for her in the U.S.--the present government in Iran banned Neda's family from holding a memorial for her, but they can't stop us from having one here.”
Paula was overwhelmed by so many loving e-mails she received by Iranians all over the world in appreciations of Neda’s sculptures that she started to sculpt another life size portrait bust of a 19-year-old fallen martyr, Sohrab Arabi, to represent all the brave young male heroes who have given their lives in this revolution for freedom and human rights in Iran. “I feel that I have become joined at the heart with the Iranian people and I want to continue to do all that I can to help, because I believe that the only way bad people can win is if good people aren't willing to stand up to them,” says Paula.
For the most part, Slater’s sculptures capture and set forth a message with the force of a sudden wind storm. And the sculpture of Neda breaks free from formality and brings one quickly into a realm of light and spirit, which only folded, hammered, heated and burnished bronzes can do. Paula’s work directs, without speaking.
She is considered by many art lovers one of the best sculptors in the country. This talented American artist has an eye for detail and her powerful compositions are capturing the attention of art enthusiasts worldwide.
Her skill with bronze sculpture vividly captures the spirit and movement of her subjects, both in human sculpture and animal sculpture, and only is surpassed by her sensitive attention to detail. Paula is deservedly celebrated for the compelling realism of her bronze sculpture.
We salute Paula Slater, by all accounts, for distinguishing herself as a tireless and devoted artist who stands for freedom, justice and liberty. We salute Master Sculptor, Paula Slater, for her stand on the right side of history at this critical juncture and for lending her invaluable support to the people of Iran.
Whilst we mourn Neda’s passing, let us celebrate her life through the hands of a brilliant artist, Paula Slater.
Paula’s devotion to sculpture has been acknowledged through the awards and recognitions that have been bestowed upon her and her work. And she really wanted to donate her time and talents to immortalize Neda's image in bronze. “These two portraits of Neda are gifts from my heart to the Iranian people to show my solidarity with their fight for freedom and democracy. I want them to know they are not alone," says Paula.
Here is our message to you dear Paula: We, free Iranian expatriates as well as the diverse people of Iran, express our deepest appreciation for your magnificent work and support. You have energized us by your passion, compassion and the beautiful creation of Neda’s sculptures. You have given us great courage and hope to continue our struggle for freedom and justice in Iran. We will meet any challenge and pay any price to defeat tyranny and we will not rest until Iran is completely free of the despotic rule of the Mullahs.
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Thank you Paula
by Bahram G on Sat Oct 10, 2009 07:46 PM PDTI have been hurt enough times when Iran and Iranians are depicted negatively, rightly or wrongly. Somehow when these insults are hurled at Iran, I feel that I have, as an Iranian, also been insulted.
Therefore, when some magnificent artist devotes immense amount of her time and spontaneously immortalizes Neda, I also feel that a nice thing is done to me. Can't be helped. We are Iranians and anything good or bad about Iran is in part about us.
I don't want to be pity and demean what this artist had done and color it with political motives. She has my thanks and gratitude for what she has done.
Thank you Paula,
Bahram G
Our Laureate: Neda of Iran
by vildemose on Sat Oct 10, 2009 07:40 PM PDTOur Laureate: Neda of Iran President Obama has won the Nobel Prize for Peace -- but that's not his fault.
Our Laureate: Neda of Iran
President Obama has won the Nobel Prize for Peace -- but that's not his fault.
...The Nobel Committee's decision is especially puzzling given that a better alternative was readily apparent. This year, hundreds of thousands of ordinary people in Iran braved ferocious official violence to demand their right to vote and to speak freely. Dozens were killed, thousands imprisoned. One of those killed was a young woman named Neda Agha-Soltan; her shooting by thugs working for the Islamist theocracy, captured on video, moved the world. A posthumous award for Neda, as the avatar of a democratic movement in Iran, would have recognized the sacrifices that movement has made and encouraged its struggle in a dark hour.
//www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/09/AR2009100903860.html
Our Laureate: Neda of Iran
by Amil Imani on Fri Oct 09, 2009 07:09 PM PDTIT'S AN ODD Nobel Peace Prize that almost makes you embarrassed for the honoree. In blessing President Obama, the Nobel Committee intended to boost what it called his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." A more suitable time for the prize would have been after those efforts had borne some fruit.
