Ben Kashkooli

KASHKOOLI, Ben-- Conceptual Art Worker, born June 20, 1954 in Abadan, Behnam Kashkooli was educated in England and at De Anza College in Cupertino, CA, receiving awards as a student from De Anza College and the Cupertino Art League, and earned an MFA in Sculpture from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1988. Between 1979 and 1999, Ben taught at De Anza College, the Academy of Art College, and as T.A. to Professor William Geiss at the San Francisco Art Institute. His sculpture was exhibited in sixteen institutional group exhibitions in the Bay Area, additionally several recent installation works, environmental and humanitarian in concept, include the Blue Table in Water mounted at HaNoi University in April 2002. He died June 19.
Ben Kashkooli was a devoted teacher, and artist, and was singled out by art critic Kenneth Baker for his glass and oil installation work in the Bi-Coastal Exhibition, New York Sculpture League, in San Francisco in 1989. But his most important work he considered to be specifically: canvassing with a fearless spirit, for a better world for all living things. His most recent project was a film on Vietnam documenting that country's cultural beauty and the damage of war which continues to burden its peoples.
Ben is survived by his mother, Mrs. Nowrooz Kashkooli, his wife, Katya, a large and loving family, and many friends around the world whose lives were richer for having known him.
Graveside funeral services will be Monday, June 24, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. at Los Gatos Memorial Park, 2255 Los Gatos Almaden Rd., San Jose. The family prefers no floral gifts be sent. Arrangements by WILLOW GLEN FUNERAL CHAPEL, San Jose.