Talk / Presentation

Correlations of Visual Arts & Cinema + Q&A

Hamoon — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:18:32 +0000

FREE

Neshat’s provocative photographs, videos and multimedia installations have resonated with the curators of many major international art exhibitions, including the XLVIII Venice Biennale, where she won the top prize in 1999. Her ﬁrst feature ﬁlm, Women Without Men, tells the stories of four women struggling to escape oppression in Tehran. It won her the Silver Lion for best director at the 2010 Venice Film Festival. "Walk into a Shirin Neshat film installation and the images seize you: big, memorable, physically beautiful, exploring the role of women in Islamic society in terms of cinematic poetry, so that even the stifling chador becomes powerfully expressive." The New York Times, July 15, 2002 .The work of Neshat addresses the social, political and psychological dimensions of women's experience in contemporary Islamic societies.

Language : English

FREE

Number available: 10

Sub Genre:

Shoja Azari - Shirin Neshat - Babak Payami

Region:

USA , Canada

Dates:

Fri, 07/19/2013 - 19:00

Location:

Lakeside Terrace , Harbourfront Centre

Language:

English

Subtitle:

Program Duration:

1 Hour and 30 Minutes

Program Schedule:

Artists Name:

Shoja Azari

Shirin Neshat

Babak Payami

Artist Bios:

Shirin Neshat
Shirin Neshat is among the best-known Iranian artists in the Western world. She has lived in the United States, in self-imposed exile from her native Iran, for most of her adult life. This experience, of being caught between two cultures, dominates Neshat’s creative work: each of her pieces offers a glimpse into the complex social, religious and political realities that shape her identity—and the identities of Muslim women worldwide. Shirin Neshat was born in Qazvin, Iran, and left the country, at about the time that the Iranian Revolution occurred, to study art in the United States at 17; she graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with an MFA in 1982. When she returned to her home country in 1990, she found it barely recognizable from the Iran before the 1979 Revolution, a shocking experience that incited the meditations on memory, loss, and contemporary life in Iran that are central to her work. Her Women of Allah series, created in the mid-1990s, introduced the hallmark themes of her pieces through which she examines conditions of male, female, public, private, religious, political, and secular identities in both Iranian and Western cultures. Her videos, installations, and photographs have received great critical acclaim outside of Iran. Her work has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, the Istanbul and Johannesburg Biennials, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, and the Tate Gallery in London, among other institutions. Neshat currently lives and works in New York. When Neshat first came to use film, she was influenced by the work of Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami. Neshat's recognition became more international in 1999, when she won the International Award of the XLVIII Venice Biennale with Turbulent and Rapture, a project involving almost 250 extras and produced by the Galerie Jérôme de Noirmont which met with critical and public success after its worldwide avant-première at the Art Institute of Chicago in May 1999. In 2009 she won the Silver Lion for best director at the 66th Venice Film Festival for her directional debut Women Without Men, based on Shahrnush Parsipur's novel of the same name. Since 2000 Neshat has also participated in film festivals, including the Telluride Film Festival (2000), Chicago International Film Festival (2001), San Francisco International Film Festival (2001), Locarno International Film Festival (2002), Tribeca Film Festival (2003), Sundance Film Festival (2003), and Cannes Film Festival (2008). In 2013 she will be a member of the jury at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival.

Babak Payami
Babak Payami, a successful film director, writer and producer with over 15 years of experience within the film industry, is the recipient of numerous international awards including the Best Director Award at the 2001 Venice Film Festival.

Artists:

Babak Payami

Shirin Neshat

Shoja Azari

Book Reading by Moniro Ravanipour

Hamoon — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:25:38 +0000

FREE

Moniro will read three chapters from her novel, An Angel on Earth.

