Iranian Arts Exhibition in the U.S.

A Breeze from Gardens of Persia is the name of the first major exhibition of Iranian art in the U.S. in decades. The Breeze started blowing in Washington D.C. on April 27 and will continue till July 15, 2001, before it changes course towards the museums and art centers across America, including New York and Texas.

One of the major sponsors of this event is the American oil giant Exxon Mobile Corp whose chairman, Lee R. Raymond, said: "The exhibition is in keeping with the spirit of Iranian President Khatami's idea for an international Dialog of Civilization."

This groundbreaking collection, featuring works by many of Iran's most talented artists, has been organized by Meridian International Center in collaboration with the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. The exhibition is presented in the U.S. in cooperation with Search for Common Ground, an organization that works globally on conflict resolution and has sponsored several interchanges between the U.S. and Iran.

The collection includes some 88 works by 54 artists, one-third of whom are women, and contains a wide variety of artistic expressions and mediums. All works are on loan from individual artists or private galleries from Tehran and other cities in Iran. The influence of the rich Persian culture and its poetry on the contemporary art of Iran is a major theme.

"We want to show the American people the beauty and rich nature of contemporary Iranian art," said Chairman Raymond on the eve of the exhibition's opening. "Culture has always been an important hallmark of a nation's character, and the beautiful works in A Breeze from the Gardens of Persia will reveal an important and positive side of Iranian civilization to Americans."

Also on the subject, Walter Cutler, President of Meridian International Center said: "It is our hope that this initiative will help lead the way to an increased understanding and appreciation between the peoples of Iran and the United States. ExxonMobil's support is critical in helping us meet this goal."

A Breeze from the Gardens of Persia will move to the Queens Library Gallery in Jamaica, New York from September 7 - November 9, 2001, and to the ArtsCentre of Plano in Plano, Texas from November 19, 2001 - January 11, 2002. Additional venues across the country will be announced by Meridian International Center.

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