Newark Museum to Celebrate Centennial of Tibetan Art Collection [Monday, 28 February 2011, 10:36 a.m.]
DHARAMSHALA:
The Newark Museum will invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to grace the
centennial celebration of its foremost holdings of both secular and
religious Tibetan art in the world. The Newark Museum displayed its first 150 Tibetan objects in 1911. Today the collection numbers over 5,500 objects that range from
the eleventh to the twenty-first century and is the largest and most
important repository for Tibetan art in the Americas. Beginning
in March 2011, the Museum will embark on a nine-month Tibet Collection
Centennial celebration, honouring Tibetan art, culture and history. Coinciding
with the Tibetan new year festival of Losar, the Tibet Collection
Centennial celebration will kick off on Saturday, 5 March 2011 with
fantastic Tibetan theatrical performances and the debut of a special
exhibition, Tsongkhapa—The Life of a Tibetan Visionary. Of
special note, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will serve as keynote
speaker at the Newark Peace Education Summit on 13-15 May 2011, and
will examine how individuals, communities, cities and nations can build
the foundations for peaceful societies. On Thursday, 7 April,
Dr Katherine Anne Paul, Curator of the Arts of Asia, will illuminate
elements of the exhibited Tsongkhapa paintings during the Annual Tibet
Collection Lecture. Five permanent galleries framing the Museum’s
Tibetan Buddhist altar also will be reinstalled for the Centennial. A
rich series of public events and activities has been scheduled to
supplement the Tibet Collection Centennial, including a lecture series,
a Tibetan bazaar, educational courses on Tibet art, tours, arts
activities, music and dance, among other exciting programmes. At
the bazaar, visitors will be able to buy rugs, furniture, prayer
wheels, jewelry, Tibetan music and incense from vendors. “We’re doing
it to overlap with the visit” from the Dalai Lama, Dr. Paul said. “We
want him to feel right at home.” The Museum’s Annual Gala on 7 May 2011 will continue the Centennial theme. –The
Newark Museum, 49 Washington Street, Newark, is open Wednesdays through
Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. (973) 596-6550 or newarkmuseum.org.