Language : Persian

FREE

Number available: 10

Sub Genre:

Book Reading

Region:

USA

Dates:

Sat, 07/20/2013 - 13:30

Location:

Miss Lou's, Harbourfront Centre

Language:

Persian

Subtitle:

Program Duration:

1 Hour

Artist Bios:

Moniro Ravanipour
Moniro Ravanipour is an internationally acclaimed innovative writer who is the author of twelve titles published in Iran, including six collections of short fiction, Kanizu and Satan’s Stones, and the novels The Drowned, Heart of Steel, and Gypsy by Fire. She started out writing screenplays and wrote many of them before moving on to novels. Her tales, described as “reminiscent in their fantastic blend of realism, myth, and superstition of writers like Rulfo, Garcia Marquez, even Tutuola,” frequently take as their setting the small, remote village in southern Iran where she was born. Nahid Mozaffari, editor of Strange Times, My Dear: The PEN Anthology of Contemporary Iranian Literature, writes that Ravanipour “has been successful in the treatment of the complex subjects of tradition and modernity, juxtaposing elements of both, and exposing them in all their contradictions without idealizing either.” Moniro was one of ten children. Her brother was executed; her sisters were banned from education in elementary and high school, one of her sisters and her husband were sentenced to death penalty and escaped Iran. For a decade, she couldn't have a stable place of residence and she moved from one place to another. She wrote her first short story collection named The Sparrow and Mr. President in 1977, which was immediately banned from publishing. In 1983 she got arrested on the street. It was during the terrible prison days that she decided to become a writer of big fame and success when she was free again, so she would not get killed and forgotten like many others were. A part of her political activities was with the Kurds and she lost some of her best friends during those years. Ms. Ravanipour was among seventeen activists to face trial in Iran for their participation in the 2000 Berlin Conference, accused of taking part in anti-Iran propaganda. Copies of her current work were recently stripped from bookstore shelves in Iran in a countrywide police action. She is a former Brown University International Writers Project Fellow. She recently published her seventh short-story collection in eBook format.

Artists:

Moniro Ravanipour

The Myth of "Conference of the Birds"

Hamoon — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:41:51 +0000

FREE

A presentation of the Conference of the Birds together with the projection and commentary of a number of Persian miniatures related to the famous mystical poem composed in the end of the 7th century by Farîduddiîn ‘Attâr. In this lecture, we will follow the hoopoe, a metaphor for the poet and the spiritual guide, through the seven valleys up to the final encounter with Sîmorgh, the fabulous bird who stands for the supreme manifestation of the Divine. We will hear and see the poetic words and the beautiful images that lead, through the experience of immanence, to the fusion into transcendence.

Language : English

FREE

Number available: 10

Sub Genre:

by Dr. Leili Anvar

Region:

France

Dates:

Sat, 07/20/2013 - 15:00

Location:

Miss Lou's, Harbourfront Centre

Language:

English

Subtitle:

Program Duration:

1 Hour

Artist Bios:

Leili Anvar
Former student of the Ecole Normale Supérieure, Leili Anvar holds a PhD in Persian literature. She is assistant professor at the Institut des Langues et des Civilisations Orientales in Paris. Her interest in the cultural expressions of mystical inspiration is manifold. As a specialist of Persian mystical literature she has been translating Rûmî, Shams-e Tabrizi, ‘Attâr and Nezâmî as well as modern writers, but she also broadcasts a weekly program on spiritual issues at the radio ( France Culture.) Her publications include Rûmî (Entrelacs, 2004), Orient, Mille ans de poésie et de peinture (Éditions Diane de Selliers, 2005), Malek Jân Ne’mati : « La vie n’est pas courte mais le temps est compté » (Éditions Diane de Selliers, 2007published in English as Malak Jan Nemati : « Life isn’t short but time is limited », Arpeggio Press, 2012), Anthologie de l'Islam spirituel (Seuil, 2010) and Rûmî, la Religion de l'Amou (Seuil, 2011). She has also published a new translation in verse of the Conference of the Birds (Editions Diane de Selliers, 2012).

Ties Between Ancient Iran and Italy

Hamoon — Sun, 19 May 2013 01:28:17 +0000

FREE

This presentation will highlight the decades-long research of the government of Calabria investigating ties between ancient Iran and Italy. Examples of ties are Apadana at Persepolis Catedralle Di Gerace, as well as floor plans of Sassanian architecture architecture in Italy. Ties between the figures of persophone, Darius the great (at Lokori), the Goddesses Kore, as well as Anahita will also be addressed.

