Date: April 11–12, 2026

Time: 4–8 PM (Saturday) ; 12–4 PM (Sunday)

Location: The Fold, NJ — 237 River Street, Suite 3, Paterson, NJ 07501

Juried & Curated by: Andrea McKenna

Live music performed by: Mehrnam Rastegari (Saturday only)

Tickets*:

• General Admissions: $15

• Student/Artist Admissions: $10

• Free for exhibiting artists

Description:

Guided by the theme of ‘Threads’, this exhibition highlights works across a range of media that foster mutual understanding and explore shared cultural narratives between Iran and the broader Middle East. Through these works, the exhibition invites viewers to reflect on and engage in dialogue about the threads of connection that continue to shape artistic expression, cultural identity, and historical continuity throughout the Middle East and its diaspora. Alongside the celebration of these cultures, this exhibition uplifts artists of Middle Eastern descent and the diaspora while remaining open to all artists whose work engages with the theme.

The exhibition will be open to ticket holders from 4–8 PM on April 11th and 12–4 pm on April 12th. Attendees are invited to experience the exhibition in a gallery setting while enjoying live music, a free Arabic/Farsi calligraphy service, and complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres.

All artwork will be for sale.

About Andrea McKenna

Andrea McKenna is an interdisciplinary artist, decorative painter, curator, and gallery director whose work bridges the worlds of visual art, design, and community arts programming. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York City, McKenna earned a BFA in Illustration before expanding her practice into painting and scenic design for local theater productions. In 1999, she began working as an interior faux finisher and soon founded her own decorative arts company, Videre Decorative Arts. The business quickly developed a strong client base, with projects spanning throughout New Jersey.

McKenna’s curatorial career began in 2011 and has been deeply rooted in community arts. She has curated art festivals, pop-up art shows, and, from March 2014 to September 2017, she co-founded and operated The Raven Gallery and Boutique in downtown Jersey City. During that time she curated a continuous program of exhibitions, presenting the work of hundreds of local, emerging, and established artists.

In 2018, McKenna was invited to curate exhibitions for Art House Productions’ gallery. She currently serves there as Gallery Director, where she has developed and produced a monthly exhibition program featuring both solo and group shows, continuing her commitment to supporting diverse artists and fostering a vibrant creative community.

In 2025, she became a member of the Fort Lee Artists Guild, a member-based non profit where she serves on the board and has become their sole curator for all member and affiliated exhibitions.

About Hoda Mahmoodzadegan Saltzman & The Fold

Hoda Mahmoodzadegan Saltzman is an Iranian-American entrepreneur, real estate professional, and community builder, and co-founder of The Fold at the former Manhattan Shirt Co. in Paterson, NJ, alongside her husband Eric Saltzman. Together, they transformed a historic industrial warehouse into a raw, design-forward space rooted in creativity, culture, and connection. For Hoda, this event is deeply personal, an offering to the Iranian diaspora and the broader Middle Eastern community to come together through art, storytelling, and shared experience. In a time when the region is often defined by conflict, this exhibition is a deliberate shift toward beauty, humanity, and joy, creating space for perspective, pride, and peace. The Fold exists to hold these moments, where history, identity, and community converge in meaningful and unexpected ways.”

Thank you to our community partners in this event, Nimruz. Nimruz is a nonprofit organization committed to championing a flourishing Iranian spirit through art and education.