The Rug Show in LA

in LA

THE RUG

MARCH 29-31, 2015 LA CONVENTION CENTER

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Creative Touch creativetouchrugs.com

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SEE US AT THE RUG SHOW IN LA • MARCH 29-31

One of the Largest Sources of Fine Pakistani Rugs in the USA

K A S H E E 600 Meadowlands Parkway, Suite 21 • Secaucus, NJ 07094 Tel: (201) 867-6900• Fax: (201) 867-6980 email: customercare@kashee.us • website: www.kashee.us Showrooms: Atlanta - AmericasMar t #4-E-12 • New Jersey

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James Opie’s afghan Rug pROJect our website: www.jamesopie.com

Main office: Portland, Oregon 503-226-0116 email: jim@jamesopie.com East Coast Office: North Bergen, New Jersey 917-304-6356 email: paul@jamesopie.com

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The RUG SHOW in LA Congratulates Our Three DOMOTEX Carpet Design Award Winning Exhibitors • Art Resources — Best Traditional Design • Ayka Design — Best Studio Artist Design & Best Innovation • Wool and Silk Rugs — Best Modern Collection

(left to right) Jack Simantob, Art Resources; Dr. Jochen Köckler, Deutsche Messe AG (Domotex); Dr Ali Ipektchi, Chairman European Carpet Importers Association; Jürgen Dahlmanns, Rug Star; Lila Valadan, Naziri OHG; Erbil Tezcan, Wool & Silk Rugs; Karen Michelle Evans, Ayka Design; Ben Evans, Hali Publications

CARAVAN RUG CORP.

LA Convention Center March 29th to 31st

8725 Wilshire Boulevard – Beverly Hills, CA 90211 T: 310-358-1222 www.caravanrug.com

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American Classics TM

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United States-East Rutherford, NJ Tel: 201 372 0909 • Great Britain-London, England Tel: 020 8800 4406 © All designs copyright Samad Brothers, Inc.

COME AND SEE US AT THE RUG SHOW IN LA ON MARCH 29-31, 2015 9030 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90211 T: 310-271-7882 F: 310-271-7827 azadusa@sbcglobal.net www.AZADUSA.net

Visit our New Atlanta Showroom Bldg 1, 3rd Floor D12/13

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High Point

www.ArtResources.us 1961 S La Cienega Blvd • Los Angeles, CA 90034 • 323.658.9000 401 Penhorn Avenue, #5 • Secaucus, NJ 07094 • 201.864.1111

by James

Opie

On the War Path — (About War Rugs)

W

e have all seen “war rugs,” and respond to them according to our individual natures and what we find interesting in rug imagery. For example, I own an antique Mahal in which a “div” with horns holds up a square building. I don’t know the story behind this image, but I like the rug. Someone else, however, someone who takes “devils” and “divs” quite seriously, might mark an “X” on my door for owning such a rug. To each his own …

And so it is, I suppose, with “war rugs,” which recently received a publicity boost from the Atlantic

central part of Afghan life that the weavers can’t help but include tanks and planes and burning twin-towers—and now drones—as central design features in their rugs.

At first, I accepted this outlook without questioning it, but then a light went on, placing me, so to say, “on the war path” in relation to these rugs and how they are marketed.

The first “war rug” images may have honestly communicated cultural preoccupations current at that time, while the Soviet Union still occupied

“The first “war rug” images may have honestly communicated cultural preoccupations current at that time, while the Soviet Union still occupied parts of Afghanistan and war was a fact.”

Monthly and also from National Public Radio. I’d like to see Afghanistan receive credit for something, but these “war rugs” set me wondering: how, precisely, are we supposed to view these rugs? There is more than one line-of-sight, always, but how are we supposed to view them?

Aren’t we to see them as “folk” images, that is, designs springing from the life of the weavers who make them, reflecting the life of a people? The assumption is that war is such an unending and

parts of Afghanistan and war was a fact. But no sooner did these early examples sell than—guess what?—producers began making them in larger quantities, to satisfy a lively market. Naturally, producers and those selling these rugs did not announce, “We’ll make as many of these as you will buy!” They let those in the West who liked these rugs assume, well. . . whatever they wished to assume. And so now there are even drone images, clearly conceived on computer software,

The RUG SHOW in LA — SPRING 2015 To be continued on page 25

See us at The RUG SHOW in LA March 29-31, 2015 SHOWROOM: 8731 W. 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90048

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See us this fall at our 4th annual NY showcase — starring the most innovative and cutting edge designs from some of the industry’s most renowned producers and wholesalers!

AUG. 30-SEPT. 2, 2015 JAVITS CENTER NYC Held in conjunction with Metro Market Week 12.

The Rug Show is a non-profit organization.

Continued from page 19

ON THE WAR PATH (About War Rugs) — by James Opie but offered as authentic cultural artifacts. (How can we see they were computer-designed? Look at the perfect symmetrical, non-improvised elements.)

So, then, do these rugs truly reflect Afghan cultural realities and Afghan weavers’ preferences, or are the motivations underlying them quite different?

