Songbird Art Gallery – Where Persian Heritage and Local Art Unite in Beautiful Harmony
Light pours through the windows of Songbird Art Gallery, located off of 2nd Avenue, next to the beautiful old school building in the Historic District. The space is filled with pieces of delicate and intricate art, inviting one to slow down a little and notice every detail. Tales of exotic lands are whispered in exquisite embroidery, artisan pottery, and beaded jewelry.
Songbird Art Gallery is an elegant treasure trove of both international and local art, from paintings to pottery, all curated with care and intention by owner Parivash Etemadi-Farmer. As Parivash leads me around the studio, pointing out beloved pieces and telling me the stories of the artists and lands they come from, her eyes shine with excitement as she recalls finding each item and bringing it to her gallery. She explains that little by little, her gallery grew, and with each trip abroad, she would take time to seek out new pieces to bring back home and share with her community. Over time her collection grew to include art from Turkey, Oman, Europe, Australia, Japan, and more.
Art transcends language, its fluid expression crossing man-made boundaries. It is both universal and highly personal. And throughout the world, art is cherished, collected, saved for special occasions, and passed down through generations.
“I wanted to share art with people,” Parivash says. Originally from Persia, a land with a rich history of art, Parivash has spent much of her life traveling around the world, and developed a love for international art she couldn’t keep to herself. She remembers finding beautiful pieces of handcrafted art and bringing them back to her family and friends, excited to share something uniquely irreplaceable with them. Her travels and interest in art led to her making connections with artists all over the world, and those connections add a personal element to the art she collects.
Over time, Parivash followed her family to Columbus and settled here. In 2020, she decided to create a public space for people to experience the art she found so dazzling, and opened Songbird Art Gallery. The gallery features handmade pieces which Parivash says are “Exclusive, special, nothing you’ve seen before in this area.”
Among its many other items, the gallery features intricately painted ceramic wares. Parivash’s eyes sparkle as she gently picks up each one. “Imagine having tea with a very special friend,” she says, smiling. Undoubtedly the breathtaking tea cups, dishes, and pottery would add an elegant touch to an unforgettable occasion. Samples decorate the gallery, and Parivash explains that entire sets can be ordered.
Persian fine ceramics, jewelry, and rugs are all known for their superior craftsmanship, and often incorporate precious metals, rich fabrics, and intricate details to create a work of art that reflects the rich cultural heritage of their homeland.
Songbird Art Gallery’s upstairs area displays a dazzling collection of ornate handmade Persian rugs, both modern and vintage. Parivash works closely with dealers and can assist customers in ordering rugs according to the color, design, material, and size they desire. Ranging from $700-$4000, her wide selection of rugs gives buyers the option to shop for unique, high quality Persian rugs locally, instead of driving to Atlanta or other big cities.
The gallery also showcases paintings by the artist Shahryar, whose use of color and movement in his work suggests a winding course of emotions, visceral humanity, and dreams. An artist who developed a unique technique, Shahryar originally created landscape art before switching to abstract pieces. His methods included using unusual items to create his paintings, such as the edge of a common credit card, instead of a brush. While he has moved on from this world, his artwork lives on, captivating and enchanting its viewers.
The Songbird Art Gallery currently has five of Shahryar’s paintings on display. Three of his abstract paintings bring curiosity and color to the gallery. “Movement – Red” is made of deep red hues with hints of yellow throughout, a painting with movement that invokes ideas of passion, humanity, and life. “Movement – Abstract” is made of wavy lines painted in red, orange, yellow, and pink, a work that seems to embody visually what it feels like to dance. “Wave” is another abstract, this one in gray and black with some green mixed in. These three abstract paintings were all made by Shahryar using a credit card instead of a paint brush, creating interesting lines with clear edges and smooth waves. The lines run over and under each other, boldly in some areas in single shades, faint in others with colors merging to blend into new hues.
Songbird Art Gallery also displays two of Shahryar’s landscape paintings. “Green Mountain” is a quiet painting in muted, warm colors of green, yellow, and tan. The mountain in the background towers over smaller plants and shrubs, suggesting landmarks where memories wait to be rediscovered. “Landscaping” features trees seemingly glowing in bright greens and yellows, contrasted with sharply angular black trunks and limbs, and black silhouettes beneath the trees.
Local paintings and drawings are also on display in the gallery by artists such as Gloria Mani and Sia Etemadi.
For Parivash, it’s all about the feeling that comes from beautiful artwork. She offers the community a unique collection of items handmade by artists all over the world, one-of-a-kind gifts for special occasions, and keepsakes to be passed down through the generations. The art is both a story told in and of itself, and a story waiting to be told, as well as an invitation to take the time to make your home a little more special.
Songbird Art Gallery is located at 621 2nd Avenue, Suite B. Their hours are Monday-Friday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, and Sunday 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
Art pieces can be viewed and ordered from the website as well, which can be found at songbirdartgallery.com.
By Natalie Downey