An Odyssey with Anum Farooq (Odyssey Global Media)

Katharina Eisenberg with Anum Farooq

KATHARINA EISENBERG : EXPLORING ART THROUGH SPIRITUAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
Katharina Eisenberg (also known as: Kunst und Klartext) is a contemporary artist from Germany. Concerned with the abilities of the human mind, her works reflect psychological and global issues, mirroring the qualities and specifics of the time and sphere we live in. In her multiparted series - acrylic paintings and mixed media 3D installations- she also often works with symbols, which talk to the subconscious. Currently making international projects and art residencies in different countries, expanding her global network to get to know the meta-level of various forms of beings. This is a great inspiration for her, leading to multilayered new artistic impulses. The metamorphosis process is very aware in her artwork, the phoenix will tell you more.
 

Mary Anne De Haan with Anum Farooq

MARY ANNE DE HAAN : GROWING SUSTAINABLE MICROGREENS, HERBS & EDIBLE FLOWERS IN THE DESERT ENVIRONMENT 
A fascinating conversation with the Founder and Director of Mary Anne’s Fresh Produce through a holistic lens from sustainability in farming methods, to experiences of being an entrepreneur and the interlinks between primary farming industries to tertiary cuisine sectors. An innovative and forward thinking farm where sustainable microgreens, herbs and edible flowers are grown in the UAE desert environment. From Nasturtiums, Amaranth, Gem Marigolds to Genovese Basil amongst others.
Mary Anne De Haan grew up in a small town in the Netherlands, she was raised by a Dutch dad and an American mother, together with her little brother. She has an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering and a Masters in International Business. She relocated to Dubai as an expat, and initially started working as an account manager who would support with particular trainings, and her fascination with agriculture grew. She is now a working mum, with two dogs, two turtles and a horse, with an expanding family.
She  is the founder Mary Anne’s Fresh Produce, where they are committed to bringing the Dubai chef the greatest variety of special products grown locally at the farm through sustainable methods.Mary Anne’s Fresh Produce grow a large variety of innovative products that help chefs bring their dishes to the next level. Products range from edible flowers, to microgreens and specialty leaves, through ensuring the highest level of quality through their unique growing method.

Nesa Khaled AlShehhi & Fatema AlSharhan with Anum Farooq

Emirati Women's Day
 
Female perspectives on Emirati Women's Day, exploring perspectives and insights through a lens of art, culture and heritage. 
 
Nesa Khaled Alshehhi, an Emirati Artist, Sculptor, Designer & Entrepreneur. She was born in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. She holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts Studies from the University of Sharjah in 2013.She pursues contemporary, abstract and interactive conceptual art. Her artwork is characterized by patriotism, its source is the land of the UAE (formally, thought and imagination), and its output is a link between the heritage of UAE and the modernity of the contemporary world.Nesa focused on extracting the (natural art) surrounding her. She has a deep relationship with nature, especially the desert environment and palm trees. She uses raw natural materials in her work, as a language to talk through and a way to show the beauty of natural details in the environment of the United Arab Emirates in a modern way different from the classic image that the public used to see.
Nesa has been chosen as an Emirati artist and designers to work on many government projects. She has been appointed as a designer & supervisor for the Special Olympics (World Games - Abu Dhabi 2019) Monument which was built in Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah. she also did voluntary art installation for RAK Media Office. She also has been chosen by Zahrat Al Khaleej Magazine to participate in the Ataya Charity Exhibition in Abu Dhabi. She participated in Ras Al Khaimah Visual Arts Festival 2020 (as a guest of honor) with an interactive artwork titled (Who am I?). Other than that, she has participated in Dubai Art Exhibition amongst  other exhibitions and commercial projects.
 
Fatema Al Sharhan is a young, ambitious Emirati poet, writer and multitalented artist. She is known for her strong personality; she is able to explain her thoughts to others and leave a mark on their minds.'
 
