News/Events/Articles

This is a collection of paintings I did at Hafez’s Tomb, The Garden of Paradise, Sa’adi’s Tomb, and other sites in and around Shiraz, Iran, painted on the second trip between February, 2004 - May 2004 and five new paintings from my third trip, October 2004 - January, 2005. At the end of the third trip, The Cultural Institute of Shiraz arranged for me to have a show of my paintings at Hafez’s Tomb. It was a spur of the moment show.

by Parisa and Amir Sabooki

Hafez is the most famous poet of Iran and perhaps, of the world. He lived in the 14th century. The meaning of Hafez is: one who memorizes the Koran, and so Hafez was the pen name of Mohammad Shirazi. There are more than 6,000 verses in the Divan of Hafez. He composed lyric poems about the Lover of God and God, the Beloved. This Book of Hafez has a celebrated place in every household in Iran, and the people consult it for all-important matters. A proverb in Iran says: “Hafez is in the blood of the Iranian People.” It shows how close Hafez is to us.

Extracts of the radiant, intoxicating fragrance of love emitted from the Garden of Paradise and Tomb Shrines of Hafez & Sa’adi in Shiraz, Iran

National Arts Club Reception photos at Flickr.com

by Laurie Blum

It is universally accepted that there is a mystique surrounding the land called Persia. I had no idea when I first set foot in Iran that a paradise, profoundly rich and satisfying, was waiting for me. All the suspicions I had about the country and people had to be allayed. After I surrendered these false impressions one by one, I was literally rebuilt, from the ground up. My own character needed to be solid, generous and open, only then could I hope to accurately assess another. I had to trust myself and summon the courage to do the things I wanted to do. Once this happened, the world I needed to create for myself manifested. The confidence I needed appeared naturally and I was able to draw from a great unknown reserve within myself. I had but to sit in the gardens and paint and the magical transformation occurred. Whether I painted in The Garden of Paradise or Hafez and Sa’adi’s Tombs in Shiraz, the onlookers appreciatively approved of my efforts. I think it was a strange and rare occurrence, but a happy one for the people to behold an American painting from the beauty of their land!