Language : English

FREE

Number available: 10

Sub Genre:

by Dr. Kaveh Farokh - History

Region:

Canada

Dates:

Sat, 07/20/2013 - 16:30

Location:

Miss Lou's, Harbourfront Centre

Language:

English

Subtitle:

Program Duration:

1 Hour

Artist Bios:

Kaveh Farokh
Kaveh Farrokh, the author of three history books, has been recognized as an expert in the ancient history of Persia. His books have been translated into Russian and Persian. Kaveh is affiliated with a number of world-renowned organizations, including UN-affiliated and Nobel- prize nominated WAALM Institute in London -where he is the Chair of the Cultural Diplomacy’s Department of Traditions & Cultural History-, Stanford University’s WAIS (World Association of International Studies) Society, Member of the Academic Board for the Institute of Historical Iranian Studies, the Hellenic-Iranian Studies Society, and the UNESCO-affiliated Pasargard Preservation Society. His articles have been published in peer-reviewed journals and publications such as: “Classic Arms and Militaria”, “Persian Heritage”, “the International Book of Dyslexia: A Cross Language Comparison”, as well as “Practice Guide and the Mithras Reader: An Academic and Religious Journal of Greek, Roman and Persian Studies” Kaveh has been noted for a number of citations including the Best History Book Award in London (2008), recognition by the Independent Book Publisher’s Association in the United States (2008), the Kayhan newspaper in London (the Iranian equivalent of the New York Times), the Scholarship and Merit Award (2009) and the peer-reviewed Iranshenasi Academic Journal (2010). Kaveh has been interviewed by the BBC, the History Channel, the Voice of America Network and the Leonard Lopate Show in New York City.

Artists:

Kaveh Farrokh

A Review of Pasargadae Historical Site

Hamoon — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 18:28:03 +0000

FREE

Pasargadae was the first capital of Achaemenid Empire; the largest empire the world has yet seen, founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century B.C.
Cyrus the Great is well known worldwide for his achievements in politics, human rights and military strategies. His legacy has always been inspiring and admired not only in historical sources but also in holy books such as Bible and Torah.
Pasargadae historical site played a key role in formation of the art and architecture of Achaemenid era and next periods due to its unique urban design and architectural elements such as the Royal Garden (the first sample of Persian Style Gardens ever discovered), tombs, towers, palaces, pavilions, gates, fortresses, trenches and water canals, and bridges.
Siamak Eskandari was the site manager for preservation and research activities of Pasargadae from 1998 to 2001. He will introduce the site and its elements and a brief history of excavations and related old and existing theories, as well as his own ideas and achievements.

Language : Persian

FREE

Number available: 10

Sub Genre:

by Siamak Eskandari

Dates:

Sat, 07/20/2013 - 18:00

Location:

Miss Lou's, Harbourfront Centre

Language:

Persian

Subtitle:

Program Duration:

1 Hour

Artists:

Siamak Eskandari

Shahnameh - The Epic of the Persian Kings

Hamoon — Sun, 19 May 2013 03:10:55 +0000

FREE

The Making of New Illustrationed Shahnameh.
Taking the audience via power point presentation to the journey of making the illustrations of the new edition Shahnameh. The artist will also talk about the unique attributes of the current edition of the book such as illustrating nightmares and dreams for the first time along with creation of the map of Shahnameh.

*During the event, Shahnameh-The Epic of the Persian will be available for sale and autograph by the author at the venue.

Language : English

FREE

Number available: 10

Sub Genre:

Presentation

Region:

USA

Dates:

Sat, 07/20/2013 - 19:30

Sun, 07/21/2013 - 15:00

Location:

Miss Lou's, Harbourfront Centre

Language:

English

Subtitle:

Program Duration:

1 Hour

Artist Bios:

