ride the wave

Thanks to daniel for sending me this WNYC linkage on Iranian artists, thinkers, and writers, including one of my favorites, Goli Taraghi. Her story of the Pomegranate Lady makes me cry to this day.

I was also sent beautiful photographs taken by Safa Daneshvar, of the process of picking saffron from flowers (download power point).

Pars Arts is a great resource on Iranian arts (thanks Shaghayegh!), as is the Persian Arts Festival Blog. The Persian Arts Festival is a team of wonderful individuals committed to spreading the diversity of Persian Arts, and I am delighted to be a part of the PAF team:

Founded in 2005, the Persian Arts Festival (PAF) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to showcasing the magnificence and diversity of Persian art and culture through its voices, artists and visionaries. PAF brings local and global communities together to support these artists and explore one of the world’s most ancient and rich civilizations. The festival gives audiences of all ages and ethnicities the chance to discover new Persian voices and celebrate established ones. Areas represented at previous events have included fine art, music, film, comedy, family activities and literary.

One of the new developments with PAF is the Rumi Poetry Night, every third Wednesday of every month at the Bowery Poetry Club until May 2008. Coming up at the Queens Museum of Art is also an exhibition curated by Pooneh Maghaze, called: “Weaving the Common Thread.” The opening night is February 24, from 5-9 pm. I am collaborating with Dean Gransar to have a piece up on the opening night! More news on that to follow.

I also want to share the Rageh Inside Iran documentary, as I love it, Thank you Rageh Omaar! There are 10 parts on youtube, but well worth checking out if you want a comprehensive look at both Tehran and the people living there. Matt Lauer also went to Iran for the today show, and advised NBC on where to go and what to do… I was delightfully surprised to see this piece on Firewomen in Iran (nevermind that he called Iran “Iraq” at the start of the clip).

Finally, Ahmad Kiarostami sent me linkage to his music videos for the Iranian band, Kiosk. One of the videos is called, Esgh-e-sorat, or Love for Speed. I also heard about his work through friends and family. The lyrics and video work so beautifully together–thank you, Ahmad!