Furthermore, Fatema is the founder of The Spark Media and Clutch n Pouch. She is also a graphic designer and the public relations manager for O and A group of companies, as well as being a certified international trainer of media communications and transformational coaching.
 

Olli-Pekka Heinonen with Anum Farooq

OLLI-PEKKA HEINONEN : LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION AND THE LEARNING JOURNEY 
“It’s also the question of how you grow as a human being, how you understand what does it mean to be a human being.” Olli-Pekka Heinonen Director General of the International Baccalaureate.
An authentic and honest conversation with Olli-Pekka Heinonen, addressing how education can be made as meaningful as possible for students, supporting them to become lifelong learners as well as the fine balance between skills and knowledge. Olli-Pekka is an ally and advocate for teachers, discussing the benefits of distributed leadership in education, and the meaningful way in which education is making an impact globally through a holistic process of learning.
Olli-Pekka Heinonen was appointed as Finland’s State Secretary of Prime Minister in 2012, he became State Secretary of all National Coalition Party cabinet ministers in 2015. In September  2016, he was appointed general director of the Finnish National Agency for Education. Olli-Pekka has graduated as Master of Laws from the University of Helsinki in 1990.
From 1994 to 1999, he served as the Minister of Education. In 1995, Olli-Pekka was elected to the Parliament of Finland, representing Satakunta. In the second Lipponen Cabinet, he served as the Minister of Transport and Communications from 1999 to 2002.
In 2002 he was appointed a manager at Yleisradio, the public broadcasting company of Finland. He was responsible for the transfer from analogue television to digital television in Finland. In September 2016, he was appointed general director of the Finnish National Agency for Education. Since 1 May 2021 Olli-Pekka Heinonen has held the role of Director-General of the International Baccalaureate.

Fatema AlSharhan with Anum Farooq

FATEMA ALSHARHAN: FUTURE PERSPECTIVES ON DIVERSITY OF TALENTS AND SKILLS
 
A wonderful conversation with the multitalented Fatema AlSharhan, who is breaking barriers and pushing boundaries with the wide array of disciplines that she is excelling in.
 
This interview is also an important conversation centering on topics such as having a diversity of talents and skills and to passionately fulfill them!
 
Fatema is a young, ambitious Emirati poet, writer and multitalented artist. She is known for her strong personality; she is able to explain her thoughts to others and leave a mark on their minds.'
 
Furthermore, Fatema is the founder of The Spark Media and Clutch n Pouch. She is also a graphic designer and the public relations manager for O and A group of companies, as well as being a certified international trainer of media communications and transformational coaching.
 

Sarah Al Senaani with Anum Farooq

SARAH AL SENAANI: FUTURE PERSPECTIVES ON MENTAL WELLNESS AND ART
 
A wonderful interview exploring mental health perspectives, well-being and interlinks to art. Sarah has a unique outlook with her seven pearls of happiness; things that make her happy. Art and music; Humanitarian Acts; Cultural Tourism; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Cultural Communication and Research; Kitchen Therapy, and Equine Assisted Therapy.
 
Sarah Al Senaani is the Founder and Managing Director of Atelier Sarah Al Senaani. She graduated with a MA in Cultural Communication and Tourism.
Atelier Sarah Al Senaani combines a holistic approach with a focus on mood disorders and innovative art approaches such as mosaic workshops.
 
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Metamorphosis 2023: Lacuna International Contemporary Arts Festival

Lacuna International Contemporary Arts Festival 2023 Artists Cohort discuss the theme of Metamorphosis and how their work relates to it, with opening and closing statements from the Founder and Director of the Festival : Sarah-Jane Mason.
Artists responded to the following prompts:
 
What does Metamorphosis mean to you both in a personal and artistic sense?
 
How does your artwork relate to the theme of metamorphosis?
 
What elements of the Metamorphosis process do you find the most fascinating?
 
How did you explore that in your artwork?
 