It is no criticism of Mr. Obama to note that, barely nine months into his presidency, his goals are still goals. His peace prize came in the same week that Washington was consumed by a divisive debate over how to win a war in Afghanistan; the Obama administration announced a probable delay in its plan to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and Israel's foreign minister told the world that the Middle East peace Mr. Obama has been promoting is not coming soon. The Nobel Committee's claim that Mr. Obama has "created a new climate in international politics" is about as realistic as last week's "Saturday Night Live" parody skewering the president for failing to deliver, already, on a series of campaign promises.
We understand how much Scandinavians and other Europeans welcomed the end of the Bush administration; in that sense, Mr. Obama's prize confirms that his ascension to the presidency has improved America's image in the world, or at least parts of it. But in offering this latest Euro-celebration of the 2008 election, the Norwegian committee has also demonstrated a certain cluelessness about America. If anything animates Mr. Obama's critics in this country, it is the impression that he is the focus of a global cult of personality. This prize, at this time, only feeds that impression, and thus does him no favors politically.
The Nobel Committee's decision is especially puzzling given that a better alternative was readily apparent. This year, hundreds of thousands of ordinary people in Iran braved ferocious official violence to demand their right to vote and to speak freely. Dozens were killed, thousands imprisoned. One of those killed was a young woman named Neda Agha-Soltan; her shooting by thugs working for the Islamist theocracy, captured on video, moved the world. A posthumous award for Neda, as the avatar of a democratic movement in Iran, would have recognized the sacrifices that movement has made and encouraged its struggle in a dark hour. Democracy in Iran would not only set a people free, it would also dramatically improve the chances for world peace, since the regime that murdered her is pursuing nuclear weapons in defiance of the international community.
//www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/09/AR2009100903860.html
my apologize to all, a needed explanation to Minoo66 about video
by Souri on Fri Oct 09, 2009 01:43 PM PDTویدئوی مریم فیروز رو باید با چشم دل دید و با گوش عقل شنید.
اون فقط یک جواب دندان شکنی بود به اشخاصی که ساده لوحانه فکر میکنند
که میتونند مردم رو با مقولاتی از قبیل" خاطرات خسرو روزبه" فریب بدند.
خواستم فقط اشارهای کرده باشم که از این قبیل خاطرات از طرف همهٔ مبارزان
سیاسی نوشته شده. چه کسی باور میکنه، که خسرو روزبه، در زندان شاه، اونهم فقط یک شب قبل از مرگش، بیاد ۷۰ صفحه (بگو یا علی!) خاطرات بنویسه (حالا از فرصت برای نوشتن ۷۰ صفحه خاطرات بگذریم) ولی چطوری اون رو یکشبه
مستقیماً به دست حزب توده رسونده، بدون اینکه ساواک و دربار از اون باخبر
بشند؟
اگر هم میگید که این خاطرات دست به دست چرخیده، تا به دست حزب رسیده،
پس چرا در ظرف ۲۰ سال دربار از اون هیچ استفاده نکرد که تهمتهای علیه
اشرف رو خنثی کنه؟ شما بهتره که برید به ویکیپدیا یک سر بزنید و ببینین که
در مورد خسرو روزبه همین چیزها نوشته شده و پائین صفحه هم مطرح شده که
این فقط یک ستب هست به امضای جمهوری اسلامی.
حرف من اصلا در مورد سیاست یا حزب توده یا هیچ حزب خاصی نیست. حرف من
در مورد این شگرد "قهرمان کشی" است که از زمان شاه شروع شده و متأسفانه
در دوره جمهوری اسلامی خیلی رواج پیدا کرده. این کارها باعث کشتن روحیه
مبارزه در افراد میشه. باعث بد بینی به گذشته، به افتخارات میهن و
همچنین تضعیف روحیه افراد میشه. در همون روال حرف هایی که در مورد کوروش و خشایار و غیره میزنند.
وقتی که مردم گمان ببرند که یک قهرمان ملی، فقط یک قاتل جانی بیش
نبوده، دیگه کسی به سیاست و به اهمیت مبارزه و استقامت، ایمان نمیاره. و
این همون چیزیست که هدف این جور سفسطهها و مغلطهها در مورد قهرمانان
تاریخیست. انسان هایی که خواه و ناخواه هرچند اگر روش اشتباهی هم داشتند،
ولی فقط برای میهن و آزادی میهنشون جان دادند و نه هیچ چیز دیگه.
موفّق باشید.
