Jam Vafai

Jam Vafai received his B.A. and M.A.H. in Media Study from the State University of New York at Buffalo where he studied with Tony Conrad and Paul Sharits. For the past twenty years Mr. Vafai’s work and focus has been in Arts Education. He is head of the Media Communications Department at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. For the past fifteen years, Mr. Vafai has created and implemented a production driven curriculum with an emphasis on an independent and aesthetic approach to filmmaking and video production. His diverse approach to Media Education includes the use of media for social change, interdisciplinary productions, media as an art form, and media literacy.

 

In addition, he has established and built upon numerous community partnerships that include a number of local cultural, social, private, and civic organizations. Mr. Vafai has also worked as a teaching artist for Young Audiences, the Western New York Institute for the Arts, The Imagination Celebration, and was a founding member of the Northern Lights school for music and performing arts.

 

Prior to his commitment to education, Mr. Vafai worked as an Independent Filmmaker, Video Producer, Photographer, and interdisciplinary Media Artist. His work has primarily been in the medium of film with strong emphasis on time-lapse & stop-motion photography, cinematography, and experimental productions. Through a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, Mr. Vafai produced a series of short animated films using paintings and sculpture for the Albright Knox Art Gallery and in collaboration with the Maelstrom Percussion Ensemble. He has produced films and various media-based projects such as video installations, and multi-media presentations in association with a number of local organizations including the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Griffis Sculpture Park, Buffalo State College, Squeaky Wheel Media Resources and others.

 

Mr. Vafai’s interest in Buffalo architecture has manifested itself in a large-scale cinematic study, a work that is currently in progress. His hope for to the Ferry Street Corridor Project is to produce collaborative and mixed media works as well as experimental theater based on historic and personal stories.