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Nassrin Barekat, is one of those unique people with active right and left brains.  She was trained as an accountant, and as an artist.  Paul Gauguin comes to mind. 

Her work, which is contemporary, is now on  display the Art People Gallery in San Francisco, California. 

Her work has been exhibited in Iran and here in the US. 

Some of her work is available online under "My Gallery" tab.

Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Parviz Tanavoli, Y. Z. Kami, Shirin Neshat, Afruz Amighi, and Ali Banisadr have some interesting art at exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  

Four of the artists,  live and work in the United States, while two continue to work in Iran.

Ms. Farmanfarmaian is nearly 90, and active as an artist for over five decades.   And I think that is what I like about this event.  It covers artists in their 30s, all the way to their near 90s.   Very diverse, and showing the span of coverage of contemporary art among Iraninan artists.

The exhibit is on until September 2012.  For more information, please see ART...

The top 30 winners of the Social Network Art Competition for Iranian Artists (SNAC) will be on display at ABRA Gallery in Los Angeles from March 8 to March 31st. The opening reception will be held on March 10, 5pm - 9pm.


ARBA is located in West Lake Village, CA.

I don't know which is more enjoyable, seeing an Iranian film win the 2012 Oscar for Best Foreign Language, or learning about enthusiastic, Iranian film lovers.  

The Marin IJ covered an interesting event -an Oscar viewing party in south San Jose.  It is great to see bicultural Iranians who enjoy film as much as this bunch.  And, this year they had the a root-country winner as a bonus.  Read more....

I get asked this question all the time.  Besides being dominated by the reception-equivalent party, there are many traditions, some family rooted, some regional.  This was a beautiful "sofreh" spread that I though to share.  read more....

One of the toughest challenges of organizing Persian events -some of you might think I am about to squarely blame Persians- is finding the right caterer!   We have to find the a caterer who is not only well prepared, but can meet the expectations of a tough crowd.  For instance, everyone has their favorite kabob joint.  And, everyone's mother is the best chef to have ever walk on earth.  

We are currently finalizing our interviews for Chaharshanbeh Soori with three outstanding caterers, one of whom is actually in Sacramento, and another in Fresno.  Judging from the samples we tasted last weekend, I am certain that the crowd will be pleased, as they were in the years past.

One good thing about serving kabobs, no insult to my Italian friends, that unlike Tiramisu kabobs look the same, and should taste the same.  I have never eaten two tiramisus that look the same, though they are always good.

SF Opera breathes new life in something really old, an opera by Händel written nearly 300 years ago about خشایارشا‎  (Xerxes I) who lived nearly 2500 years ago.   

If you cannot sit through the nearly four hour opera, I recommend you listen to the opening aria, Ombra mai fu, one of his most famous melodies.  In the aria Xerxes sings to a tree.  

The piece also has the unusual distinction of being the first music ever broadcast on radio!

More about San Francisco Opera's performance...