Many people choose several life paths as they grow and discover new capabilities and talents. Badeah Shirazi has followed a variety of paths and is now focusing on her artwork.
Badeah grew up in a small town in the Santa Cruz mountains of California. She married her husband, Amir, who was born in Iran and moved to California when he was a young man. They met in San Diego as both were beginning new careers: Badeah as a classroom teacher, and Amir as a general contractor.
Badeah has always had a great interest in other cultures and was particularly drawn to the visual and performing arts of the Middle East. While pursuing a teaching credential at San Francisco State University, she also studied Middle Eastern Belly Dance. This led to a career as a professional belly dancer, something she continued for 26 years.
Badeah and Amir were introduced to Whidbey Island by a close family friend who invited them to visit her home in Coupeville. They both fell in love with the island and knew that after retiring, Whidbey would be their next home. In 2016 they made their move from San Diego and began their new adventure as Whidbey Islanders.
Badeah says, “Living on Whidbey inspired me and gave me the opportunity to develop as an artist. The trees, the wildlife, especially the birds, captivated me. I felt the need to capture and recreate that sense of wonder.” She adds, “For me, settling on one medium is impossible.”
At present, she is doing photography of the Whidbey vistas and wildlife and makes greeting cards with the mounted original photographs. She also embellishes vintage prints and fabric with materials repurposed from other projects to become one-of-a-kind, frame-able cards.
Badeah also creates a wide selection of jewelry and accessories using beads, Czech glass and crystals, semi-precious stones, carved bone, and repurposed vintage jewelry from Whidbey’s treasure trove of thrift stores.
Badeah also makes “Magical Mini Momento” boxes, matchboxes covered and decorated with her miniature paintings. Each box holds five tiny items that she feels represent the essence of Whidbey Island. She adds, “I find great joy in attending to the fine details of each project I do.” The theme and byline for her work is “Small Things Handmade with Great Love.”
Badeah feels blessed to be living on Whidbey and creating and sharing her art. She says, “This is my way of passing on the magic of Whidbey to others.”
Throughout the market season, Badeah is a weekly vendor at Tilth Sunday Farmers Market. Additionally, she can be found at many of South Island’s holiday markets and celebrations including at Greenbank Farm, Clinton and the Fairgrounds.
