Unrolling Paradise: Iranian Art & Culture Beyond Headlines

0:00It's April 23rd. From your city to your ears, this is California News Today, powered by AI, I'm Cory with the story. Artist Maryam Bayat just opened her exhibit, unrolling paradise at the California Center for the Arts in Escondito. She's turning traditional Persian rugs into big immersive sculptures, pulling from her childhood memories of Iran's lush forests and her dad's rug. Shop where women wove by hand. Here this month on March 9th, 2026, Bayat paused during set-up to reflect on those roots. Meanwhile, mother-daughter teams Zora and Susi Garmani dropped their new kids' book, Celebrate Nauras, Blending Stories and Illustrations to Share. Persian New Year traditions, like the colorful haft scene table. These creators push back against the usual news focus on conflict in Iran. Anthropologist Roxanne Barzi talks about growing up split between two worlds, facing misunderstandings and using art to bridge that gap and reclaim her identity.

1:03From galleries to classrooms, their work spotlights everyday joys, family crafts, and cultural threads that outlast headlines. It's all about layering in the full picture of Iranian life abroad. Art like this keeps those personal stories flowing strong, reminding us there's way more to any place than the headlines say.