Artist cohort: 
 
Simone Tetrault
Melusine Brosse
Terri Lloyd
Odessa Ford
Molly Goehring 
Katharina Eisenberg
Beverley Porter
 
 
Sarah-Jane Mason is a Creative Practitioner, Facilitator & Educator who specialises in using mixed media approaches to personal and participatory arts projects. She believes that creativity is the key that unlocks learning and that play and experimentation are important parts of the creative process.Sarah-Jane comes from a traditional Fine Art background. She studied for a BA (Hons) Fine Art at Liverpool John Moore's University (UK) and DipCipris (a postgraduate degree) in Fine Art at the Cyprus College of Art (Cyprus). Continuing her studies, she focused on creative education, completing a PGCE (Art & Design) at the University of Leeds (UK) and a Post-16 Teaching Certificate at Cyprus College of Art (Cyprus).
 
Simone Tetrault is an Asian-American writer, director, and creative producer who tells stories about power, responsibility, and resilience. The creator of Vice (2021), "Letters to the Universe" (2020), Through the Looking Glass (2016), and Symphony of the Fourth Dimension (2015), Simone’s work has been featured in SEISMA Magazine, Animal Ethics Review, OnStage Blog, Womxn Artists, and LAFPI’s Women of Fringe series and has been presented at NYC’s Abrons Arts Center, Access Theatre, and THEATERLAB, in Los Angeles at Griffith Observatory, Japanese American National Museum, Zephyr Theatre, Odyssey Theatre, and DURDENANDRAY, and nationally at the National Women’s Theatre Festival and FIGMENT Festivals.
 
Terri Lloyd is a self-taught artist living and working in Los Angeles. She spent 25 years working in commercial art as a graphic designer. At the age of 50, Terri left the working world to pursue a career in fine art. The death of her father in late 2017 was the catalyst for a return to painting. During the pandemic lock-down of 2020, Terri saw the effects of trauma. This prompted her to move beyond the canvas and explore other manifestations of art making.
Beverley Porter is a figurative ceramic artist from West Yorkshire, UK. Her work has developed through her interest in the human form and fascination with surface texture. She is drawn to worn flagstones, peeling paint and crumbling walls. She finds the myriad of textures that surround us to be an endless source of inspiration. She feels that the landscape around us has a direct influence and connection. Her work is all handbuilt and therefore each piece is entirely unique.
 
Katharina Eisenberg (also known as: Kunst und Klartext) is a contemporary artist from Germany. Concerned with the abilities of the human mind, her works reflect about psychological and global issues, mirroring the qualities and specifics of the time and sphere we live in. In her multiparted series - acrylic paintings and mixed media 3D installations- she also often works with symbols, which talk to the subconscious.
 
Molly Goehring is an artist from Pennsylvania, USA who works in a variety of media, including drawing, painting, and mixed media.  Her work explores themes of femininity, her complicated relationship to her Catholic upbringing, and the struggles of navigating chronic illness.  Her work is colorful and bold, often utilizing unconventional or underappreciated materials to challenge the viewer to reconsider their preconceived notions of what art is and start imagining what art could become.
 
Odessa Ford is an Oregon based Sand/Earth Artist. For Odessa, art and spirituality are one in the same. Wherever you find her, she will be in nature painting stones, the sand, and even herself with vegan food coloring! She is making the world just a little more colourful and joyful!  
 
 
 
 

Linda Hendrickson Syth with Anum Farooq

BREAKING BARRIERS, TACKLING STIGMA AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
 
Linda Hendrickson Syth is the CEO and co-founder of The Layered Onion. The Layered Onion is a social impact company created to eliminate the stigma of mental health by sharing and promoting works by artists with lived experience. Linda spent over 30 years working in businesses from agriculture to manufacturing to healthcare to insurance. She has experience in Fortune 500 companies to a small business to not-for-profits. Linda is passionate about helping women find their voice and supporting social and environmental change through entrepreneurship. She now finds herself where she dreamed at the start--growing and supporting her own social impact enterprise.