Asian art curator Ellen Avril will lead a free tour of the exhibition "Petals and Plumage: A Collection of Indian Textiles" today, April 27, at noon, as part of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art's "Art for Lunch" series.
On display are extraordinary examples of the brilliant and sophisticated tradition of textile making in India, including saris, shawls, ceremonial clothes, temple hangings and other fabrics made in India between the 14th and 19th centuries. The textiles, all from a private collection, show a variety of techniques, such as block printing, painting, ikat, tie-dye, tapestry, brocade and embroidery. Beautiful ornaments of lush flowers, leaf shapes, stylized birds and animals adorn many of the works; others show religious scenes or abstract motifs.
"The beauty of these textiles -- the amazing colors, textures and images -- gives us a sense of the richness of India's textile tradition, which is among the finest in the world," said Avril. "We are very fortunate to present this exhibition at Cornell."
A gallery guide with information on the production techniques, history and cultural context of these textiles is available. The exhibition runs through June 18.
The Johnson Museum is open Tuesday--Sunday, 10 a.m.--5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 255-6464.
| Cornell Chronicle Front Page | | Table of Contents | | Cornell News Service Home Page |