Divination and Drawing Sessions with Eden Attar

About this Event

Meet artist Eden Attar in the gallery at her custom-built table/planter to gain insight and clarity. You’ll choose whether you want to draw a self-portrait or take a handful of seeds, count them, and learn how to interpret patterns from the I Ching book. These intimate sessions are designed for individuals and small groups of visitors and last 15-30 minutes. No previous art experience or spirituality required. Reservations encouraged; walk-ins welcome.

The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is an ancient Chinese divination manual. At its core, it is a collection of commentaries on a set of nature symbols. It has been used to inform decision making and as a source of guiding philosophy for upwards of 3000 years.

About the Exhibit

Reflect on the metaphor of body as land in The Sun, My Scars a Poppyseed, an interactive mixed media installation by Allston artist Eden Attar. After experiencing sexual assault, Attar happened on a daily practice of creating self portraits while looking at herself in the mirror---a process which helped restore her sense of her own body and agency. In this exhibition, Attar combines these self portraits with an invitation for visitors to tend trays of sprouting seeds in the Crossings Gallery. Inspired by ecological and anarchist gardening philosophies, Attar finds delight amidst the hardships of environmental destruction, rape culture, and the inevitable pains of injury and accident. Eden Attar is a participant in the Ed Portal’s 2024 Artist Pipeline Program and a welding instructor at Artisans Asylum, a state-of-the-art community maker's space in Allston-Brighton.

In partnership with Artisans Asylum

Headshot by: Mel Taing

This exhibition may elicit a strong response.

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Advance registration is preferred for all Ed Portal programs and events. Walk-in attendees may not be admitted.

If you require an accommodation for a disability, please contact the Ed Portal ahead of time at 617-496-5022 or [email protected] and we will do our best to assist you.

GETTING HERE: Parking is limited around the Ed Portal so we recommend taking public transportation.

Public transportation:

We are about a 15-20 minute walk from the Red Line Harvard Square station or Green Line -B Harvard Avenue station.

Several MBTA buses also stop near the intersection of North Harvard Street and Western Avenue: #66, #86, #70.

Parking information: If you choose to drive to the Ed Portal please be prepared to utilize the two-hour on-street parking surrounding the Ed Portal or to park at Artesani Park and walk 10-12 minutes along Western Avenue to arrive at the Ed Portal. A limited number of parking spaces are available in the rear of the Ed Portal building on a first come, first serve basis. You may only use parking spaces in the rear of the Ed Portal building outlined in orange paint.

WELLNESS: Stay home if you are sick, have any Covid-19 symptoms or have tested positive for COVID in the last 10 days.

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