Iraqi-American artist fosters healing through art

Rock Tavern — A Humanitarian Relief Benefit Exhibit, featuring the sculptures, pastels and drawings of Iraqi-American artist Najim H. Chechen, has been on display at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House. A closing reception will be held from 11:30 to 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 30. The artist will be on hand to answer questions. The proceeds of the sale will be used to send humanitarian assistance to his extended family in Iraq via the Family Relief Fund. Chechen has relatives in both his home town of Kirkuk, and Baghdad, where he spend his university days. His mother, five sisters, two brothers, and their children, are experiencing many hardships now. They are in dire need of help to feed their children, as well as themselves, and to avoid being evicted from their home. The Turkman-Iraqi-American has been living in the United States for the past 23 years, and has over 30 years experience sculpting and drawing the human figure. He obtained a master of fine arts from Pratt Institute in 1984, and a bachelors of fine arts degree from the Academy of Fine Art, University of Baghdad, in 1970. Chechen founded the Fine Art Studios Sculpture Center at 1864 Mountain Road in Otisville, which operates both a year round series of workshops for adults, as well as a bronze casting foundry. He is also co-founder of the Hudson Valley Sculptors Society. With exhibits locally, nationally and internationally, he has been awarded numerous honors. At an early age, he realized that he wanted to be a sculptor. From artists and craftsmen in Middle Eastern and North African countries, he discovered centuries-old, low-tech methods and techniques. He has completed dozens of commissions for clients in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. “In this exhibition,” he said, “my recent works reflect the dreams for the future that Iraqi people have. The moms, dads and kids of Iraq have dreams, too, just like everyone else. My pastels show colorful veils fluttering in the breeze; these veils represent magical dreams of freedom, hope and peace. With my recent sculpture, I aim to represent the invisible spirit and soul, and make it visible. All my figures peer out at the world and ask what will follow next. They look with anticipation, with hope. They are vulnerable, but they love life, and have a will to survive.” Since this is the last day of the exhibit, all works will be reduced by 20 percent. The meeting house is located at 9 Vance Lane in Rock Tavern, 2.5 miles west of Stewart Airport off Route 207. For more, call 386-3305 or visit finearts@bestweb.net.