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My Voices Series was inspired by the death of Nedā Āġā Soltān (ندا آقا سلطان) who was killed during the protests that followed the 2009 Iranian elections. In Persian, Nedā means voice. Hence, the name of my series. In the Voices Series, I focus on how policy and culture affect the lives of women and girls living in the Middle East. I explore universal themes, such as the right to an education, and the influence of culture on girl's and women's decision-making. In addition to Neda's name, the artwork in this series includes text based on a translation by Mahvash Shahegh of Winter, a poem written by Mehdi Akhavān-Sāles (مهدی اخوان ثالث). Akhavān-Sāles (1928 – 1990) was an Iranian poet who was imprisoned because of his political activism prior to the Iranian Revolution. Four lines from his poem are integrated into my two submissions:

The breath coming out of your chest
Turns into a dark cloud
And stands like a wall
In front of your eyes

Stylistically, this series references graffiti street art which has increasingly become a popular form of political protest in the Middle East. My series can be viewed at carolcoohey.com.

How do the two submissions speak to each other: And Stands Like a Wall tries to capture how change can be tumultuous, challenging gender norms and, presumably, causing many mothers to fear for their daughters' safety and future well-being. Turns into a Dark Cloud continues the story of a woman in And Stands Like a Wall. She is visible. What she thinks is now on the outside, on her face, unhidden.

30 x 41

Drawn, painted, printed, stamped, discharged, machine pieced, machine stitched

Cotton print cloth, Procion dye, ink, deColourant discharge paste, batting, thread