سوری جان
Minoo66Fri Oct 09, 2009 01:23 PM PDT
I am not the same as the other fellow. It's getting a bit spooky here.
Have you ever read my comments?
//iranian.com/main/2009/oct/reza-pahlavi-...
Bad boud vasatoun joke goftam?
by Souri on Fri Oct 09, 2009 01:07 PM PDTTaze ozr khahi ham ke kardeh boudam ghablesh :)
shoma goftin man khodamo migiram, khastam begam intor nist....bazam bebakhshid, shoma rast migin, eib az maast!
دم خروس یا قسم حضرت عباس، سوری جون
Minoo66Fri Oct 09, 2009 12:53 PM PDT
ویدئوی مریم فیروز کجا،جوک ترکه و لره و رشتیه کجا؟
To vildemose And Other "Inspector Clouseau"s
by Minoo66 on Fri Oct 09, 2009 03:38 PM PDTApparently you have, already, reached your final conclusion about my multi-nickname identity and xenophobia; therefore, my efforts to convince you of
the contrary might be futile. However, I'd like to point out one or two
things.
Firstly, the number of ideas is less than the number of
people living in this world; minor differences among adherents to the
same school of thought is negligible, and most of the time,
constructive; then it is not very unusual to find some people with
similar ideas. How else do you think political parties take shape?
I don't track people on this site or, any other site for that matter. For me it's all about political ideas regardless
of who said what; I only try to voice my own political opinions and
learn from those of others; that's all. I do know, however, if you need
to know it really badly, you may track time zones of different comments
just to see if they are coming from the same continent or something.
Secondly,
xenophobia, as far as I know, is about fear of foreigners and so forth.
I can assure you I don't fear them. I eat them for my lunch; I am only
disgusted by their sense of conformity and egregious ignorance. I am not
a professional blogger; I have to work for a living and I deal with
them on a daily basis; I know them very well.
An Absolutely Delightful Sculpture
by Passing Through on Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:37 AM PDTThank you for sharing this.
The only true way that the sacrifices of people such as our beloved Neda, and other beautiful Iranians, would mean something to our motherland Iran, and its future generations, would be for the causes of Freedom and Justice that they were fighting for, to come to pass.
Unfortunately, the disgrace that we call the present-day regime, is not representative of the true Iranian people. The people in the regime are fully aware of this, and that's why they have had to resort to such degree of violence to suppress people.
My Iranian Brothers and Sisters: This farce that we call the Islamic Republic WILL NOT Last. Their days are indeed numbered! - They know it, and indeed the Whole World knows it!!
Tks again .....
The Statue of Liberty
by Mehrban on Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:20 AM PDTwas given to the Americans by the French.
souri: You seem to know a
by vildemose on Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:08 AM PDTsouri: You seem to know a great deal about everyone on this site. Kudos to you my friend.
Just a guess
by Souri on Fri Oct 09, 2009 12:02 PM PDTVildemose,
I guess Minoo is a man!
Ironically, he hates Jaleho..............lol,
minoo sounds a lot like
by vildemose on Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:44 AM PDTminoo sounds a lot like Jaleho. Jaleho, I think your xenophobia is appalling and you're definitely projecting your own inferiority complex onto others.
I think it's beautiful
by che khabar e on Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:41 AM PDTAnd I agree with COP... any awareness is a good thing.
It is easy
by Cost-of-Progress on Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:24 AM PDTto make statements out of pure ignorance or emotions much like the first poster here.
However, if the recent events in Iran have been profound enough to motivate an artist to create something to memorialize Neda, then I am all for it. It raises awareness among the Americans with respect to the recent events. Remember, we Iranians are our own No. 1 enemy!
As for khonkhari, one can argue that the worst kind is the kind where you murder your own people for the sake of staying in power and spreading hatred. I won't even get into the religious opression part of it.
Their Own National Interests Come First...
by Minoo66 on Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:02 AM PDTاحتیاجی نیس آمریکائیه یا هر کی دیگه کسی رو واسه ما جاودانه کنن. ما چقده باید عقده خود کم بینی وضعف شخصیت باشیم که خودمونو معطل این حرفا کنیم.
حالا نریزین سر من که ندا چنین و چنان. صحبت من راجع به خارجیا به طور اعم و مخصوصا آمریکائیاس که عوامشان اکثرا ابلهن و خواصشون اگر هم جانی نباشن،بازیچه دست یه مشت خونخوارن..