One could say, “Well, perhaps the weavers are not making up these designs. Maybe that point is correct. But isn’t it okay, as long as someone pays the weavers? To this I say, “Certainly.” And if they are paid on-time, so much the better. But we need to be clear that weavers at “folk” levels are not behind these designs, and have not been for years. These images appear in rugs due to something in our natures and interests, more than in theirs. Individuals in the West are projecting a distorted picture of Afghan sensibilities onto the Afghans themselves. In simple terms, buyers of these rugs are buying products of their own projections!

It is embarrassing that the Atlantic Monthly, NPR, and any other media promoted these rugs as news, rather than looking at the phenomenon of “war rugs” more penetratingly. These are commercial images that say more about people in the West than about weavers in the nation of origin. These are not true “Afghan” products, and nothing I saw in Afghanistan during repeated visits in the 1970s or during my visit last year induced me to think otherwise.

When I think of Afghanistan I don’t picture war. I picture families, going about their lives, working, weaving, raising children, enjoying their holidays, and, yes, hoping that undeserved disasters do not befall them, as happens in so many nations now. Maybe Afghan villagers are fortunate not to read newspapers, or stayed glued to the evening news. Hour for hour and person for person, Afghanistan may well be one of the most peace loving places on earth. Making images of war that paste the word

“When I think of Afghanistan I don’t picture war.

I picture families, going about their lives, working, weaving, raising children, enjoying their holidays, and, yes, hoping that undeserved disasters do not befall them.”

While I am not saying, “Call in the cops!” or even, “Call in the psychiatrists,” I wish to point out that weavers returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran because their nation was sufficiently stable to permit them to conduct family life in their home villages again. They didn’t return saturated with impulses and images related to war. They returned eager to live peaceful family lives— which they do! Regardless of how their nation is portrayed in our media, the great majority of Afghans, including weavers, go about their lives securely and without the slightest interest in war.

The computers that made these designs are programmed that way, but the vast majority of Afghans are not.

“Afghanistan” over them will not help bring this long suffering nation closer to the stability Afghans seek, deserve, and in many corners of their nation, are now creating.

DISCLAIMER. The opinions expressed in this articles are those of the authors and do not constitute an official statement by, nor necessarily represent the views of The Rug Show or its members.

The RUG SHOW in LA — SPRING 2015

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Los Angeles Convention Center 1201 S Figueroa St Los Angeles, CA 90015 Conveniently located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Convention Center is easily accessible by car and public transportation — neighboring the Convention Center is downtown L.A.’s sports and entertainment district, L.A. Live.

www.lacclink.com

in LA

THE RUG

LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER

SHOW HOURS SUN. 9-6 MON. 9-6 TUES. 9 - 12

HOTEL DISCOUNT A block of deeply discounted rooms is available for our buyers at the Ritz-Carlton at LA Live.

The RUG SHOW rate is $99 per night/2 night max. Visit www.therugshow.com for the direct reservations link. Additional nights are available at non-subsidized rates. Space is Limited.

KICK OFF PARTY Kick off The RUG SHOW Sunday evening, March 29 at our Opening Day Cocktail/Dinner Party. Registration is REQUIRED at the LA Convention Center during show hours to obtain your credentials and for complete venue details.

INFORMATIVE SEMINARS On Monday, March 30, The RUG SHOW will feature valuable CEU approved seminars for ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) and IIDA (International Interior Design Association) Members. Visit www.therugshow.com for course details and credits.

WINE RECEPTION Join us Monday afternoon at the LA Convention Center as we host a wine reception for our attendees.

www.therugshow.com

Soufiane Zarib

Soufiane has created one of Morocco’s finest carpet collections based in Marrakech—focusing on traditional Berber pieces as well as his own new contemporary designed rugs.

His collection embodies his love and passion for the art of Moroccan carpet weaving, which began as a teenager whilst working in the carpet souk, and now takes him on the road through the Atlas Mountains to hunt for rare & special pieces.

13 souk des tap43es reha pa el kadima marrakech morocco email: zarib_Ăšohid@yahoo.com phone: 00212615285690 or 00212661285690

WOOL & SILK Presented by

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Steppe ... Spring Wool & Silk LLC. 9 Sand Park Road, Suite 5, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 USA +1 973.433.0748 www.woolandsilkrugs.com

LA CONVENTION CENTER Don’t miss THE RUG SHOW in LA featuring the most groundbreaking, couture rug fashions that rival anything on the global stage. See you there!

www.therugshow.com 2015 Exhibitors AGS Rugs Anadol Rug Company Art Resources Ayka Design AZAD Rug Company Azad USA Banu Home Caravan Modern Caravan Rug Corporation Eliko Antique & Decorative Rugs James Opie Kashee & Sons Knot & Co. Lawrence of La Brea Michaelian & Kohlberg

The Rug Show is a non-profit organization.

Mobayen Momeni Nalbandian Pasargad Rug & Kilim Rugzy Samad Slocum Rug Gallery Soufiane Zarib Tahoe Rug Studio Tamarian The Creative Touch Wool & Silk Zollanvari

THE RUG

in LA

MARCH 29-31, 2015