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Lena I. Merhej
+961.1.739903
lena@lenamerhej.com
http://www.lenamerhej.com/portfolio
Experience
October 2003- Present. Freelancer
Animation, Illustration, and Web Design.
October 2003- Present. Instructor
American University Of Beirut.
Teaching motion graphics to junior graphic design students.
Teaching Basic Design, and Web Design in the Architecture and Design
Department.
February 2003-present. Instructor
Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon. Teaching Advanced
Computer Graphics and Illustration to Graphic Design Students.
May 2003- Coordinator
Festival International de La Bande Dessinée, Beirut, Lebanon.
The festival was introducing Animation to its program. I collaborated
with the festival team on organizing and compiling the animation
in Lebanon, and/or done by Lebanese animators.
November 2002- January 2003. Intern
Curious Pictures, New York, NY. The studio allowed me to do thorough
research on the process of animation series, working on "Codename:
Kids Next Door" for the Cartoon Network.
February 2001- May 2001. Animator and Coordinator
Performance and Motion Capture, New York, NY. A collaborative team's
project for the Parsons School of Design, where I worked and coordinated
with the creative team, on a motion capture and 2d combined animation
piece.
June 1999 - June 2002. Art Director
Cleartag, Beirut, Lebanon. A web based company, where I worked on
major projects pursued by the company such as beirutdelivery.com,
and lebanonforkids.com. I coordinated and directed the design team.
September 1999 - July 2000. Art Instructor and Program
Coordinator
Fista. First Step Together Association, Beirut, Lebanon. I Taught
craft, visual and physical expression, and worked on the specific
curricula for learning disabled students.
Professional Engagements and Memberships
February 2003-Present. Active Memeber and Project Coordinator
A Step Away. Beirut, Lebanon. Initiated the Animation and Comic
Book Forum in beirut, and coordinating the project "the Other"
for the year 2005.
May 2002- Present. Founding Member and Media Designer.
Al Jisser. New York, NY. The mission of Al Jisser is to bring Arab
artists to international attention. I developed the design of its
first exhibition: Williamsburg Bridges Palestine 2002.
Education
2000-2002 Parsons School of Design. New York, NY.
Masters of Fine Arts in Design and Technology
1995-1999 American University of Beirut. Beirut, Lebanon.
Bachelor of Graphic Design
Workshops
Participated in:
2003. Illustration with Tord Nygren, Beirut, Lebanon.
2003. Illustration. Albin Brunovsky BIB, Bratislava, Slovakia.
2003. Scriptwriting. A Step Away. Beirut, Lebanon.
Instructed:
February 2004. Collaborative Animation, Animation and Comic Book Forum, A Step Away, Beirut, Lebanon.
May 2003. Animating Responses, LAU, Beirut, Lebanon.
June2001. Understanding Interactivity, LAU, Beirut, Lebanon.
Publications and Illustrations
“Awna Assbi’I?” (where are my fingers?), Dar Onboz,
2004
“Transit Beirut” Dar AL Saki (2003)
“Ana El Chams”, Dar El Ilim Lil malayin (2003)
“Jammoul” , Dar El Ilim Lil malayin (2003)
“The bird and the Child”, Dar El Ilim Lil malayin (2003)
Films and Animation
“attention landmines” (2004), awareness film.
International Beirut Marathon (2004) ad spot freelance.
Youth Marathon (2004) PSA freelance.
Women participation in the Election (2004) PSA freelance.
Women contributing to the Political System (2004) PSA freelance.
Water Preservation (2004) PSA freelance.
Women and Violence (2003) PSA freelance.
Women and Economy (2003) PSA freelance.
Literacy for Women (2003) PSA freelances.
Drawing the War (2002). Independent work.
Exhibitions and Festivals
2004. XXIVth Salon D’automne, Musee Nicolas Sursock, Beirut,
Lebanon.
2003. Animac. Ileida, Spain.
2003. Prime Shorts Best of 2003, USA.
2003. Chams Festival, Beirut, Lebanon.
2003. Modern Art Museum, Media Lounge, Melbourne, Australia.
2003. SXSW Festival, Austin, TX.
2003. X/fest, Remote Lounge, New York, NY.
2003. Women in the Director's Chair Festival, Chicago.
2002. 36th New York Exposition Festival, New York, NY.
2002. MadCat Women's International Film Festival, San Francisco,
CA.
2002. Rockefeller Center, New York, NY.
2002. Search, Arnold and Sheila Aronson Galleries, New York, NY.
2001. The Great Hall, Cooper Union, New York, NY.Competitions and
Awards
2002. Jury Award, 36th New York Exposition Festival
2000.2002. Parsons School of Design Academic Achievement Award.
2001. Acadia Inforum Competition
2001. 4th International Browser Day
1998. Hotel design competition, AUB association
Languages: strong command of English, French, and Arabic.
Computer skills: Illustrator, PhotoShop, Flash animation and Actionscript,
Director animation and some Lingo, HTML, DreamWeaver, ImageReady,
AfterEffects, Tic-tac-toons, Infini-D, SoundEdit, and ProTools.
Print skills: etching, silk screen, and mixed media.
Interests: new media, web design, comic books,
children illustration and animation.
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