Image: ESPN

The Iran V. US basketball game at the 2010 FIBA World Championship game held in Istanbul this week has created a lot of hype, but the one thing we walked away with from the well-paced game is: Friendliness! Continue Reading

Anousheh Ansari in Space Tourists--Iranian Film Festival San Francisco

Set to take place September 18-19, 2010 at the San Francisco Art institute, the 3rd Annual Iranian Film Festival San Francisco has a great roster of films on hand. Continue Reading

After watching The Glass House and “finding out about the hardship and traumas that [the girls under the care of the Omid Foundation in Iran] experienced, [it] provoked feelings of sadness, anger and dismay in me,” says Mina Roshandeli of her inspiration to participate in the Adidas Women’s 5K Challenge–set to take place in Hyde Park, London, UK–and her intent to raise funds for the Omid Foundation.

“…But I never even came close to imagining what those young women had been through.” Continue Reading

New York–ILLUMINATIONS (After Arthur Rimbaud) an exhibition of sculpture, video and installation by 16 well-known and emerging artists who work with light, will be on view at Leila Taghinia-Milani Heller (LTMH) Gallery from September 15 through October 15, 2010.

Inspired by a collection of poetry entitled Illuminations by Arthur Rimbaud (1854-1891), the exhibition is curated by Ashok Adicéam, an independent curator and art advisor. (A fully illustrated catalogue with an essay by Adicéam will accompany the exhibition.)

Creating a revealing dialogue between artists living and working in the East and West, ILLUMINATIONS (After Arthur Rimbaud) highlights the strength of light to bind different cultures together.

As Rimbaud wrote, “…the soul for the soul, summing up everything, perfumes and sounds and colors.”

While a number of the artists are inspired by neon lighting, Iranian artist Leila Pazooki, uses blue neon tubes to sculpt a Persian word in Orientalism, 2010.

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This once-in-a-lifetime celebration 9.02.10 Day honors the city of Beverly Hills by welcoming residents and visitors to enjoy gourmet food, wine and marquee entertainment on the tented rooftop of the former Robinsons-May parking structure.

“All the excitement this Labor Day weekend will be right here in Beverly Hills, and everyone in the Los Angeles region, most especially the Persian community is invited to join our celebration”, said Mayor Jimmy Delshad.

Iranian-Americans comprise a large portion of the population of Beverly Hills. As such, it is fitting that Iranian culture be represented at the city’s most important celebration.  To do that, Farhang Foundation has selected one of the most loved and accessible aspects of Persian culture – our world-renowned cuisine – to present to the community at large.

“Persian cuisine is the ideal way to introduce Iranian culture to the community at large, because it requires no prior knowledge or translation,” said Ali Razi, Chairman of Farhang Foundation.  “As people get a taste of Persia and our hospitality, we are sure that they will leave with greater appreciation for Iranians and our culture.”

This splendid Taste of Persia by Farhang Foundation pavilion will feature exotic and tasty aromas, flavors, and delicacies of Persia in a completely re-imagined way and will be presented in an elegant style that is uniquely Beverly Hills, while showcasing some of the most distinct sights and sounds of the ancient Persian culture.

Original Photos: Via Bratz

Last summer, we covered a case in which a juror was removed for making slurs about Isaac Larian’s ethnicity, the Jewish, Iranian-born CEO of MGA, maker of Bratz, calling Iranians: “rude” and “thieves” who have “stolen other person’s [sic] ideas,” during a legal battle between Mattel and Barbie.

District Judge Stephen Larson chose to oversimplify the hate-filled remarks made during trial deliberations in 2008, and at the time, concluded (without any mention of himself): “Although the remarks offended and upset several of the jurors, the remarks did not, in any way, affect or influence the decision made by the jury.”

Despite the efforts of the Anti-Defamation League, the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), the Iranian American Jewish Federation (IAJF), and the Iranian American Bar Association (IABA)–who all joined MGA and Larian in appealing the case with Mattel–Larson granted Mattel ownership of Bratz dolls.

“IABA joined in the amicus filing to the Ninth Circuit on the issue of juror bias against Mr. Larian, which went to the very issue being litigated—namely that all Iranians are ‘thieves’.  Based on its potential impact on Iranian-Americans and their equal treatment under the law, this issue was of great importance to us as a Bar Association, and of course to our members.” IABA representative, Salman Elmi tells Persianesque Magazine.

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Original Image via: ukiff.org.uk

Film festivals that honor Iranian films are held annually across the globe and now the time has finally arrived for an Iranian Film Festival to have a permanent home in the United Kingdom. UKIFF (a London-based charity and limited company) is delighted to announce the inaugural London Iranian Film Festival, commencing on November 19, 2010.

With a diverse program celebrating the best of contemporary Iranian films, the festival will showcase some of the finest talents of this rich cinematic culture.

Whilst acclaimed Iranian Directors may well be familiar to UK audiences, a new generation of emerging voices remain largely unknown.

The intention of the London Iranian Film Festival is to introduce this undiscovered new talent to London’s film enthusiast’s, as well as celebrating the work of legendary Iranian filmmakers.

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Persian Dolls, 2009 by Negar Ahkami--Original Image via LTMH

Southampton, NY–An exhibition showcasing the work of important and emerging artists from the Middle East, Turkey, Europe, and the U.S. will be on view at Tripoli Gallery of Contemporary Art at 30A Jobs Lane in Southampton from September 1 through 29, 2010.

East Meets West on the East End will feature painting, sculpture and video by 12 contemporary artists.  The exhibition is co-presented by Leila Taghinia-Milani Heller (LTMH) Gallery, New York, and Tripoli Gallery, Southampton, and organized by Leila Heller.  An opening for the exhibition will be held on Wednesday, September 1, from 6 to 8 p.m.  A portion of the proceeds from the exhibition will benefit the Southampton Fresh Air Home, a camp for physically challenged children.

East Meets West on the East End will mark summer’s end with a look at beauty and tranquility while exploring the artists’ synergies and differences.  The artists in the exhibition include Roya Akhavan, Shoja Azari and Shahram Karimi, Reza Derakshani, William Hillman, Nir Hod, Rachel Hovnanian, Peter Hristoff, Alexis Laurent, Arnaud Rivieren, Martin Saar, Elizabeth Thompson and Negar Ahkami.

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