Rich Persian tapestries and rugs awaken the muted atmosphere of the Richard L. Trapp Gallery, emphasizing the sheer beauty of ancient art and modern photography on display in the new student-produced exhibit, "Caravan Across Persia: An Archaeological Tour of Iran."

The exhibit, which opened on April 1 and explores different artistic elements ranging from pottery work to photography, was put together by graduate students in the Museum Studies Program, who are each responsible for a different facet of the exhibition. The museum, located on the fifth floor of the Humanities Building, will feature the show until May 8.

From the descriptive text next to the artwork to the arranging and setting of exhibits, the entire exhibition is a breath-taking exploration into the rich history of the country, which became Iran in 1935.

"The whole point of the exhibition is to allow the graduate students to really get a feel for what it's like to put an exhibition together," said Heather Graybehl, curatorial associate.

Students were responsible for writing and publishing the catalog, labeling, wall panels and floor plan where construction begins at the beginning of the new semester.

"It's museum boot camp -- six weeks of madness," said Linda Ellis, SF State Museum curator.

Using pottery from the Matthew Higgins Collection and the California Academy of Sciences and photography from the SF State University Museum Collection, the exhibit brings together a diverse range of collections and experiences.

The show is expected to average 1,000 visitors, with 1,000 school children expected to visit, according to Graybehl.

The exhibit has also managed to garner some outside publicity. "A wire service in Iran picked it up and published a story on our exhibit. It was so exciting," Ellis said.

Beautiful in their simplicity, the beige and black prehistoric jugs, bowls, and pitchers -- dating from 3000 B.C. -- and the glazed, turquoise and black painted ceramic pieces from the medieval era are juxtaposed with the photography of Axel Von Graefe, taken during the 1930s during the Iranian government's aggressive campaign of modernization.

This exhibit also features strong interactivity. In an effort to illustrate the country's trading history, a table is set up with different spices and goodies such as myrrh, frankincense, and saffron for visitors to explore and play with during their visit.

With Iran being thrust into the public sphere more and more every day, the exhibit seems not only relevant but also necessary.

"There is so little information about Iran and its people, with the most negative side of any nation always being publicized and with the lumping of the bad elements with the good elements, like the people and the culture," Ellis said. "Here we're showing the country and a little bit of the people in this exhibit."