Indian folk textiles are showcased at the Johnson

The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell is presenting "Indian Folk Textiles," on view through Nov. 2.

"The superb examples in this exhibition celebrate the artistry, vitality and spontaneity for which Indian folk textiles are admired," said Frank Robinson, the Richard J. Schwartz Director of the museum. "We are grateful to the collectors for generously sharing their enthusiasm, knowledge and treasures with our visitors."

Curator Ellen Avril will lead a free tour of this exhibition today, Sept. 18, at noon, as part of the museum's Art for Lunch series.

The exhibition, drawn from a private collection, presents a wide geographic and aesthetic range of popular Indian textile traditions. Folk textiles, defined in the narrowest sense as those made and/or decorated by village or tribal women for their own use, are featured along with professionally produced cloths made for popular consumption and temple textiles that express popular beliefs.

Throughout India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, fine textiles using an astonishing variety of techniques have for thousands of years served as items of tactile and visual delight for the purposes of personal adornment, household furnishing, articles of dowry and to fulfill ritual and ceremonial functions. The exhibition includes kantha quilts from Bengal, embroidered shawls and tribal clothing from Pakistan, Chamba embroideries from the Punjab Hills, temple hangings from Rajasthan, telia from Andhra Pradesh, Orissa ikat and Gujarati tie-dyed and embroidered cloths.

The exhibition will be a central part of the museum's Public Program Day on Saturday, Nov. 1, celebrating the arts of India. This celebration of the rich and varied culture of India will feature hands-on activities, performances and more for the whole family. This event is co-sponsored by the Cornell South Asia Program and is free and open to the public.