Out beyond ideas of
Right doing and wrong doing,
There is a field.
I'll meet you there.
Jelauddin Rumi, 1207 - 1273
Tour Schedule

Meridian International Center presents A Breeze from the Gardens of Persia: New Art from Iran. The exhibition, organized by Meridian in collaboration with the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, premiered in April 2001 in Washington, D.C. at Meridian's White Meyer Galleries. In the Fall of 2001, it began a nationwide tour, organized by Meridian's Traveling Exhibition Service. A Breeze from the Gardens of Persia is presented in the United States in cooperation with The Search for Common Ground. Major sponsorship is provided by Exxon Mobil Corporation, with generous additional support from The Boeing Company, DaimlerChrysler AG and The Starr Foundation. Artist and related exchanges are planned.

Works by 54 of Iran's finest artists, both men and women, have been chosen in collaboration with Iranian curators from the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art and Tehran Arts University. The result is a stunning collection of oils, watercolors, drawings, miniature paintings and calligraphy. The influence of the rich Persian culture and its poetry on the contemporary art of Iran is a major theme. A full color catalogue accompanies the exhibition.

Cultural Exchange

A Breeze from the Gardens of Persia is a fine arts cultural exchange initiative, the first of its kind to take place in decades. It has received attention at high levels in both countries. The exhibition fits in with Iranian President Khatemi's idea for a Dialogue of Civilizations, which officially began in January 2001. This groundbreaking exhibition opened in Washington in April 2001. It is now on tour nationwide.