Hamid Rahmanian is an award-¬winning filmmaker and graphic artist whose work spans two decades. He has received numerous awards for his achievements. His works have been exhibited in international festivals and competitions and have been televised on international networks, including PBS, Sundance Channel, IFC, Channel 4, BBC, DR2, and Al Jazeera.
Hamid Rahmanian obtained his B.F.A. in Graphic Design from Tehran University. He moved to the United States and earned a M.F.A. in Computer Animation in 1997 from Pratt Institute. After completing his studies, he was hired by Disney Feature Animation Company as a look development artist, where he worked on “Tarzan”, “The Emperor’s New Groove” and “Dinosaur”.
In 1998, Hamid Rahmanian left Disney and established his own production company, Fictionville Studio.
He continued working as a graphic designer in the US and has been commissioned to do work for cultural organizations and commercial companies including The United Nations, GQ Magazine, Lincoln Center, Tribeca Film Institute, Pacifica Radio/Democracy Now, Aramex, and Eurasia Foundation.
His first 35 mm short film, AN I WITHIN, received Kodak’s "Best Cinematography Award", “Best American Short” from the LA International Short Film Festival and ”Special Achievement Award” from the USA Film Festival. He went on to make three documentaries. BREAKING BREAD (2000) and SIR ALFRED OF CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT (2001) were well received by the media and worldwide audiences. SHAHRBANOO (2002) first premiered on PBS station WNET where it received the highest rating for an independently produced documentary and has been broadcast on networks around the globe. His first feature length fiction film, DAY BREAK (2005) premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, went on to screen at festivals and theaters all over the world, including the Venice and Tribeca Film Festivals in 2006 and won numerous international awards. THE GLASS HOUSE (2008) a feature length documentary premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and IDFA and was the winner of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Human Rights Award, among other awards. His films have been used in the NGO sector to combat negative stereotypes about Iranians, to promote anti‐capital punishment laws in the US, and to raise funds and awareness for the plights of disadvantaged women and girls around the world. In 2003, Hamid Rahmanian co-founded and was President (2004-¬‐2007) of the non¬‐profit organization – ARTEEAST -¬ its mission statement to promote the arts and cultures of the Middle East and its diasporas in the United States.
In 2009, he wrote and illustrated a graphic autobiography entitled THE MAGNIFICENT BOOK OF M. His most recent project, the illustration and adaptation of the 10th Century Persian epic poem “The Book of Kings” by Ferdowsi, entitled SHAHNAMEH: THE EPIC OF THE PERSIAN KINGS is published by Quantuck Lane Press and distributed by W. W. Norton & Company in March 2013
He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Artists Websites:

www.theepicofthepersiankings.com

Picture Gallery:

Shahnameh-210-211.jpg

Shahnameh-180-181.jpg

9-Jamshid accendent- card version.jpg

11-the ambush-new.jpg

HamidRahmanianGlassHouse2009SundanceuXqVJ2vsgj5l.jpg

Artists:

Hamid Rahmanian

Book Introduction by Dr. Fariborz Mokhtari

Hamoon — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 02:02:19 +0000

FREE

Dr. Fariborz Mokhtari’s critically acclaimed recent book, In the Lion's Shadow: The Iranian Schindler and his Homeland in the Second World War was originally published in 2011, yet has been republished twice since.
An Iranian diplomat in Paris representing his country's neutrality in WWII and his nation's culture of tolerance, utilized his office, diplomatic influence, legal skill and creative wit to save hundreds of Jewish families during the German occupation of France. The Allied invasion and occupation of Iran in 1941 cost him his diplomatic immunity and status, but he continued his efforts. Even after Iran declared war on Germany and its new government ordered his return, he remained in Paris to help his fellow Iranians and their non-Iranian relatives, friends and associates at great risk to himself and his career. The book reflects his commitment, but also his nation's sentiment and the treatment Iran and Iranians received under the Allied occupation. The book was republished in paperback form in the United States in April 2012.
Dr. Mokhtari will attend Tirgan 2013 to discuss his masterful book, to be followed by a Q&A session and book signing by the author.

*During the event, In The Lion's Shadow: The Iranian Schindler and his Homeland in the Second World War will be available for sale and autograph by the author at the venue.

Language : English

FREE

Number available: 10

Sub Genre:

Book Reading

Region:

USA

Dates:

Sat, 07/20/2013 - 19:30

Location:

Lakeside Terrace , Harbourfront Centre

Language:

English

Subtitle:

Program Duration:

1 Hour

Picture Gallery:

Lion's Shadow.jpg

Artists:

Fariborz Mokhtari

The value of the radif or collection of modal systems

Hamoon — Sun, 19 May 2013 03:21:18 +0000

FREE

Dr. Miller will discuss: 1. His discovery of Master Safvat in 1961 in Paris and his long apprenticeship since then including 6 years in Tehran as PR person for Dr. Safvat’s Center for Preservation and Propagation of Iranian Music. 2. The value of the radif or collection of modal systems as passed down by authorized masters and their preservation.

