Photo exhibit on Iran being set up in Civic Center
By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 25, 2008 at 5:09 a.m.
Updated August 25, 2008 at 9:01 a.m.
Photo by Judy DeHaas © The Rocky
Lighting designer Chris Krueger, of Crested Butte, checks out "Pictures of You: Images From Iran," a traveling multimedia installation by Thomas K. Loughlin that spans the bridge between photojournalism and fine art. The show features portraits of Iranians printed on translucent chiffon silk. Chris and the rest of the team worked through the night to get the project up and running in Civic Center Park for the expected crowds on Monday. The exhibit will stay up until Tuesday.
Photo by Tillie Fong, the Rocky
A photo exhibit on Iran is put together at Civic Center.
CIVIC CENTER - A work crew has been working through the night to set up a photo exhibit on Iran.
"We get 48 hours in the park for the project," said Tom Loughlin, a Crested Butte artist, who was overseeing the installation.
Dubbed "Pictures of you: Images of Iran" the photos are printed on large sheets of fabric, which are then stretched over a metal framework of a Persian home, with an octagonal room as the centerpiece.
"The 8-sided room is where an Iranian family would welcome visitors," said Loughlin. "So we want to welcome people into the exhibit."
The roof is made of photos of the ceiling of a mosque in Isfahan, Iran. The walls of the rest of the structure will be photos of people. A speaker system will also broadcast sounds Loughlin recorded while in Iran.
"You'll hear kids playing in the street, but they're speaking Farsi," he said.
Loughlin went to Iran three times in the past three years to photograph ordinary people in Iran, going about their daily lives.
"I wanted to show that we're all human beings, we're all made of flesh," he said. "I think that gets lost in all the politics."
He plans to hang life-size portraits from wires stretched across the two "halls" of the building.
"That way, people will meet Iranians face to face," said Loughlin.
He decided to have the world premiere of the exhibit this week during the Democratic National Convention.
"We're making an important decision in November," he said. " (Barack) Obama said he would be willing to sit down with the Iranians and talk, but (John) McCain thinks it's OK to bomb Iran. I think people should learn more about Iran in order to make a good decision."
The exhibit will be up until 11 p.m. Tuesday. Loughlin plans to tour the country with the exhibit, but said he will have to do some fundraising first.
"We're not going to be exhibiting in art galleries," he said. "We're more likely to be at state fairs."
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August 25, 2008
7:01 a.m.
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danirobi writes:
Yeah, Iran, where Barack Obama wants to meet with their leader without any "preconditions".
August 25, 2008
7:08 a.m.
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LingLingfor_prez writes:
That is a way to protest even if I disagree while not throwing poo bombs.
August 25, 2008
7:53 a.m.
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Darwin writes:
After this is done, Mr. Loughlin, go to Iran and set up a similar display showing "Pictures of you: Images of America". You might also look at BO speech transcripts Mr. Loughlin. BO has made comments where he stated where there would be conditions for it to be OK to bomb Iran. At least don't be so obvious in your bias but rather present all the facts.
August 25, 2008
7:56 a.m.
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CBJMM writes:
I saw this exhibit in Crested Butte and it underscores the humanity of all human beings. If McCain has his way we will go from one since-less war to another . It seems now Bush has a time table. Their are more IEDs out their waiting for Americans in other countries. The big stick doesn't work any more.
August 25, 2008
8:16 a.m.
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Keith43 writes:
"I wanted to show that we're all human beings, we're all made of flesh," he said. "I think that gets lost in all the politics."
In light of all the saber-rattling by the Bush Administration about Iran's nuclear enrichment program, this is a good exhibit. Bush, Cheney and Rice, couldn't care less about killing millions more people. And not to let the Dems off the hook, while in control of both houses, they've allowed and aided the administration to go down this path, and they continue to support them today. Anyone who thinks there's a two-party system that really makes a difference or ever will, should think again!
August 25, 2008
9:20 a.m.
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rg52 writes:
Thank you Bobby_Jones for the insight. It is all political, the people who get hurt (not just physically) are the citizens of the countries, not the leaders. It is the citizens who pay for the lousy decisions the leaders make.
August 25, 2008
9:21 a.m.
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timeandagain writes:
Oh Puhleeeseeee...
I really hope no public money is funding this silly exhibit!
August 25, 2008
9:21 a.m.
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toocool writes:
I would suggest they keep their picture gallery as far away from us here @ Camp Pendleton as possible...WE KNOW WHO IS IRAN...it's a shame Denver has to play host to the freaks as well welcoming well meaning protesters and delegates at the convention.
August 25, 2008
9:22 a.m.
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hikingartist writes:
"And no, it doesn’t matter if the war was justified or not,..."
Yes Bobby, it does matter. It is based on lies and we have set up shop in Irans backyard; it is natural for them to defend their turf.
Why are we there again?
BTW Thank you for your service.
August 25, 2008
9:24 a.m.
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gs writes:
The Persian people are a wonderful group. The Iranian leadership are monsters. I invite everyone to watch their public executions. Executions for homosexual acts, and because a young woman had a "sharp tongue". Sound good? How about the fact that the Koran forbids the execution of a virgin so she will be raped and then executed. Or even better, does everyone know that the Iranian leadership cleared minefields during the Iran Iraq war by running 12 year old boys through the field. What a great group and we want to talk to them?
August 25, 2008
9:54 a.m.
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imPatrickBateman writes:
"I wanted to show that we're all human beings, we're all made of flesh," he said. "I think that gets lost in all the politics."
I don't doubt that the citizens of Iran are capable of being good people. It's the Iranian gov't that's the problem. Maybe they should make an exhibit showing Iranian gov't officials too.
August 25, 2008
10:12 a.m.
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drjk writes:
Please stop this hypocrisy and nonsense to justify US action in the Middle East when you don't know anything about Iranian people and their culture. See the National Geographic recent article on Persian Culture. Take the Culture Quiz on the site and look at some of the pictures. It will open your eyes and your mind!
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/200...
August 25, 2008
10:14 a.m.
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gs writes:
Bobby, thanks for your post. i agree many people don't understand the danger that there is in the world. The United States made a huge mistake allowing that nutcase Ayatolla Koemeni back into Iran. and if you go back to combat good luck.
August 26, 2008
4:23 a.m.
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AnIranian writes:
That's right we should get to know Iran's Mullah facisim before even bother to listen up to their human rights activists who scream out loud about on going repression and executions in Iran.
Check their site and read for yourself: http://stop.torturing.us/