Dine-and-Discover Meetings and Events
Our meeting date is the last Wednesday of the month. Special event dates will be announced. RSVPs are due by noon on the Monday prior to each meeting as online registration automatically closes at that time. If registration is closed and you find you can attend, please contact Mary Abshier to check on seating availability.
Below is a menu of programs that are sure to satisfy any intellectual appetite. Join HFCW’s meetings where lifetime learners gather. Be a part of our long history of sharing wit and wisdom with HFCW members and their guests since 1974.
Questions? Contact Mary Abshier at marketing@hfcw.org or 281-923-9241
- This event has passed.
Experience Hand-Woven Rugs from Traditional Designs to Contemporary Art (You’ll also enjoy a catered Persian lunch at Pride of Persia Rug Company)
Wednesday, August 30, 2023 @ 11:15 am - 1:00 pm
PROGRAM
In this hands-on program you will explore the fascinating state of today’s rug market. The world of hand-woven rugs has undergone a remarkable transformation. The classic red and blue Persian rug is now joined by an incredible array of contemporary styles. From Nepal and other weaving centers, innovative rug styles have arisen from the influence of diverse cultures. You will learn about the impacts of dramatic shifts in technology, production techniques, design, economics, and politics. The importance of the changing role of women in the rug industry will be revealed. At the beautiful Pride of Persia Rug Company and Postmodern Traditions Showroom, you are invited to see and handle a wide range of rugs. Whether you are a world traveler, a designer, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty and intrigue of rugs, you will experience an inside look at today’s exotic expanse of hand-woven rugs. Attendees will enjoy a catered Persian lunch and easy street level parking.
This field trip meeting is only open to current members and their invited guests.
SPEAKER
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Mehdi Abedi moved to Houston in 1981 to complete his Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology at Rice University. He also returned to his rug roots. Mehdi says, “One of the first sounds I ever heard was the sound of weaving.” All four of his sisters were accomplished weavers in Yazd, Iran. His daily route to school took him past the boiling dye pots and brightly colored wool hung to dry in the alleys. Beginning with just 10 small Hamadans in 1981, he built an extensive rug collection and a loyal clientele. A few years later, he began teaching other enthusiasts about Persian rugs through continuing education courses. Lisa Slappey joined Mehdi as a partner in selling Persian rugs by private appointment. They acquired exhibit space in Carolyn Thompson’s Antique Center of Texas in 1996 and Pride of Persia Rug Company was born. They later expanded to feature about 4,000 rugs in an 8,000 sq ft showroom. In 2009, Pride of Persia grew again by opening a beautiful new showroom in the Houston Design Center. To meet the growing demand for Tibetan-style rugs, Abedi and Slappey opened Postmodern Traditions Custom & Contemporary Rug Gallery in 2011. Next came their current home: a 9,500 sq ft showroom in the Westport complex facing Old Katy Rd. This showroom features an extensive collection of antique and unusual Persian rugs from the cities, tribes, and villages of Iran along with select lines of hand-woven custom, contemporary, and decorative rugs from around the world. Included in this field trip meeting event is a wonderful complimentary Persian luncheon prepared by our speaker and amazing chef: Mehdi. |
If you plan to attend, please RSVP to marketing@hfcw.org.