Language : English

FREE

Number available: 10

Sub Genre:

By Dr. Lloyd Miller - Music

Region:

USA

Dates:

Sun, 07/21/2013 - 13:30

Location:

Miss Lou's, Harbourfront Centre

Language:

English

Subtitle:

Program Duration:

1 Hour

Artist Bios:

Lloyd Miller

Dr. Miller studied Persian music in Iran in 1959 then in the 1960s in Paris with master Daryush Safvat at Centre d'Études de Musique Orientale. He also studied 12 Eastern languages at Unversité de Geneve in Switzerland and at École Nationale des Langues Orientales Vivantes in Paris. After developing Oriental Jazz in the 1960s and winning 3 trophies at the Intercollegiate Jazz Festival plus a national collegiate composer‘s prize, Miller was awarded a Fulbright to research music in Iran. From 1970 to 1977 in Tehran, hebecame arts critic for several publications writing over 150 articles under different names eventually influencing Tehran’s music scene in favor of tradition. He attended and worked for the Shiraz Arts Festival and Tehran Film Festival several years and became a celebrated TV personality hosting his own prime-time weekly jazz and world music show. Beginning in 1963, Miller has authored over 20 books on music of various traditions including his PhD dissertation published as Music and Song in Persia by Rutledge Curzon. Since 1966, Miller taught Eastern music at University of Utah 10 years and 4 years at Brigham Young University. He plays over 100 instruments in 15 world traditions and directs 12 music ensembles.

Artists:

Lloyd Miller

Shahnameh - The Epic of the Persian Kings

Hamoon — Sun, 19 May 2013 03:10:55 +0000

FREE

Number available: 10

Sub Genre:

Presentation

Region:

USA

Dates:

Sat, 07/20/2013 - 19:30

Sun, 07/21/2013 - 15:00

Location:

Miss Lou's, Harbourfront Centre

Language:

English

Subtitle:

Program Duration:

1 Hour

Artist Bios:

Artists Websites:

www.theepicofthepersiankings.com

Picture Gallery:

Shahnameh-210-211.jpg

Shahnameh-180-181.jpg

9-Jamshid accendent- card version.jpg

11-the ambush-new.jpg

HamidRahmanianGlassHouse2009SundanceuXqVJ2vsgj5l.jpg

Artists:

Hamid Rahmanian

Eastern Arts of Visualizing Persian Music Through Patterned Movement

Hamoon — Sun, 19 May 2013 03:26:03 +0000

FREE

Ms. St.John will discuss the system developed by Eastern Arts of visualizing Persian music through patterned movement by ballet experts

Language : English

FREE

Number available: 10

Sub Genre:

by Katherine St.John - Dance

Region:

USA

Dates:

Sun, 07/21/2013 - 16:30

Location:

Miss Lou's, Harbourfront Centre

Language:

English

Subtitle:

Program Duration:

1 Hour

Artist Bios:

Katherine St. John
Katherine St. John earned an MA in ethnic dance at Brigham Young University, an MAat University of Utah in Persian Studies and completed coursework towards a PhD at the University of California/Riverside in Dance History and Theory. She has mastered several dance traditions from Central Asia to the Balkans having performed with variousinternational companies over the years and has created choreographies for numerous dance, opera and theater ensembles. She taught international dance two years at UCR and has been invited instructor at festivals and events in London, Zurich, Paris, and Dusseldorf and throughout the USA. She taught history of Eastern dance at University of Utah for 9 years and currently teaches Dance and Music in the Islamic World at BYU.She has authored many articles and given lectures through the Utah, California and Nevada Humanities Councils on arts of Iran and Afghanistan. Ms. St. John has presented papers at the Society for Ethnomusicology, the Middle East Studies Association and Dance Ethnology Forum conferences. She serves as director of Eastern Arts; is past president of the National Folk Organization; serves on the board of the United Nations Association of Utah and is a member of IOV (International Organization of Volkskunst).

Artists:

Katherine St. John