​CAFAM, Farhang Foundation Present Focus Iran 3 Exhibition

Linda Dorigo, Volleyball Iran, digital photograph, 2010. Courtesy of the artist

The Craft & Folk Art Museum (CAFAM) and Farhang Foundation are bringing to L.A a juried exhibition titled ‘Focus Iran 3: Contemporary Photography and Video’ - a series of biennial exhibitions that features distinctive perspectives about Iran through photography and video works. This year's theme puts a lens on Iranian youth culture.

Hamed Kolahchian Tabrizi, Smoking Machine, digital photograph, 2017. Courtesy of the artist

An international panel of jurors selected 42 photographs and videos that will be displayed in a group exhibition from January 27 to May 12, 2019, with an opening VIP donor reception and prize ceremony to take place on January 25 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Craft & Folk Art Museum, 5814 Wilshire Blvd. Tickets are available here. The exhibition will continue to the University of California, Irvine's Viewpoint Gallery from October 5 to November 5, 2019.
 
The artists selected for the exhibition reside mostly in Iran or the United States, with some residing in countries such as Canada, France, Italy and Portugal. Each were selected for their multi-faceted and intriguing views into young Iranians and how they navigate their lives. Some portraits reveal personal style or street fashion while others show time spent participating in leisure activities such as sport or music. Other works explore queer identity and gender representations as well as the relationship that youth have with religion, family and the state.

Maseeh Ganjali, A Boy in Shiraz, digital photograph, 2011. Courtesy of the artist

​CAFAM is the city’s only institution exclusively dedicated to exhibiting contemporary craft, design and folk art. Located on the historic Miracle Mile since 1965, CAFAM's exhibitions feature established and emerging artists whose works create thoughtful and provocative visual exchanges between craft and contemporary art. CAFAM's regular programs and events provide opportunities in art making and engaging with exhibiting and local artists.
 
Farhang Foundation is a nonreligious, nonpolitical and nonprofit foundation established in 2008 to celebrate and promote Iranian art and culture for the benefit of the community at large. The foundation supports a broad range of academic and cultural activities in Southern California by funding university programs, diverse cultural programs such as the celebrations of Nowruz, Shab-e Yalda as well as musical performances, film screenings and festivals in Southern California. 
 
Follow both organizations online as they offer some great annual programming in arts and culture for the city!