The Little Black Fish is an immersive bilingual (Persian-English) textile and storytelling performance inspired by Iranian writer Samad Behrangi’s beloved 1960s tale of a small fish who dares to leave the familiar stream and discover the world beyond. Rooted in Persian storytelling and artistic traditions, the performance brings the story to life through large-scale textile art, Persian music, movement, and narration. A timeless journey of curiosity, courage, and discovery, The Little Black Fish invites audiences of all ages into a richly visual world shaped by Persian art and imagination.
Parvaneh Hosseini is a Columbus-based textile artist, writer, director, performer, daf player, and educator whose work bridges visual art, storytelling, performance, music, and Persian literary traditions. Through embroidery, fabric collage, and large-scale textile construction, she transforms stories, poetry, and cultural memory into immersive artistic experiences.
Raised in Iran, Parvaneh learned sewing and embroidery alongside her mother, a tailor, while growing up immersed in a rich culture of storytelling and poetry. These early experiences of working with fabric and listening to stories continue to shape her interdisciplinary practice. She holds a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern and North African Studies with a minor in Anthropology from the University of Arizona, bringing both artistic and scholarly perspectives to her work.
Her projects have been presented through exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, and musical programs at McConnell Arts Center, The Ohio State University, Upper Arlington Public Library, and community cultural events throughout Columbus. An active member of the Iranian-American community, she has helped organize and perform in cultural and literary programs, including Nowruz celebrations, poetry gatherings, and community arts events that foster cultural exchange and dialogue.
Through her work, Hosseini creates spaces where visual art, performance, music, and storytelling come together, inviting audiences to engage with stories across languages, cultures, and generations.
Denotes MAC-Presented Program