June 22,
2007 - September 9, 2007
On Friday, June 22, 2007,
Pacific Asia Museum will open
Persian Visions: Contemporary Photography from Iran, an exhibition that
provides a rare, revealing view of Iranian life with more than 60 photographs by
renowned Iranian photographers. Subjects include public life as well as the
intimate – such as family life and celebrations. This will be the only West
Coast venue for this exhibition.
Mohammad
Farnood, Norooz, 2002
The twenty artists in the exhibition are among
Iran’s most celebrated photographers, all of whom use the medium for cultural
expression and self-exploration. Many of the artists are well known throughout
Europe where they have extensively exhibited their works. Several of these
artists have lived abroad and experienced western culture before returning to
Iran to document their own culture. This perspective of life in Iran contradicts
the way many foreign photographers use the medium: to represent Iran and its
people as purely exotic.
Sadegh Tirafkan,
Persepolis
Iran has distinguished itself with the quality and
international presence of its film and visual art. Now we can extend our
appreciation of Iranian artists with the photographic work of Shokoufeh
Alidousti, whose self-portraits and family photographs explore both cultural and
female identity. Esmail Abbasi draws on Persian literature for his subject
matter and adds contemporary side notes on present circumstances in Iran. And
Shahriar Tavakoli focuses on his family history through a series of portraits
capturing the mood of an Iranian family with all its subtleties.
Persian Visions will travel to the
University of Michigan Museum, the Southeast Museum of Photography in Daytona
Beach, the Mulvane Art Museum in Topeka, and the Missoula Museum of Art.
Recently it was on view at the Honolulu Academy of Art, the Herbert F. Johnson
Museum at Cornell University, and the Art Gallery of the University of Maryland.
Persian Visions was developed by Hamid
Severi for the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, Iran, and Gary Hallman of the
Regis Center for Art, University of Minnesota, and toured by International Arts
& Artists, Washington, D.C. This exhibition was made possible in part by the
ILEX Foundation, University of Minnesota McKnight Arts and Humanities Endowment,
and the Department of Art, Regis Center for Art, University of
Minnesota.
Left: Arman Stepanian, Untitled,
2001. Right: Koroush Adim, Revelations 2
This groundbreaking exhibition will be on view
through September 9, 2007.
Enter our So. Cal. Persian Community Photo
Contest
[PDF: 46KB, 2pg] We will
be accepting submissions of community photos between July 25 and 31 2007,
9am-6pm. Mailed entries must be received by July 31, 2007.
Thursday, June 21, 6-9pm,
Private, by
invitation Members Only Preview for Persian Visions:
Contemporary Photography from Iran
Author Event
Saturday, June
23, 2:30pm
Anita Amirrezvani’s The Blood of Flowers opens with a
comet streaking across the sky, presaging a year of calamity. This magically
told tale captures the life and culture of 17th century Persia from a young
woman’s perspective. Free with admission. To R.S.V.P., call 626-449-2742, ext.
20.
Film
Tuesday, July 10, 8pm
Mojtaba Mirtahmasb’s documentaries, Back Vocal and Off
Beat, capture the struggles of contemporary Iranian singers and musicians
working to be heard in their own country. Back Vocal explores Iran’s
prohibition, since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, of female solo singers.
Featured singer Mamak Khadem will speak following the film.
Off Beat documents the restrictions on rock concerts, and the efforts
of fans to hold an on-line contest featuring Tehran’s underground rock bands.
This will be Off Beat’s first U.S. screening! Both are
subtitled in English, and will be screened under the stars in the courtyard
garden. Seating provided, but feel free to bring a beach chair. $6 for members,
$10 for non-members. Includes museum admission. To register, call (626)
449-2742, ext. 31. Space is limited.
Lecture
Saturday, July 14,
1pm
Join Persian Visions co-curator Gary Hallman
to learn more about the art, artists, politics, and story behind this
bi-national exhibition. Following the presentation, Dr. Hallman will answer
questions in the gallery. Free with admission. To R.S.V.P., call (626) 449-2742,
ext. 31. Space is limited.
Talk and film
screening
Sunday, July 15, 2pm
Over the past 20
years, photographer and filmmaker Abbas Hojatpanah has been documenting Iranian
artists now scattered around the world. He will discuss why this subject, so
close to his heart, is of such historical importance and what impact it is
having on the youth of Iran. He will then screen several of his video portraits.
Mr. Hojatpanah’s book, Portraits of Iranian Artists in Exile, will also be
available for purchase. Free with admission. To R.S.V.P., call (626) 449-2742,
ext. 31. Space is limited.
Film
Thursday, July 26,
8pm
The Fish Fall in Love tells the story of political prisoner
Aziz, returning after 25 years to take possession of his family estate only to
find his former flame, Atieh, is now running it as a restaurant. Director Ali
Rafiee uses the language of food to tell a story of passions over generations.
Starring Reza Kianian, Roya Nonahali, Golshifteh Farahani. With English
subtitles. $6 for members, $10 for non-members. Includes museum admission. To
register, call (626) 449-2742, ext. 31. Space is limited.
Dance
Thursday, August 9,
8pm
Led by Artistic Director Shida Pegahi, Ney Nava Dance Theatre
has been performing fine Persian classical and contemporary dance since 1994.
They will bring their beautifully costumed classic dances to Pacific Asia Museum
for an evening of timeless beauty. $15 for members, $20 for non-members.
Includes museum admission.To register, call (626) 449-2742, ext. 31. Space is
limited.
Community Photography
Exhibition
Friday thru Sunday, August 10-12
Photos by and of the
Southern California Persian community will be displayed in the Foyer Gallery.
For entry information click here
[PDF: 46KB, 2pg]. Free with admission.
Pacific
Asia Museum
www.pacificasiamuseum.org
46
North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena California 91101, (626) 449-2742
Hours:
Wed – Sun: 10:00am-6:00pm
[Link to Google
Map]
Admission: $7 for adults, $5
for students/seniors
