Anis Beigzadeh is a 2nd year MFA candidate in Ceramics
Why did you choose UMass Dartmouth/CVPA to begin with?
The location of the Star Store. The impressive and wonderful facilities, especially the kiln room, and the fellowship they offered me.
What you have lost thus far, educationally, creatively, personally?
Educationally, I lost my studio. We are in the middle of the semester, but I can’t make anything because we lost the Star store, and we still don’t have access to the new place. It’s not ready yet. And now creatively, I’m in the middle of a mess. With not having a studio and being separated from my colleagues, how can I even be creative? There is no focus.
Personally, my studio was a therapy for me. I worked there every day for about 10 hours, and now, suddenly, due to this chaos, I lost my therapy. So, all my anxiety is back. Mentally I’m feeling exhausted. I can’t even sleep well because of all the nightmares. Every day I feel so tired.
What made you decide to organize and try to save the Star Store? Why was it was important to your education/creative life?
The Star Store was not only a place for my education, it was like a home to me. Who does not fight to keep thier house alive? I want my home (The Star Store) and my family (all my classmates and faculty) together.