What I will take with me

The last day of this class was really nostalgic, the feeling that there is no more Thursday night of songs and paintings was a bit blue! Cold and Blue!

The window of my memories

The last midnight special in my life passed through my eyes, far in the distance of the window in the dark blend of a valley, supported by Alborz mountains, north of Iran about 24 years ago. I was 5 and excited to see the passenger train goes by, roaring like a beast, lighting up the tracks with the faded yellow light. This image, along with many songs stayed in my mind, deep down and far beyond the life's piled up layers. But it all came to the surface when I first listened to the "Midnight Special", when I let it to shed light on me! This memory is like an image that I was able to hold in my hand, look at it and see the journey of my life. Also I could put myself in the place of Lead Belly and see in his eyes. I will repaint this image, I would like to have it framed, like its memory that is framed!

Jazz

The Rabid Dog

The idea of a class about songs and images made me think of the dancing flame that is a result of my imagination, the melody and lyrics. I thought for a class like this I should that should be capture that flame, paint it in different colors and bring it to the class. And if someone asks about it, I can just say this is how I feel about this song!
I always wanted to make movies. The idea of motion pictures with floating images and meaningful line of story was always fascinating to me. I watched music videos for hours and was amazed that how can someone create images like them by referring to a specific music! Music video was an undiscovered realm and I was a stranger to that realm. Taking this class, I did not know what to expect! At the beginning I thought maybe I should only be critical towards the meaning of the song, and from there create an image of criticism. Eventually I learned that each song has a story that goes beyond what is readable and what I can hear from it! By flowing each story I discovered the world of words, images and places. I found the the root of imagination within myself, and now I can control it!
I was listening to this song over and over in past couple of weeks and suddenly I realized that I have floating images in my mind that can be depicted! I can create a story, a narrative of the song! Folks in the class that came to the concert I had organized probably heard this song:
Shahin Najafi, Sag Haar (Rabid Dog)

Now I am making a video clip of this song! My very first video and I think.. no, I am sure that this class has taught me how to think, how to see and how to imagine! Thank you Tony!